On the younger age of 30, Shenae Craig needed to face the harrowing actuality that she had breast most cancers. This started an arduous journey, testing her resilience and grit like by no means earlier than. However together with her unwavering willpower and help system, Craig emerged victorious, beating most cancers and proving herself a real fighter.
Quick ahead to 2 years later, following months of grueling therapy, together with chemotherapy, radiation, and a double mastectomy, Craig stands cancer-free. Nevertheless, she acknowledges the profound toll that surgical procedure took on her psychological and emotional well-being, prompting her to hunt medicine. “The burden of all of it took a toll on me mentally and emotionally,” she shared, reflecting on the necessity for melancholy medicine to navigate by way of the aftermath of her battle…post-surgery was probably the most difficult half for me…as a result of my physique was not what it was. I used to be an individual who liked my physique and by no means thought of altering it, so now that it was out of my management,” she defined.
The turbulent storm in Craig’s life started shortly after the tragic homicide of one in every of her cousins in 2022 amidst the turmoil of the pandemic. Like many, she discovered herself grappling with the heavy burden of melancholy stemming from these twin challenges. Whereas navigating by way of this darkish interval, Craig, whereas doing her common self-examination, found a lump in her breast, prompting her to hunt speedy medical consideration. Inside every week, her worst fears have been realized because the analysis confirmed her suspicions.
Craig’s dedication to her well being has been unwavering, significantly after witnessing the lack of one in every of her aunts to breast most cancers in Jamaica. This expertise prompted her to endure a most cancers genetics check, hoping for reassurance. “I took the check, and the outcomes confirmed it’s not in my genes,” she revealed. “Nevertheless it’s clear to me that higher testing for these circumstances is important.”
She made the troublesome choice to freeze her eggs earlier than starting most cancers therapy, pushed by her deep want to change into a mom sometime.
“My most cancers was introduced on by extra estrogen…my docs suggested me that they would want to suppress my ovaries, basically inducing a pre-menopausal state quickly. It led to the choice to freeze my eggs, marking the start of a rigorous course of. I needed to endure day by day pictures to organize my physique for egg retrieval, which was bodily and emotionally draining. The process concerned day by day vaginal ultrasounds to watch the progress. Two weeks later, the process was profitable, they usually received loads of eggs for once I’m able to have a household,” she famous.
Craig is getting ready for her closing surgical procedure, throughout which her expanders, inserted after the double mastectomy to stretch her pores and skin, can be changed with everlasting implants. Reflecting on the method, Shenae defined, “After the double mastectomy, expanders have been positioned to stretch your pores and skin. You go each week to fill them with saline till your pores and skin reaches the specified measurement. Now, I’m eagerly awaiting my closing surgical procedure to change the expanders for precise implants.”
As we speak, Craig is a beacon of energy and resilience, advocating for breast most cancers consciousness and ladies’s well being. Her journey underscores the significance of early detection and proactive healthcare measures, urging younger ladies to prioritize their well-being and advocate for themselves.
The journalist eagerly anticipates her brilliant future and is decided to make up for misplaced time by embracing all life presents. Regardless of her ongoing journey, together with the ultimate surgical procedure to modify expanders for implants, Craig stays optimistic in regards to the future and appears ahead to catching up on missed alternatives. She advises younger ladies to belief their instincts, advocate for themselves, and never hesitate to hunt medical consideration if they believe one thing is unsuitable.
Craig’s story powerfully reminds us that resilience and braveness can result in triumph within the face of adversity, inspiring others to embrace life with renewed vitality and goal.
