My name is Erika Galan, and at the age of 33, I was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer (a rare but aggressive type of breast cancer). About 10 to 20% of people are affected by this type of cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. I first felt my lump when I was on my way to drop off my daughters at school and daycare. That day, my little girl was not having a good morning, and as she was swinging her arms, she hit the left side of my breast. I felt such strong pain that didn’t seem normal. As I was feeling around, I felt what I can describe as a small marble under my breast. I remember telling my mom and her telling me to go see a doctor, but months went by. I knew it was there, it was painful, but I still believed that it would go away.
Well, about 7 months later, the pain became unbearable. I knew once I had to take Tylenol for my pain that this was serious. For months I played with the thought that it could possibly be cancer, but I kept thinking to myself “No, not me.” I was eating healthy, working out daily; this doesn’t happen to healthy women. On July 14th, 2020, that all changed. I had gone to see who would become my Breast Surgeon, Dr. Lisa Chapa at Doctors Hospital at Renaissance, 2 days before and spoke to her about my pain. As she examined me, I knew something had to be wrong. I was scheduled for an ultrasound and biopsy the next day.
48 hours later, I was no longer just a woman, I was now a woman with breast cancer. I was in complete shock, I remember calling my mom and just crying to her because I was in shock. How? Why? What if? She reassured me that everything was going to be ok, but I couldn’t help but think of my girls. They were still so little; how could I explain to them about the changes that they would be seeing and why mommy was sick? I allowed myself to feel all the feelings I needed to that day.
The next day, I knew I had to be strong, and that God would see me through it all. My faith was strong, I believed in my doctors and that the treatment that I needed would work. I began my first round of chemotherapy on July 30th, 2020. Due to Covid, I couldn’t have anyone there with me which made me even more nervous and emotional. I knew changes were coming, but how fast was something I didn’t prepare for. After my 2nd session, my hair started to fall. I really didn’t have much control during my journey, but I knew I could rip the band aid and just shave my head. I decided that on my 34th birthday on August 21st, I would do it. I went to a local barber who was kind enough to close his barber shop so that I would be able to shave my head in private (Thank you, Thomas Torres). My best friend, Mona, and Cousin, Melanie, held my hand and let me cry as a part of who I was, was being taken away.
As the weeks went by, chemotherapy became a routine for me. I embraced my new look and was surrounded by so much love and support from my family and friends. I even got to speak with local media on the importance of early detection, and one local reporter, Jasmina Gonzalez from Telemundo, even documented my day in chemo and what it’s like. Chemotherapy was not easy; I would get very sick, I had to get a blood transfusion at one point because of how bad my levels had become.
During the early weeks of my diagnosis I also received a call from my sister-in-law, Sylvia Garcia, that she was also diagnosed with Stage 4 Breast Cancer. She and I would share our symptoms, we would check on each other when we knew one of us had chemo. We had one similar type of chemotherapy (AC), and we would laugh at how are taste buds were gone because if it. She was an amazing mother, daughter, and sister. Unfortunately, she lost her battle in 2022.
After 6 months of aggressive chemotherapy (8 rounds of Taxol/Carbo and 4 rounds of AC), on December 14th, 2020, I rang the bell. I knew that chapter was over but now I had get ready for my surgery. I decided to get a double mastectomy with reconstruction. On January 25th, 2021, I went in for a 10-hour surgery. Once again, I was beyond nervous because I wasn’t going to be allowed to have my family around, but I trusted my doctors and continued to hold on to my faith. I allowed the Telemundo cameras to once again document my journey and they joined me in the operating room.
On February 1st, I went back to see my breast surgeon, Dr. Lisa Chapa, and she let me know that the pathology report had come back with “No evidence of Disease”...I was cancer free! The tears of joy that ran down my face because my daughters were going to have their mom healthy again, I could carry them and play without feeling tired. My journey was over, but now I wanted to do more for my community. While I was in treatment, I met an elderly lady who I spoke with and she told me some of her financial trials, pay the light bill or her treatment. She told me that the Renaissance Cancer Foundation was a big help to her, and I knew that day that I wanted to help. With the help of family and friends I was able to sell t-shirts and create raffles so that I could donate $10,000 to the foundation.
As I was going through my post recovery, so many other opportunities came my way, so many life changes that I thank the good Lord for. I have continued to share my story with local news media, I have given speeches at events, raised more money for the Renaissance Cancer Foundation, I have participated in local breast cancer fashion shows with many other breast cancer survivors. This journey was not something I ever saw myself go through, but I’m thankful for it because it taught me to not take anything for granted, that the little moments matter. NO ONE FIGHTS ALONE.
Comments