For all the emotional turmoil and shock that accompany a cancer diagnosis, I knew that I was incredibly fortunate when I was diagnosed with very early-stage breast cancer. It was found on my very first mammogram, before I had even an inkling that there might be a problem. Of course, this blissful ignorance also meant that I was totally unprepared for the emotional spin cycle of navigating cancer treatment and eventual survivorship. My treatment included eight cancer-related surgeries. This is not the typical story for a breast cancer patient. But I was fortunate in that I did not require chemotherapy or radiation therapy, like so many women do. Read More: