As told to Diana Whitney
I was one of those people who never thought about cancer. I was too young, too healthy, immersed in my life and raising my kids. It came out of the blue, but maybe that’s how every cancer survivor feels.
After my daughter was born in 2012, I wanted to get in great shape. I joined a gym, got a personal trainer and started an intense boot camp class. But for some reason, my whole body was toning except my stomach. Even though I was working out hard, my belly kept protruding like I was pregnant. When I’d hold a plank pose, it would touch the ground. I asked my trainer if this was normal, and he told me, “Oh, that’s just your muscles toning up.”
I kept going to the gym, trying everything to get rid of my stomach. I started Zumba and worked up the confidence to dance in the front row. One day I bumped into my instructor in the bathroom.
“Thanks for joining my class,” she said. “And by the way, you look so cute pregnant!”
Her casual comment brought me to tears. I was still in denial that anything might be wrong. I went out and bought an expensive .
