From Fear to Fearless

Share some information about yourself prior to being diagnosed with breast cancer…

My name is Jasmine Dionne Souers and this is my story... My husband and I had just taken a road trip from Jacksonville, FL to Lansing, MI for my 25th birthday in October. I had just spent the first birthday that I can remember with my biological dad. In November, the following month, we celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary and we were trying to have a baby. I had just announced that was launching my photography business....I was diagnosed December 2016.

How did you learn about your diagnoses?

Around May 2016 I noticed stains in bra and my left breast ached all the time. Over a couple weeks, I noticed my left breast seemed swollen. One day, I decided to do a self-breast exam and greenish/brown discharge expelled from my nipple. I called my mom and we decided to go to the hospital. The hospital couldn't replicate the discharge and said since my breast wasn't red there wasn't nothing they could do.

So, I went to my primary care doctor. She did an exam and again, couldn't replicate the discharge. She sent me for an ultras Wound and mammogram. I thought those were the only screening options; they're not. Both screenings came back negative so she concluded I must have had an infection. Because I had no other signs of infection, I refused the antibiotics and tried to find comfort in what ever was wrong not being cancer.

Six months went by and the discharge changed from from green to bloody red. So, in the appointment I was supposed to discuss fertility options with my OBGYN, I told her I thought something was wrong. She believed me enough to send me to a great breast surgeon who despite inclusive results the first couple of screenings, kept working towards finding my answer. December 30, 2016 following a breast MRI and biopsy, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and I was in complete disbelief.

What type of treatment did you receive?

I was diagnosed with stage 1b breast cancer, but after we received my pathology report, we realized things were a little more complicated. My cancer was classified as multicentric. A multicentric breast cancer involves two or more distinct primary tumors, usually in different quadrants of the breast. Nine centimeters of my breast tissue were affected, resembling stage 3 cancer. There was a mix of both invasive and noninvasive tumors.

That news was the beginning of the great chemo debate in which several doctors informed me I would need to undergo chemo one day. Only to have different doctors tell me otherwise the next day. This happened twice mind you. Ultimately, I had a bilateral mastectomy January 24, 2017 and completed 25 rounds of proton therapy radiation May 17, 2017. I'll be on hormone therapy for the next 10 years and hoping to be able to start a family during that time frame.

How is life now as a breast cancer survivor?

All I can say is God is good. I recently celebrated 1 year cancer-free. I have had several health challenges following the

completion of active treatment, but I have conquered them all. I don't take life for granted anymore. I realize I'm living on borrowed time. One of my biggest fears going into surgery was I would die having unfulfilled my purpose. As soon as I could write following my mastectomy, I made plans to bring all my God ideas to life. Fear and failure can no longer be a deterrent. So, I opened an online store and Etsy called TheLoveLionheart.com and I design products specifically for fierce women. I started a blog to share my experiences, Bravebeautyadventures.com I also volunteer as a State Leader and Face-to-Face Coordinator for Young Survival Coalition, providing support and sharing resources with young women affected by breast cancer in my community.

Advice or words of encouragement you would like to share with the breast cancer community.

Let this experience introduce you to your "other (wo)man" -- the best part of yourself; the self you didn't existed; the self that's stronger and more resilient than you could have ever imagined. She's in there. I promise.

Instagram: @bravebeauty26 , @thelovelylionheart Facebook: @bravebeautyadventures, @thelovelylonheart

Lastly, visit https://youtu.be/SIqKd0EjKjE and watch as I share my journey through YouTube platform! I promise, you do not want to miss so be sure to miss it, be sure to subscribe.