Melanie Rome

Survivor

Melstrong

My name is Melanie Rome, I am a daughter, sister, wife, mother and friend. I have two of the sweetest kids Evan and Olivia and my handsome husband is Dean. They have been beside me every step of the way. They are my strength and my reason to fight this horrible disease. 

My journey began when I was diagnosed with breast cancer on December 4th 2007, I was 40 years old. I had a biopsy done and it came back DCIS, 2cm was precancerous and 1mm was cancerous (ER/PR- HER2-), small just like a pencil point! Nearly 100% of patients who detect it this early don’t have to worry about it again, right. That was my HOPE! I would have never found it, thank God for the Mammogram. I had a lumpectomy and 6 weeks of radiation and NO chemo! I took Tamoxifan for 5 years. Everything was going as planned and I was counting my blessings Each year. But Scanxiety is real y’all!

I draw strength from my family and friends but My HERO is my mom, Frances and she is the reason I will never give up and continue to have faith. She fought a long battle with Breast cancer that began at the age of 46 for her. We lost her at the age of 55. It’s been 29 years since she is gone but I will never forget the strength my mom had. It’s like she lives on through me. She taught me that its all about attitude and faith and pushing through the hard times bc better ones are yet to come. 

Now fast forward 13 years later….

In this 2nd cancer journey that has started for me and our family seems unreal at times. I now am dx with HER2 PR- an aggressive form of breast cancer but blessed it is stage 1 again. I had 6 rounds of chemo (carboplatin, taxotere, herceptin and perjeta) and I will begin 10 rounds of targeted therapy (herceptin and perjeta). My double mastectomy is scheduled in October. It’s been a range of emotions since my dx but I have come to accept the reality of it now but it’s still tough. Putting feelings out there is hard but it’s also a healing process too. My 1st cancer was a breeze to me compared to this journey. My mom was always so strong watching her go through her cancer journey. As hard as it gets for me some days I know she had it 10 times harder and that makes me push forward and know that know matter how hard I will get through it. She didn’t have the knowledge then or the resources they have now and my heart breaks knowing what she must have felt like. To us and everyone who knew her she was a strong beautiful lady with so much FAITH and love for her family and friends!

Since my dx there are times I miss being the “old” me, the small little things we take for granted. The fact of the matter is my life has changed and our family’s life is changed too. But when I’m past the bad moments and tough times I will make up for every missed moment bc surviving this will be the best gift so I can continue to make more beautiful memories with the ones who mean the most!