My name is Trycia Perry. On December 22, 2006, I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 31. I have no history of breast cancer in my family and have always lived a healthy and active life. I've been a professional dancer for 14 years and while rehearsing for a New Year's event, I painfully strained my chest muscle. After massaging the area for a few days I discovered a lump. Following a series of tests, I was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer. My fight over the past 2 years has been one that I've shared with mostly just my friends; few strangers probably even realize that in the past year, I was diagnosed with breast cancer, underwent multiple surgeries, completed chemo, had a double mastectomy, and full breast reconstruction. This battle has been foreign and overwhelming at times but I know with all my heart I could not have done this without my husband, family and friends.

I remember finding out that I had cancer, trying to process what this meant to me at the time, and feeling as if the wind had been taken out of me. My boyfriend, Mike had just returned home from a 7 month deployment to Iraq (his third deployment) and we were enthusiastic to begin our lives together. He had been home only 2 months before my diagnosis. Ironically, this was the same day Mike had received my engagement ring in the mail. Unbeknownst to me, Mike showed the ring to my parents and asked for their permission to marry me. Also overwhelmed with my diagnosis, but knowing that Mike and I were in love, my parents gave him their permission right then and there. Feeling that my world was falling apart, Mike showed me without any fear or trepidation, that the future was to be had as a couple and not on solo missions. He proposed three days later on Christmas night!

On February 18, 2008 right at the end of my final reconstruction surgery, the plastic surgeon found a lump in my chest muscle. It was determined to be breast cancer once again. After a couple of weeks of tests and scans, I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer which had spread through my blood stream and lymph nodes to my bones and had turned into stage 4. I am now a 33-year old newlywed and I am prepared to LIVE! I have been fighting this thing with everything in my power. I have gone through many changes in my treatment approaches which started out with very aggressive treatments of chemotherapy, hormone therapy, radiation and bisphosphonate treatments. I spent a month in Korea for further, cutting-edge treatment of stem cells, gene and DNA therapies. And in November 2008, I decided to stop all the toxic medications, change my diet/lifestyle, detoxify, and go strictly holistic.

I am thrilled to say, that a good majority of the cancer is GONE and I am back to living! I believe wholeheartedly that I will fully overcome this, and I want more than anything to help other people in the future. I know that in order to inspire others, it has been necessary to fight my own battle. I have always known God had a plan for me, but I had no idea it would be in the form of cancer. I have chosen to view this disease as a tool for my evolvement and I am grateful for the opportunity to share my journey with others.