Hi! My name is Lauren Gritt and I’m 20 years old. I was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (BRCA2+ , HER2+), Breast Cancer, at 19.

January 3rd, 2022 humbled me. What I thought could never happen to me, happened to me. Can you imagine being 19 and being told you have breast cancer? I still sometimes can’t process it and I’m 4 months CANCER FREE!!!!!! But anyways, here’s my story!

I found a lump on my left breast in November 2021. I waited a week or so to tell my mom because I thought it would just go away. I didn’t know what a lump was? I heard of it before but never experienced it myself. I noticed it started to grow inside so I asked my mom what a lump felt like? She was like, “WHAT? Let me see!!!!” So we went to the doctor and I was scheduled for an ultrasound. I was then told it was common in girls my age. To just come back in 6months and not to worry. That didn’t set right with me. I worried.

We got a second opinion. We met with a surgeon and at first he said he would do a simple biopsy but he notice how bothered I was so he did a lumpectomy instead. My sample was sent off, and I anxiously waited for my results. January 3rd started off as a normal day. It then turned upside down within 4 minutes for a phone call saying I in fact had Breast Cancer.

My port was placed, I started chemo and that is how my journey began. I did 6 rounds of TCHP and 11 cycles of H and P. I recently started Kanjinti (a medicine that binds with my HER2+ gene). I should finish up around the middle of January 2023.

I had a double mastectomy June 28th of this year and I am meeting next week with my Plastic Surgeon to hopefully discuss a date for my implants! And hopefully my last surgery for a very long time!

It has been one heck of a roller coaster ride but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. If I could save one person from getting/ having cancer, I would. No one should have to go through this! EVER! But, I am now a Pink Sister㈭

My advice is, live every day like tomorrow is your very last. I see life different. I cherish waking up and getting to live another day.