Alycia’s Story

Hi there! My name is Alycia, and I’m 34, soon to be 35 years old. Thank you for taking the time to read my story. I have a wonderful husband who has served in the Air Force for the past 12 years and a beautiful, almost 11-year-old daughter.

I was diagnosed with triple-positive HER2-positive stage 2 breast cancer, with lymph node involvement, on Sept. 11 of this year. I waited almost a month for my biopsy results, and as much as I tried to stay positive, something deep down in my gut told me I needed to be concerned. I felt my tumor growing rapidly, and while I hoped for the best, I somewhat expected the worst.

I’m four chemo infusions in, with two more to go. After that, I will have a double mastectomy, followed by radiation, continued targeted therapy until September 2025, and finally, my reconstruction surgery. I am currently set on a DIEP flap procedure. While I have a lot of treatment left, I know it’s a journey, not a destination.

My diagnosis was another major blow, as the past two years have been anything but smooth sailing. My daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in March 2023, and I lost my baby brother (and best friend) to a sudden car accident. All of this happened just one month after our family moved across the country to a new military base.

That being said, I try to find the silver lining in my day-to-day life. I’m so grateful that breast cancer treatment has advanced to what it is now, that I have access to treatment, and that I have a beautiful support system at home.

Again, thank you for reading my story and for considering me for a box. Have a beautiful holiday season!