Nearly three weeks after chemo, and I am feeling ok. I still tire easily. Radiation is the next big step, and I start that next week.

A lot has changed in my life since diagnosis. I have cut back on travel extensively. I have had a lot of time to rethink priorities, and I am considering changing careers once treatment is over.

My employer has been very flexible, and has really helped me a lot. I also joined the gym at work, and you can find me there five days a week. I finished chemo in better shape than I started it in. I do 45 minutes of extensive cardio twice a week, and 25 minutes of cardio plus an hour of weight lifting three times a week.

Lifting weights has been one of the best things I have done. I wish I had started lifting when I started chemo, as it has made a huge positive impact on my body and how I feel about it.

I am very tired and have to limit what I can do. Also, my white blood count is still very low.

It is frustrating that it takes a while to bounce back. Maybe cancer will teach me patience...

I think the lack of energy has been hard for me to deal with. I want to do things, but can't.

Facing mortality at 40 is also hard. It can disassociate you from your friends if you are not careful.

I am a member of YSC, an on-line community of breast cancer survivors who were diagnosed at age 40 and under.

I also am a member of a local young woman's support group.

Both are fantastic.

My family is there for me, but in a different way. I do not want to burden them with how I really feel.

I am thinking about taking a step back in my career, and taking a job with no travel so that my body has time to recover from eight months of chemo, four surgeries and radiation.

I work from home and from the office on a flexible schedule.

I am a lot less productive, and travel a lot less, than I did prediagnosis. I also don't sweat the small stuff.

I love seeing people at work.

It is tough, but you can do it. Take time off when you need to. And make sure you take care of yourself first. Eat a well balanced diet, and exercise.

I go to my on-line support group for help dealing with or preventing side effects of treatment, I search google scholar for information about my condition, and I call my doctor when I feel bad.

I would have done many things the same way, but I would have started to lift weights on the day of diagnosis, and I would have eaten more buffalo to help prevent anemia.