New York fashion influencer Bridget Bahl has shared a worrying update on social media amid a tough week as her breast cancer battle continues.
In a series of Instagram stories, the 41-year-old revealed that she has been struggling with chemotherapy and suffered additional complications after contracting a UTI.
Hi guys, thank you so much for the prayers. I promise to do a better job of updating you going forward, she wrote over a photograph of Manhattans skyline.
I was feeling so optimistic about my recovery that I wasnt really prepared for what happened.
But in an effort to keep it real with you, chemo kicked my butt a little bit and somehow I got a UTI and ended up in the ER this week. Its been a tough week.
New York fashion influencer Bridget Bahl shared a worrying update on social media amid a tough week as her breast cancer battle continues
Bahl was diagnosed with breast cancer after trying for a baby with her husband last month
Bahl went on to admit she had been experiencing moments where she felt angry because she expected God to keep me safe and carry me through.
He ultimately did AS HE ALWAYS DOES - but I had moments where I felt discouraged, she said.
Bahls second post on Sunday showed her in a hospital bed wearing a surgical face covering, thanking friends and fans for their messages of support.
I feel so so grateful and super emotional reading your messages as so many of you have checked in on me, she wrote.
If you know anyone in a season like this PLEASE check in. Please, please, please.
Even if they cant/ dont respond it really will lift their spirit. I promise it has meant the entire world to me when I have felt weak.
I cant even describe how impactful a small word of encouragement or just a simple check in can be.
Same goes for people who are older and live alone. YOUR text might be their only one that day!
In a third post, Bahl reminded fans to never take your health for granted.
Like seriously even just being able to eat yummy food, get up and walk around with ease, exercise, she continued.
In a third post on Sunday evening, Bahl reminded fans to never take your health for granted
Bahl ended on a more optimistic note that she was getting back on track and looking forward to feeling 100 times better tomorrow.
Last month, Bahl revealed to her 1.4 million followers that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer which had spread to her lymph nodes.
Ive been avoiding making this video, she said in the tearful video announcement. It has been a really hard time.
She also encouraged fans to get any health concerns they had checked as soon as possible.
If you feel something, you have to say something and you have to get it checked out and do not wait. Do not wait.
Bahl, who married Texas-based plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Chiodo in a lavish New York City wedding last year, said they had been trying to have a baby when they received the devastating news.
She said she was maybe one or two days into fertility treatment, and had a routine sonogram and blood work with her doctor, when she told him she felt something in her breast.
And he said, "Were stopping right now, you have to... go in for imaging, Bahl recounted through tears.
The doctor called back just one day later and unfortunately confirmed that I do have breast cancer and that it has spread to a lymph node.
Bahl will now have to undergo chemotherapy, surgery and possibly radiation to treat the cancer.
Bahl said she learned the devastating news while trying for a child with her husband, Texas-based plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Chiodo
Bahl, who married plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Chiodo in a lavish New York wedding last year, said they had been trying to have a baby when they received the devastating news
She went on to explain that she decided to share the news of her cancer diagnosis with her followers because it feels like way too huge of an opportunity to not share, noting that Instagram comprises 90 percent women.
I know that by sharing this I will help someone else catch it sooner, and that is reason enough for me, Bahl added in the caption to her video.
The average risk of a woman in the US developing breast cancer is about 13 percent, meaning that one in every eight women will develop breast cancer, according to the American Cancer Society.
But in recent years, incidence rates have increased by 0.6 percent - though the rise in incidence rates in women under the age of 50 is steeper at 1 percent.
Breast cancer is now the second leading cause of cancer death in women, only surpassed by lung cancer.
The chances that any woman will die from breast cancer is currently about 1 in 40.
Still, Bahl seemed hopeful, noting that the type of cancer she has is very responsive to targeted treatment.