"Six Months Into Our Relationship, I Was Diagnosed With Breast Cancer"

The first few months of a relationship are different for everyone, but generally involve figuring out how to be yourself around this new person, how much information to share, and how to get past the gross and embarrassing things your body will inevitably do. It can take months to fully trust and be open with your new partner.

However, the whole process was sped up for one woman, whose cancer diagnosis showed her exactly what kind of person her new boyfriend was — the kind who would stick with her through chemo and a double mastectomy.

She posted their story to The Way We Met on Instagram yesterday.

"I met Danny at a bar called Iggy's in New York City when a mutual friend introduced us," she wrote. "Come to find out, we grew up 20 minutes away from each other in New England. To break the ice, he showed me his Eagle Scout card and jokingly asked me if I was impressed. I was instantly attracted to his sense of humour." That same sense of humour got her through while going through treatment after her diagnosis.

"He was there during my double mastectomy surgery, multiple rounds of chemo, and doctors appointments. While everyone else was walking on eggshells around me, he continued to treat me exactly the same — always making me laugh with his sarcastic comments and jokes just as he had before I got sick. It really helped having that sense of normalcy in my life."

While her family, other friends, and everyone else in her life were (understandably) upset and worried, Danny was able to keep his cool. And that helped her keep hers. While they had only been together for a few months before she was diagnosed, Danny stepped up and helped his girlfriend and her family survive cancer.

Now, they spend the anniversary of her diagnosis together every year.

"We both take work off and spend the day together walking around NYC and doing things we love. It's one of my favourite days of the year despite the fact that it's connected to something that was so traumatic," she wrote. "When you survive cancer, you learn to celebrate every moment you have with the people you love."