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Finding Strength in the Words I Live By: My Breast Cancer Story

Surviving Breast Cancer
23 hours ago
3 min read

By Summer Owens

I was forty-six when my world shifted with four words no one ever wants to hear. You have breast cancer. And the surprising part is that I did not panic.

My very first thought was the same phrase that has carried me through so many of life’s hardest seasons. S.O. What!. Not as in this does not matter, but rather I can face this. Then came the next question that always follows for me. S.O. NOW what?

That mindset became the foundation for everything that happened next.

My diagnosis was ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), stage 0, found during a routine ultrasound and confirmed by biopsy. I felt no lump. No pain. No warning. Just a quiet discovery that changed everything. I am grateful it was caught early, but hearing the word cancer still takes your breath in a different way.

In September, I had a partial mastectomy. I didn’t have to have lymph nodes removed, and I’m grateful I didn’t have to have chemotherapy. A blessing I do not take lightly. The scar reminded me of my C section years ago. Another physical reminder of something that changed my life and made me stronger. Radiation brought its own surprises. Twenty sessions later, my breast is so dark now that I cannot even see the scar anymore. And even in that, I found gratitude. I was still here. Still healing. Still moving forward.

Fatigue, brain fog, and emotional swings showed up too. Although I like to blame menopause for most of that and keep it light when I can. There were hard days, but there was also humor, honesty, and grace.

I am self-employed, which helped me schedule treatment around work, but it also means insurance and costs have been a challenge. My son is grown and out of the house, so I walked much of this alone. It was peaceful at times and painful at others. Still, I am grateful. So grateful. I looked forward to seeing my friends who are also fighting cancer when I went to my daily radiation appointments because their appointment times were close to mine. We shared stories, shared life experiences, and laughed and encouraged each other a lot.

What helped me with expectations were the friends who had been diagnosed with DCIS before me. They gave me real, honest expectations, and because of them, nothing felt as terrifying as the unknown usually does. And then there was the support I received from people who surprised me. Individuals who had no idea how much their kindness meant or how deeply their messages touched me. At the same time, I had to navigate the quiet heartbreak of realizing that some people I thought would check on me never called at all. That part was hard, but even in that, I found clarity, strength, and a deeper appreciation for the people who truly showed up.

Perhaps the most meaningful part of this journey has been turning pain into purpose.

A few years ago, I helped my mother pass out one hundred pink crochet caps at Race for the Cure. I had no idea that breast cancer awareness would one day become personal. This year, I created my own breast cancer awareness hoodie brand to honor this chapter, bring awareness to early detection, and share the mindset that carried me through. I gave my surgical oncologist a hoodie, and she even made a video about breast cancer surgery in it!

I share my story because I remember searching for stories just like this when I was first diagnosed. Stories that told the truth. Stories that offered hope. Stories that said you can get through this too.

If you are in the fight, just beginning, or supporting someone you love, I am praying for you. I see you. And I believe in what you still have the strength to overcome.

My journey was not what I expected, but it reminded me once again that obstacles are not the end of the story. With faith, gratitude, and the right mindset, they become the beginning of a new purpose.

S.O. What!.

Now, what will you do with your next challenge?