Staying Strong and Active Through Breast Cancer Treatment and Beyond
- Surviving Breast Cancer
- 23 hours ago
- 4 min read
By Tarah Markham COMMUNITY | BREAST CANCER STORIES
Six months before I was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer at 38, I started working out. I wasn’t really a fitness person. I didn’t have a routine or any big goal. I just decided I wanted to feel better and started showing up when I could. At the time, it didn’t feel like a big deal. Looking back, it ended up being one of the most important things I did for myself.
The Moment I Knew Something Was Off
I found the lump myself in December 2024. It was one of those moments where you just know. It felt hard and it didn’t move. I remember thinking, this doesn’t feel right.
I had seen someone share their story on Instagram before, saying that when you feel a lump like that, you just know. That stuck with me, and it was in the back of my mind in that moment. Still, part of me didn’t think it could be cancer. I was 38, healthy, with no family history, and two young boys at home who were just 6 and 3 at the time.
When I went to my doctor, she thought it was probably a fibroadenoma because of my age and history. But she still sent me for an ultrasound and mammogram, which I’m now so grateful for.
When they told me I needed a biopsy, I think deep down I already knew. But I was heading on vacation the next day, so I put it in the back of my mind and tried to enjoy the week away.
I was diagnosed in January 2025, the day after I got home.
When Everything Changed
Once I had the diagnosis, everything moved quickly. Appointments, decisions, trying to understand what was next.
At the same time, I had two young kids at home. Life didn’t slow down. School, routines, everything kept going, and I still had to show up as their mom every day while figuring out what I was dealing with.
Because I didn’t need chemotherapy and didn’t really look sick, my husband and I decided not to tell them. It was something we thought through carefully, and it felt right for us. But we still wanted a way to mark what was happening.
On the day of my lumpectomy, we had the kids release two balloons. We called them “Cecilia,” which is the name my husband and I gave my cancer. It was simple, but it meant a lot to us. It felt like a way to include them without having to explain everything.
What Helped Me Get Through
My treatment included a lumpectomy, a sentinel node biopsy, radiation, and tamoxifen. Through it all, one thing I kept coming back to was staying active. I continued strength training as much as I could. Some days it looked different. Some days it was lighter. But I kept showing up.
It wasn’t about pushing myself or trying to prove anything. It just gave me something steady to hold onto. It reminded me that my body was still strong, even when everything else felt uncertain.
I also worked with a naturopath to help manage side effects and support my body through treatment. Along with trying to eat well and prioritizing sleep, it all played a role in how I felt day to day.
Nothing about it was perfect. It was just consistent.
Looking Back
Looking back, I really believe those habits made a difference. Not in a dramatic way, but in small ways that added up. I felt stronger going into treatment, and I think that carried me through it.
It also changed how I approached recovery. I wasn’t trying to go back to who I was before. I was figuring out what came next and building something different.
One Year Later
I’ve been pretty private about my diagnosis. Only close family, friends, and work really knew. But coming up on one year since ringing the bell on June 17, I’ve been thinking about it more. Those milestones bring a lot back.
I feel strong. I feel good. But I also realize there’s a lot about this part of the experience that doesn’t get talked about. You move forward, but you still carry it with you in different ways.
What Stayed With Me
If there’s one thing I would say, it’s this: Taking care of your body matters.
Not in an extreme way, and not in a way that adds pressure. Just in a steady, realistic way. Moving your body. Eating well. Sleeping when you can. Giving yourself some structure when everything feels uncertain.
For me, strength training started before cancer, but it became something I relied on through it and something I’ve carried with me after. I didn’t expect it to matter as much as it did. But it did.
Read More:
On the Podcast: Breast Cancer Conversations
Episode 291: Breast Cancer Survivorship: Exercise, Nutrition, Sleep, and Support
