As we reach the end of May, which marks Mental Health Awareness Month, it feels as appropriate a time as any to discuss the benefits of seeing a therapist. Even if you have a great support system of family and friends who are always happy to lend an ear, you may want to consider finding a mental health professional to further help you through this time. This applies whether you're currently going through treatment, are no evidence of disease (NED), have a parent or sibling diagnosed, or are a caregiver for a loved one with breast cancer. Mental health professionals such as social workers, psychologists, and psychiatrists are trained to help their people work through the spectrum of emotions you may be feeling- from the sadness and grief of a recent diagnosis , to the elation of your doctor declaring you cancer free, to the stress and fear of whether the cancer might recur or progress. Many mental health professionals specialize in working with patients with specific experiences, so finding a therapist specializing in the cancer arena may be especially helpful. Support groups led by one of these mental health professionals can be another way to access therapy while also benefiting from connecting with other breast cancer survivors. As always, let us know your thoughts and how you’d like to contribute to the discussion. Finding the right therapist for you Even survivors of cancer who have no mental health symptoms are urged to reach out to a counselor who specializes in post-cancer care. Research shows that fewer than a third of cancer survivors talk about mental health issues with their doctors, even though they are at high risk for anxiety and depression. Talking to a counselor early on can help keep issues from getting serious. Read More . Psychological and social aspects of breast cancer Although serious depression is not seen in the majority of breast cancer patients and survivors, many will experience treatment-related distress, fear of recurrence, changes in body image, and sexuality. This paper discusses the importance of identifying the psychological and social concerns of breast cancer patients in the medical setting, and assisting them in obtaining appropriate psychosocial services. Read More . Therapy can benefit both patients and their caregivers Partners can also be suffering. In one study, for example, men whose partners were diagnosed with breast cancer were nearly 40% more likely than other men to be hospitalized for severe depression and other mood disorders. Psychologists can help spouses manage the challenge of offering both emotional and practical support while dealing with their own feelings. Read More. Different types of mental health professionals and how they can help There are several ways to seek mental health help. Choosing what is most effective or helpful can be based on personal preference, cost, and what is available in your community. This article breaks down how social workers, psychologists, and psychiatrists each use different approaches to help their patients with their mental health challenges, and may differ in cost and insurance coverage eligibility. Read Mor e.

Imagine yourself in your favorite outdoor space. Maybe you feel and hear the waves of a beach lapping against your feet; or you hear the quietness, apart from a few birds; on a secluded mountain hike; or maybe you are picturing the warm colors of a desert sunset. Take a breath. You likely feel a little calmer already. Nature is calming and healing- most of us know that intuitively, and recently more research is backing that up. Even if you can't get away into the remote wilderness, spending time outdoors in your backyard, a local park, or even looking at images of nature can provide some benefit. In the articles below, read how nature is being used to improve cancer survivors moods, cope with diagnoses, and how the natural world has contributed to medical treatments. How Nature Helps Empower People Going Through Cancer Treatment ( UCLA Newsroom ) Nature, particularly images of trees can increase calmness and positive emotions. The Tree of Life Fulfillment workshop at UCLA's cancer center, uses these images and combines them with art and mindfulness to help patients cope with cancer diagnoses. "Taking patients out into nature, however, isn’t always an option, especially for those who have trouble leaving their homes due to treatment recovery or are in the hospital. With the support of the team from the Simms/Mann Center, which is part of UCLA’s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, [Sydney] Siegel, [a social work intern,] found a way to bring the experience of nature to patients: through the use of guided imagery, meditation and art." Siegel leads participants to "envision themselves as a tree located in their own very safe and comforting place in nature.While this is happening, they are incorporating deep breathing exercises that simulate the tree — taking deep breaths and exhaling, similar to the way a tree absorbs carbon dioxide and releases oxygen." "'I felt the dense wood’s strength and stability — just what I needed to counter the vulnerability my cancer has imposed on me,' Carol Mason said of the workshop. 'I also sensed a timelessness in the tree’s slow-moving life force that calmed my anxiety about my future.'” Read More. Nature and Breast Cancer: The Plants That Saved a Botanist's Life ( Natural History Museum ) Sandy Knapp is a botanist who works for the British Natural History Museum. When she was diagnosed with breast cancer, her connection to the world of plants that she studies gave here a better appreciation for the medications and treatments that saved her. The main compound of Taxol was originally derived from Pacific yew trees and epirubicin, another chemotherapy compound was originally isolated from a soil bacteria Streptomyces . "I've always known that biodiversity provides us with drugs for combatting conditions like cancer, but being on the receiving end of this treatment made me think about it in a new way. "It is not just the diversity of large exciting animals like those I saw in Africa and that set me up mentally for my journey through treatment that's important. It's also those elements of biodiversity that can be overlooked: plants and even tinier creatures like bacteria. Nature is the best chemist of all, and although we can invent compounds, those that have stood the test of millions of years of evolution are often the most efficacious. Read More. Nature-Based Therapy: Forest Bathing for Women with Breast Cancer ( Mind Body Soul Integrative Clinic ) In addition to the mental and emotional benefits of spending time in nature, researchers in Korea have found that spending just a few hours in a forest can increase natural killer cells, which are protective against cancer. "Natural killer (NK) cells are immune cells in the human body well-known for their ability to identify and reduce the size of cancerous tumors. NK cells and their associated “cytotoxic entourage” of perforin and granzyme enzymes, remained elevated in the bloodstream greater than 30 days after this single forest therapy exposure." "In 2015, a Korean study published a small trial of 11 women with stage 1-3 breast cancer. This was a two-week forest therapy immersion program. ... This clinical trial showed impressive results. Serum NK cells were increased by 39% at the two-week mark and remained elevated 13% above the baseline one week upon returning home. ... These findings support forest therapy’s substantial upregulation in tumor-fighting capacity of the immune system in women coping with breast cancer. While this subject pool was very small and lacked a control group, the results are promising as an adjunctive nature-based therapy, warranting more research." Read More. Why 30 Minutes of Nature a Day Is So Good For Your Health ( Yes Magazine ) So, nature is good for our health, but why ? "The two most common theories that explain this phenomenon are the psychoevolutionary theory and the attention restoration theory. Psychoevolutionary theory focuses on the human ability to have 'positive built-in reactions to natural environments.' Our positive connection to nature including low stress and high spirits has evolved innately as part of our species development over millennia. This theory accounts for nature’s capacity for improving our well-being but doesn’t delve into the cognitive impact of nature on our brain. For this aspect, we turn to attention restoration theory. "Attention restoration theory looks at the two main types of attention that humans employ: directed and undirected attention. Directed attention requires us to focus on a specific task and block any distractions that may interfere with it. For instance, when we are working on a math problem, or engrossed in reading a literary passage or in assembling or repairing an intricate mechanical object, our brains are totally dedicated to the task at hand, requiring our direct undivided attention. After we complete the task we often feel mentally fatigued or drained. Conversely, when we are outdoors, we may enjoy observing patterns or a sunset, clouds, flowers, leaves or a beautiful meadow, which call on our undirected attention. Using our senses to touch, see or smell in natural settings doesn’t require a task-specific, problem-solving approach. Instead we can enjoy our experience in nature and be rejuvenated by taking in the sights and sounds at a relaxed pace. Undirected attention is easy to summon and maintain and leads to reduced stress and anxiety. Read More.

As part of breast cancer treatment, many survivors are on estrogen blockers, and while estrogen is commonly known as a "sex hormone," it also plays a really important role in our metabolism. This is why for many women, breast cancer or not, it can be harder to lose weight or keep additional weight off after menopause. When estrogen blockers throw younger breast cancer survivors into menopause prematurely, it can feel like “cards feel stacked against us” when it comes to managing one's weight. Plus, the stress of a breast cancer diagnosis can lead to more cortisol, the "stress hormone," in our systems, thus making it even harder to lose weight. Even if exercise feels like a Sisyphean task to try to lose weight, remember that there are so many other benefits to exercise beyond the number on the scale. Exercise can help regulate hormones, improve mood, strength, and cardiovascular health, and be an opportunity to connect with others. If you are looking to incorporate more movement and activity into your life, join us for our Movement Monday series with Yoga Nidra next Monday, July 19th. Yes, You Can! Tips for Exercising with Breast Cancer (Healthline) Here are some things to keep in mind while exercising during treatment. Always talk to your physicians and especially a lymphedema specialist before embarking on an exercise program. They may recommend for you to be fitted with a compression sleeve to help minimize the swelling in your arm. The routine you used to do before cancer may not be appropriate during treatment. Your doctor can also help clear you on which exercises you can do on your own and which you may need help from a physical therapist. Read More. Study confirms resistance, aerobic exercise mitigates side-effects of AIs, improves health outcomes (Science Daily) A new study has focused on the effects of exercise and physical activity on postmenopausal breast cancer survivors taking Aromatase Inhibitors (AIs), hormone-therapy drugs that stop the production of estrogen. The work concludes that a combination of resistance and aerobic exercise helps mitigate the side effects of AIs and improves health outcomes in breast cancer survivors, particularly their body composition. Read More. Breast Cancer Survivors and Group Exercise (IDEA Health & Fitness) Exercise can also be a way to socialize and connect with others when you participate in group fitness classes. A study by researchers at Colorado State University found that group exercise designed specifically for people surviving breast cancer resulted in more improvements to quality of life than similar exercise programming led by personal trainers. Additionally, participants of the group exercise classes were more likely to stick with their exercise routines. "While all subjects’ physical fitness measures improved, participants in group training experienced higher measures of overall physical activity and quality of life." Read More. Exercise and Breast Cancer (Johns Hopkins Medicine) Exercise doesn't need to be intense to offer benefits. Even gentle activity like daily walking can improve emotional and physical wellbeing during cancer treatment. Listen to your body and what it needs; this might change from day to day. If you already exercise regularly pre-treatment, keep it up as you feel able, allowing rest when your body asks for it. As you move past treatment and into survivorship, you will want to consider the benefits of each type, and develop a fitness plan that works for you. Cardiovascular exercises like running, biking, or swimming can be helpful in managing stress and maintaining a sense of well-being. Read More.

Social media can get a bad reputation for being a time-suck or leading to unhealthy comparison. While that can be true, when we put the "social" back in social media, it can also be a wonderful way to connect with other breast cancer survivors nationwide and across the world. To more actively connect with others beyond just "liking" a photo, post, or tweet, try leaving a comment or sending a direct message to someone new. You never know what doors of friendship you could open. Because one of the many possible side effects of cancer treatments is insomnia, some find scrolling through breast cancer social media posts a positive and encouraging way to pass the time during sleepless nights by connecting with others going through similar experiences. The upside of this is, you're bound to come across others you can connect with posting at any time of day, whether across the globe or fellow insomniacs in your own time zone. Popular hashtags used in the breast cancer community are #bcsm (for breast cancer social media - read more below), #bcww (for breast cancer world wide), and #mydensitymatters (spreading the word about the role breast tissue density plays in detecting breast cancer). These are all great places to start if you want to join the conversation. And SurvivingBreastCancer.org has our own active social media accounts if you're looking for more ways to connect with our community! Breast Cancer Social Media (bcsm.org) What started in 2011 as a hashtag on Twitter, #BCSM has grown into a full organization to support and connect the breast cancer community. The hashtag itself is still widely used across multiple social media platforms (primarily Twitter and Instagram ) to connect and share stories. While content using the hashtag can be found at any time, there is a designated tweetchat every Monday evening for an hour beginning at 9 pm Eastern / 8 pm Central / 6 pm Pacific on Twitter. You can find tips on how to participate here . Read More. Breast Cancer on Social Media: A Quali-quantitative Study on the Credibility and Content Type of the Most Shared News Stories (Biomed Central Women's Health) As many of us have seen, social media unfortunately can allow misinformation on any topic to spread quickly. A 2021 study aimed to analyze how much misinformation about breast cancer is posted on social media and how quickly that misinformation spreads. Good news, the study found that most social media content relating to breast cancer focused more on sharing "real-life stories" and showing solidarity with the community rather than sharing healthcare specific information, accurate or not. Read More. Use of Social Media in Breast Cancer Awareness: Gulf Cooperation Council Countries’ Experience (Journal of Global Oncology) In addition to connecting with fellow survivors (and their support systems), social media has also been found to be a successful platform for spreading awareness. This 2018 study found that "media have been used to raise breast cancer awareness to promote breast cancer screening programs including self-exam and mammogram, benefits of early detection, and modifiable risk factors." Read More. Know Your Density (My Density Matters) My Density Matters is an organization that promotes the importance of knowing your breast tissue density. Breasts are made up of two main types of tissue: glandular, which is dense, and fatty, which is not dense. The proportion of those two in your breast will determine your breast density. The denser the tissue, the more difficult it is to see cancer on mammograms. By knowing your breast density, you can select the best screening method for you. The organization uses #mydensitymatters on Twitter to get the word out about this important topic. Read More.

A breast cancer diagnosis can unfortunately come at any age. For younger women in particular, who may be considering starting a family or having more children, this can also raise concerns about how their treatment could affect their reproductive health. Luckily, medicine is advancing and giving women diagnosed with breast cancer more options about the future of their reproductive health. Some women may have the option to “freeze their eggs” before starting cancer treatments. This allows eggs to be safely “harvested” and frozen for later use. Treatments like chemotherapy can also bring on earlier menopause. In some cases, this effect is temporary and is reversed once treatment is over. This is also known as chemotherapy-induced amenorrhea. The risk of amenorrhea after taxane chemotherapy like Taxol or Taxetere, or Anthracycline chemotherapies like Adriamycin (chemical name: doxorubicin), AKA the Red Devil, account for 21-71% in young women, and 49-100% in those over 40 years of age according to Pourali et al. "Studies show that getting pregnant does not seem to make cancer return. Some health care providers advise breast cancer survivors to wait 2 years before trying to get pregnant. There is a link between some hormones that rise during pregnancy and the growth of breast cancer cells. But there is no scientific proof that cancer risk increases if a woman gets pregnant within 2 years of completing treatment" ( Cancer.net ). If you've been diagnosed with breast cancer and are considering your options for family planning, here are some questions to keep on hand when speaking with your cancer care oncology team: Will my cancer treatment plan affect my ability to have children? Are there ways to preserve my fertility before I start treatment? Will my treatment plan cause problems during pregnancy, labor, or delivery? How long should I wait before trying to have a child? How will trying to have a child affect my follow-up care plan? Will trying to have a child increase my risk of recurrence? (Source: Cancer.net) From SurvivingBreastCancer.org Podcast Episode #114. Triple Positive Breast Cancer Under 30 In this episode, Tabby shared her experience of being diagnosed in her 20's, including the fertility options she explored. Listen Now. Breast Cancer Stories Rayna found the lump in her breast two months after having her daughter. She shared that she experienced early menopause at age 31. Two years after treatment, her period still hasn't come back. "My daughter is the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and if I can’t have another child, I’m okay with that." Read More. #106. Fertility Preservation Before Cancer Treatment Jessica was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 32. She was focused on her career, living on her own, and totally unprepared for what was ahead. Like so many of us faced with rapid fire decisions, we don't necessarily have time to research and learn about what options are available. Today we take a deep dive into the topic of fertility and breast cancer. Listen Now #50 - Egg Retrieval at 6am. 1st Chemo at 11am | Interview with Caitlin Edmonds, TNBC Caitlin Edmunds discusses her cancer diagnosis and the various challenges she had to overcome. She talks about getting a second opinion on her diagnosis, her experience with egg retrieval, and her chemotherapy treatment. Listen Now Content Across The Web How Menopause Can Happen With Breast Cancer Treatments ( BreastCancer.org ) Some breast cancer treatments can bring on menopause earlier than it naturally would occur. This is known as medical menopause, which can be caused by chemotherapy, or surgical menopause when the ovaries are surgically removed. Surgical menopause is a permanent change, but when caused by chemotherapy, this is sometimes a temporary state during the treatment which resolves once chemotherapy has been completed. “With medical and surgical menopause, the ovaries stop functioning and hormone levels fall right away (surgical menopause) or over a period of weeks or months (medical menopause) — not over a few years, as usually happens with natural menopause. The suddenness of surgical menopause can cause intense symptoms for younger premenopausal women.” Some chemotherapy drugs are more likely than others to cause medical menopause. Read on for more details. Read More. Fertility After Cancer (Johns Hopkins Breast Center) “Because of potential harmful effects in the fetus, you will need to be very careful not to become pregnant while on tamoxifen. Also, a fact not widely known is that tamoxifen was initially developed as a fertility drug. Therefore, even if you are not menstruating regularly, you can still become pregnant while taking this drug and it is important that you and your partner use a non-hormonal form of birth control. If you suspect you may be pregnant or if you want to become pregnant, make sure you discuss this with your doctors.” Although the data are limited, there is currently no evidence to suggest that pregnancy after breast cancer increases your chance of recurrence. It is often recommended to wait a few years after the completion of all treatment (this includes tamoxifen) to allow your body to recuperate. Read More. Reproductive Outcomes After Breast Cancer in Women With vs Without Fertility Preservation (JAMA Oncology) “The practice of fertility preservation (FP) in women with breast cancer (BC) is spreading, but long-term reproductive outcomes after FP are largely unknown.” This 2020 study out of Sweden compared the reproductive outcomes in women who did or did not undergo FP at the time of diagnosis. Using national databases, they examined outcomes of live births, assisted reproductive technology (ART) use, and mortality. The study found that successful pregnancy was possible among both women with and without FP, but women who had used fertility preservation had a higher likelihood of live births. Read More. Fertility and Family Planning After Breast Cancer Diagnosis ( Young Survival Coalition ) “Your options for fertility preservation and growing your family depend greatly on where you are in your course of treatment and what steps you’ve already taken. The good news is that there’s more information than ever for young breast cancer survivors interested in having children.” A few important things to remember: It can take over a year for your period to return. Your period doesn’t necessarily indicate fertility. Regular periods are good but don’t definitely mean you can get pregnant. On the other hand, absent periods don’t always mean you can't get pregnant. If your doctor confirms you are infertile, there are still other options for parenthood. Read More.

Over the last month, you may have seen yellow ribbons pop up in your community, in the news, and over social media. These yellow ribbons serve as a reminder to all that July is Sarcoma Awareness Month. Sarcoma Awareness Month aims to raise awareness about a rare, and often “forgotten cancer” that begins in the connective tissues and affects 13,000 people yearly. Sarcoma is a soft tissue cancer that is made up of many subtypes, mainly because it can emerge from many different connective tissues and can even arise in the bones. While many sarcomas are found in the connective tissue in the arms and legs, they can also emerge in the tissue that supports the ducts and lobules of the breast. Breast cancer sarcomas are very rare, but they tend to be higher grade and larger than other types of breast cancer tumors. The cause of breast cancer sarcomas is not known, and the first symptom, like many other forms of breast cancer, is a painless lump. However, as time goes on, the lump tends to get larger and may begin to press on nerves or muscles, resulting in discomfort and difficulty breathing. Treatment for breast cancer sarcomas depends on the stage, but often, surgery is recommended to remove the tumor as well some of the soft tissue surrounding it. Although rare, breast cancer sarcomas deserve the same awareness and research as other forms of breast cancer, and sarcoma patients deserve to have their stories heard. You can help spread sarcoma awareness via social media by posting the hashtags curesarcoma and sarcomaawarenessmonth or by displaying a yellow ribbon. You can also donate to the Sarcoma Foundation of America to show your support. Inflammatory Breast Cancer Another rare form of breast cancer is inflammatory breast cancer (IBC). IBC begins in the soft tissue surrounding the breast and causes the lymph vessels in the skin to become blocked. This blockage results in firm, itchy, swollen, and red breasts, hence the name inflammatory. Due to its appearance, IBC is often misdiagnosed as an infection of the breast, so IBC is usually not caught and diagnosed until it is already in an advanced stage. Treatment for IBC can include chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation and the prognosis depends on the stage and location of the cancer. If IBC is localized, the five-year survival rate is around 39%. However, if the cancer has spread to other organs, the survival rate drops to 18%. Learn more about this form of cancer in our podcast episode about anticipatory grief with Ginny Mason, Executive Director at Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Foundation. You can raise awareness for IBC by donating to the IBC Network Foundation or Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Foundation , or by displaying the pink, black, and orange ribbon created to symbolize hope and solidarity for women experiencing IBC. Paget’s Disease Paget’s disease of the breast is a rare form of breast cancer that forms in or around the nipple and is often referred to as Paget’s disease of the nipple. Symptoms start with scaling, flakiness, and redness of the skin around the nipple and can progress to tingling, burning, bleeding, or oozing discharge of the nipple. Treatment for Paget’s disease may include a mastectomy or lumpectomy, as well as radiation, chemotherapy, or hormonal therapy. And although there is no absolute way to prevent breast cancer, maintaining a healthy weight, getting regular exercise, and limiting alcohol consumption can mitigate your chances of developing breast cancer. This story from Natalie, a survivor with multiple forms of breast cancer, includes more information about Paget's disease. Sarcoma: The forgotten cancer “Any mass that’s growing, certainly if it’s bigger than a golf ball, should be evaluated. If it’s a bone sarcoma, a lot of times that will change the integrity of the bones, so a limp or pain with activity,” said Dr. Matthew DiCaprio, Director of Orthopedic Oncology at Albany Medical Center. Read More. Sarcoma of the Breast: Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of 991 Patients from the National Cancer Database Sarcoma of the breast is a rare malignancy with heterogeneous histology. Angiosarcoma, including secondary angiosarcoma from previous radiation, is the most common type of sarcoma of the breast. Other types of sarcomas of the breast have limited clinical and survival information. Read More. Diagnosis and management of primary breast sarcoma Primary sarcoma of the breast is an extremely rare and heterogeneous disease. The rarity of this tumor limits most studies to small retrospective case reviews and case reports and has made clinicopathological study difficult. Metaplastic Breast Cancer Metaplastic Breast Cancer is a very rare form of breast cancer that originates in the milk duct of the breast before spreading to the tissue surrounding the duct. Metaplastic breast cancer accounts for less than 1% of all breast cancers, but it can also behave more aggressively.

Guest blogger Laila ( @2sweaterpuppies on Instagram) gives you a glimpse into what it’s like to be only 28 years old and fight breast cancer. She’s a scientist. And, no joke, she finished her PhD in cancer research less than two years before she learned she had cancer. Laila Roudsari is not your typical badass, she’s next level: brains, beauty, and ingenuity. She’s a realist so you won’t find sugar-coated smiles or bubblegum optimism here. Instead, she details the important stuff: an almost missed diagnosis (everyone told her she was too young to have breast cancer), the science behind treatment options (because this is a comfortable space for her, unlike many fellow survivors, so she’s leaning in to shave the jargon off the science-speak), how-to’s on making it through tough treatments, and lifestyle changes she’s employed to live a balanced, happy life after cancer. Imagine your approachable doctor friend, who studied your disease, sat in the chair next to you, having undergone the treatments herself, and shared her notes with you. This is Laila’s space. She’s about advocating for yourself and your health first and foremost, and she does that by sharing the honest details about treatments and support (because how else will you know what to expect), spreading awareness about breast cancer in women under 40, getting real about which organizations are making a (scientific) difference, arming women with knowledge about the disease so they feel confident making treatment decisions, oh and advancing breast cancer medicine. Laila is a vibrant, enigmatic, kind soul who now researches cutting-edge technologies to advance what we know about tissue regeneration. So basically… a full-time badass whose proper title is Dr. Roudsari. For a healthy dose of real talk that informs and inspires, 2sweaterpuppies can be found here : Laila’s Story Laila’s pre-cancer bio: I was born in Charleston, South Carolina and I love the coast. I'm half Persian, half Southern. I have 1 sister, 2 brothers, and 2 awesome parents. I went on to do lots of schooling to earn my PhD from Duke in Biomedical Engineering. I'm now a researcher at a biotech company working on growing lungs for people with chronic lung diseases. Oh yeah, and I have 2 cute sweater puppies (actual dogs, not boobies) named Pharah (plott hound/pit mix, age 3) and Willa (wheater terrier, age 5) and a super cute boyfriend (who is also a former cancer researcher), Joe. Laila’s cancer bio: Diagnosis in January 2018, double mastectomy with reconstruction in February 2018, axillary node dissection February 2018, 6 cycles TCHP chemo regimen March-June 2018, 25 rounds radiation August-September 2018, continued HP infusions every 3 weeks until February 2019, daily Letrozole pills and monthly Goserelin injections for 5 years. ​ Stats: stage 2 invasive carcinoma, HER2+/ER+/PR+, BRCA negative Push Until You’re Certain: Trust Your Gut A technician at an imaging clinic spent less than 5 minutes looking only at the breast with the mass, then told me nothing was there and that I had nothing to worry about. I never saw the radiologist himself. It didn’t make sense to me. If nothing was there, why did I feel a distinct mass? I know I’m young and my breasts are dense but there must be another way we can see it. I even asked the technician about getting a mammogram or doing a biopsy. She annoyedly reassured me that, “You can’t biopsy something that’s not there.” She was certain we had taken the necessary precautions. I called my gynecologist later that day. She also insisted I was fine. She read the radiology report aloud to me and explained we were being cautious by having it imaged. I spent the weekend tormented. The only clear memory I have is holding Joe and crying together face to face. Somehow, I knew already that they were wrong and I had cancer. We researched the 2 best university hospitals in the area, found the breast clinics, and wrote down the phone numbers for calls first thing Monday morning. I worried I was being crazy and overreacting but I knew I had to do more. Wisdom from the unwise: I knew the genetics: I’ve always been worried about breast cancer. I'm a cancer researcher. I did an internship at the number 1 cancer center in the world. I shadowed a genetic counselor there and learned all about the BRCA mutation. After that summer, I was inspired to have my family tested since my aunt had breast cancer very young. She tried but her insurance wouldn’t cover it since she was cancer free for more than 10 years. Every year I talked to my gynecologist about it but nothing ever came of it. I tried to be proactive, but I wasn’t proactive enough. I had first-hand exposure: In 2017, I saw a high school friend who was 28 get diagnosed with breast cancer. I didn’t check myself. I also attended the funeral of my Farsi school teacher who died from breast cancer. I still didn’t check myself. Not once in all of 2017. So here are my messages to all of you: Check your breasts every month, trust your gut if you do think something is wrong, and fight for yourself. Find your rescue radiologist, and don't be stopped by the rude NPs with years of experience who can't be bothered to spend more than 5 minutes on a diagnosis call or the technicians who question why you need a second opinion. You're your own best advocate. The scariest part of all of this is that I could still be walking around thinking I was cancer free. And so many young women do. Dear Pinktober: Message From A Survivor Scientist What do I think of all the pink in October? As a patient, I feel very fortunate to have a cancer that’s so visible; a cancer that so many people know about, talk about, and recognize. But I think our focus needs to be not just on wearing pink. As a scientist, I believe that raising money for research should be the number one priority. And I’m writing today to convince you that you should feel the same. Research is what will advance detection and treatment and that is what will ultimately end cancer. Make your pink mean something by making sure your focus is on ending cancer. Here’s an example of a game changing advancement in breast cancer treatment. You may have heard of the term ‘HER2 positive.’ I am HER2 positive. For those of us that have HER2 positive disease, that means our cancer is very aggressive. It used to mean your chances of survival were a lot lower than women that were HER2 negative. Recent advances in cancer research have led to the development of targeted chemotherapies for HER2. What does that mean? That means the cancer cells have a lot more HER2 receptors on their surface than normal cells (picture a bunch of baseball gloves on the outside of my cancer cells, orange cups in the pic below). These HER2 receptors send a lot more signals to the cells to grow out of control, which is why it makes our tumors aggressive. Scientists have developed drugs that bind to the HER2 receptors to prevent the cells from further growth (picture baseballs that get caught in the baseball gloves, yellow squares in the pic below). Your First To Do List Alright breasties, I made you your first post-diagnosis to do list. Reflecting back, there are a few things (6 to be exact) that really helped me right after getting diagnosed and I’m here to share those with you. 1. Share your news on social media. Of course, you’ll tell your closest friends and family, but I could not have dreamed up how much support I got from sharing my news on social media. I was inundated with supportive messages, to the point that I even felt a little overwhelmed by the desire to reply to everyone. It cast a little ray of light on me when I was at my lowest point. Don’t get me wrong, I still had plenty of anger and I was more devastated than I had ever been, but it helped. People I didn’t know very well shared with me ways that I had impacted them in their lives. It was incredible. It also led to an outpouring of cards and gifts. I mean, who doesn’t want to get presents in the mail every day? I really do mean every day, enough to cover the walls of my bedroom with cards. People sent lotions, flowers, baskets, blankets, and jewelry; the list could go on. When I felt like my whole world was turned upside down, my support system was bombarding me with positive things to push out the bad. And it kind of worked. I would caution that some people will try to tell you what treatments you should or shouldn’t do, and share (very unhelpful) stories of relatives or friends who died from cancer. But all of that will be outweighed by the love you will receive. A community I didn’t know existed rallied around me, and for that I am forever grateful. A few of our favorite Instagram posts: These are my dreams, my wildest hopes for my life. This is me, here today, speaking them into existence. This is what I am manifesting. First, I'm a survivor. I never have to fight cancer again. I'm a lead scientist involved in the first engineered lungs going into a person. Once I accomplish that, I become a leader in breast cancer research. In this role, I make real treatment changes, getting treatments into the clinic faster. I work to disrupt the focus of academia on publishing and onto moving findings past the bench to the bedside. I start a company to culture patients' own cells to advance personalized medicine. I seek out causes of breast cancer in young women and once discovered, I push for awareness about these causes. I travel the world to form global partnerships with cancer researchers and improve the state of cancer detection and treatment worldwide. Through this, I gain a deep understanding of other cultures. I use this travel to experience life to the fullest, exploring the wonders of the world to feed my thirst for adventure. I use my knowledge of science to empower women with breast cancer to make informed decisions about their care. I change the way people envision a scientist by mentoring women in STEM. I have a family. I raise strong, smart, children who are open-minded, good people. I master yoga and salsa. I play the cello to feed my artistic side. I live a fully balanced life and I am happy. Inspired to speak my dreams aloud. You should try. It was such a good way to bring back the excitement I used to have about my future. For so long as a cancer patient, I've been afraid of planning ahead, refusing to even think about what I'd be doing in a couple months. I was afraid that if I made plans, I'd be let down if the cancer took my life away before I could do those things. But I'm here right now. And I want to try to live as though I've gotten the one miracle I wish for every day, the assurance that I'm going to get to live out all of my dreams. Pic taken the day before my mastectomy. I am a scientist and I chose biomedical research so I could #movemountains to offer patients treatments when they otherwise didn't exist. A mass was found in my breast in January, a week after my 28th birthday. I got an ultrasound and was told it was nothing by several medical professionals. #imovedmountains to get diagnosed with stage 2 triple positive breast cancer. I had a double mastectomy in February and #movedmountains by freezing eggs after so I can have kids one day. Then came chemo - 6 rounds of one of the toughest regimens. I didn't start moving mountains when I started chemo - my family and friends #movedmountains for me. My parents and boyfriend shaved their heads to become my baldie crew. They made countdowns to tear off the wall and checklists to help me track my food, meds, and side effects. My co-workers and friends made me meals. I ended up #movingmountains by going to the gym for 5 hrs a week, even if I was barely moving my legs on a stationary bike. I also #movedmountains by tossing aside the scarves and hats and putting my bald head and smile out there for the world to see. And then radiation. 25 doses I finished this September. #imovedmountains by going to work every day to do the science I love. Now #imovemountains by helping other breasties through their journeys, sharing tips for what helped me. #imovemountains by striving to enjoy my life and really live it to the fullest (I'm on an endless #cancermoon). This has been the hardest year of my life but I've come out still smiling, still me. I have big plans for how I want to continue moving mountains and impacting breast cancer. I didn't intend to have to move these mountains, but I have. As a former cancer researcher, I can do a lot to help other young women by forming bridges between patients and the medical field. Maybe this is what I was meant to do. So what did we tell you? Badassery on another level. Laila has clearly found her calling and we can’t wait to watch her journey continue to unfold. #longlivelaila

Your head’s spinning. A breast cancer diagnosis has you feeling shocked, upset, anxious, confused (enter your adjective). Then it hits you: how will you tell your children that you have breast cancer? As panicked as you feel, the thought of telling your children the news is maybe even more terrifying. There’s no right or wrong way to let your children know about your breast cancer (although it’s not recommended that you keep your diagnosis a secret). Remember that everyone is different and that you know your children better than anyone else, including the way to break the news with them. There’s no easy way to tell your kids you have cancer, but here are few things to keep in mind when you have that conversation. Find a Personal Level of Comfort First One of the safety measures flight attendants mention to passengers before takeoff is the importance of putting on your oxygen mask before you can help children. Keep that concept in mind before you share the news with your children. In other words, take however much time you need to process the information, so you’re calm when you talk with them. Plan what you will say in advance You don’t need a polished, prepared speech, but it will help to have a guideline in mind for what you want to say and answers to questions they are likely to ask. For example, they may want to know what cancer is in a general sense and how it will affect your everyday life. Consider a Gradual Roll-Out of the Information Trying to share the information at one time can make a stressful and challenging time much harder. According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology , parents should consider sharing the information with children in multiple, brief conversations to allow them to digest the information. Sharing the information as you receive it is a good strategy, particularly with my teenage children. Offer Age-Appropriate Information There’s an endless supply of euphemisms to describe cancer to children, especially when it involves young children. Before you choose one, make sure you have a solid grasp of your situation, what you’re facing, and what treatment you’ll need. Young children—toddlers and preschoolers—will probably be satisfied with bite-sized explanations that can be updated as treatment progresses, although you should be prepared to repeat them often. Share as much information as you can openly and honestly. Offering consistent, age-appropriate simple facts can help children cope—” Mom’s sick. It’s called cancer.” There are, thankfully, plenty of kid-friendly books that can help guide you: Nowhere Hair: Explain cancer and hair loss to kids What Happens When Someone I Love Has Cancer?: Explain the Science of Cancer and How a Loved One's Diagnosis and Treatment Affects a Kid's Day-To-day Life (What About Me? Books) Mom and the Polka-Dot Boo-Boo Older kids will ask tougher questions that should be answered with cautious honesty. Lessen Fears with Transparency Whether it’s letting them know that there may be changes to their routines, explaining who will care for them while mom is unwell, or being open about sad or angry feelings, is the way to go. While you don’t want to overwhelm or panic children, it’s okay to let them know what you’re feeling. You can say, “I’m really sad. I’m waiting to hear from the doctor.” Focus on the Positives Even though you may feel beleaguered and uncertain, try as much as possible to be positive for your kids. For example, let them know that you’re getting excellent care. Talk to them about the promising survival rates for breast cancer. Your goal is to reassure them without offering guarantees for the future. Eliminate Possible Misconceptions Young children can have misconceptions about your disease. For instance, they may think that they did something that caused you to get sick. Make sure they know that no one is to blame for your cancer. They may also think your cancer is contagious, like a cold, and worry that they can catch it if they get too close to you. Take time to explain how cancer works and that hugging you won’t put them at risk. Prepare Them for Possible Visible Changes in Your Appearance The effects of cancer can shake children. Let them know that cancer treatment is strong so it can work hard to make you better and that it may cause you to look and feel different from weight and hair loss. Explain that you may sometimes be very weak, tired, or sick at times, but you will still be their parent. Be Ready for Questions Your kids will likely have questions, including some you may not have considered. Recognize that their questions will probably be ongoing and may be uttered at any time. Give them the opportunity to ask anything they have on their mind. Realize that some of the questions may be difficult questions to answer. Be prepared for your children to ask whether you will die. Explain that you have great doctors taking care of you. Also, don’t be afraid of being emotional—it may help children process their feelings. It’s okay to cry together. Answering honestly and appropriately can help put them at ease and remove some of the uncertainty and fear of what it means to have a mom living with breast cancer. Finally, make sure to remind your children that they are now and always will be loved. Cancer won’t change that. Explore the extensive resources available at Survivingbreastcancer.org , and become part of our empowering community, including our Breast Cancer Survivor & Friends Meet and Greets . We’re always here for you!

By Erin Perkins I discovered a lump on the side of my right breast two years ago now, in November 2020. My son was still nursing so I noticed oddities in my breast more obviously. I had felt pressed to get an annual exam right before the lump surfaced, but I canceled the appointment because of Covid-19, and because my new primary care doctor said the annual did not include a breast exam. Now that I felt the lump, I also noticed I could see it protruding in the mirror. I worried, and simultaneously brushed it off. Over Christmas time with family, I decided I needed to get it checked since Dr. Google did not have any definitive answers for me. I saw my new primary care doctor on January 12, 2021, hoping she would say that it looked like nothing. She didn't. Instead, she ordered an ultrasound (I didn't know they did those for breasts) and a mammogram (my first one). I went a few days later, totally sure it was nothing. It wasn't nothing, but the techs and even the radiology doctor gave me no clarity. I left with an appointment for a breast and lymph node biopsy, and I cried a long time in my car before I drove home to my family. I still thought it would come back benign. A story for another day- my breast biopsy was done by a surgeon my primary care doctor thought might be a good fit for me. The surgeon was not a good fit, and I elected to transfer care. However, she did the diagnostic breast biopsy (not the lymph node biopsy), and she needed to give the results. I asked for them over the phone, and hopeful, I took the call as a quick break from playing in our first snowy North Carolina day of the winter with my family. It was January 28th, 2021 when the surgeon said the dreaded words, “Your breast tumor is malignant.” I was to turn 35 years old days later. The surgeon wouldn’t tell me much else, as she didn’t understand or approve of my request for transfer of care. She simply said, “It’s invasive ductal carcinoma. The new surgeon will explain it all to you when you meet her.” I had to wait until February 2nd for details. All I knew was that there was cancer in my breast, and it could have spread. After transferring care, with the thousand percent better surgeon by my side , I learned more information little by little. I learned I had Triple Negative IDC, then that the stage was IIB , the tumor was 3.6cm , and that although there was a suspicious lymph node in the diagnostic ultrasound, and in the breast MRI, the cancer had in fact not spread, and was indeed likely localized to my right breast . I had genetic testing and I learned many weeks later that I do not have any genes that make cancer more likely for me . I was given a port on the right side of my upper chest, and I started my 16 rounds of chemotherapy two days later on February 26th. I received four rounds of AC and 12 rounds of Taxol , and I finished chemo on July 9th, one week before my ten-year wedding anniversary. I was then given the choice whether to have a lumpectomy with radiation to follow, or a mastectomy without. It took me many weeks to decide, and I finally landed on bilateral mastectomy to flat because my radiation oncologists told me he would offer post mastectomy radiation to me if I did not receive Pathology Complete Response (PCR). I had my bilateral mastectomy on August 6th, and received the news with elation on August 9th, that I had PCR. Throughout my experience with cancer this year, I have leaned heavily into my faith and trust in God , believing and feeling that regardless of my outcome He is my refuge and my hope. I also leaned into my community and family , and all around felt held and cared for, and I’m just more deeply connected to my body, my community, and God now. I am processing my experience through writing. I have a blog erinmcdermott.wordpress.com where I share more in depth during and after Chemo. And I’ll say lastly that I am so hopeful that I’m done with cancer, but painstakingly aware that there is no way to know or control whether or not that is true. So I am just figuring out how to live here, in early survivorship. I’ve loved getting to know local friends with breast cancer through the North Carolina Breast Cancer Facebook group, the TNBC Thrivers through Instagram and monthly Zoom chats, the Elephants and Tea cancer survivors at their Friday happy hour, the Wildfire BC Magazine community at writing pop ups and paid workshops and through the print magazine, The Young Breast Cancer Project, and other ANGEL advocates through joining an advocacy cohort training with the Tigerlily Foundation and now sharing my story with Surviving Breast Cancer. I’m now a part of this whole world of people, thrivers before me and during, who find ways to walk through the hard things and keep going. -- Connect with Erin on IG: @erinleeperkins Thank you for sharing your story, Erin. SBC loves you! SurvivingBreastCancer.org Resources & Support: Our Podcast Online Support Groups Free, Weekly Events Read On Tripple Negative Breast Cancer in your 20's and 30's

By Amanda Raffenaud, PhD. “You have breast cancer and it’s stage 4 breast cancer.” This was the beginning of my journey with breast cancer: stage 4, right from the start. This is called “de novo” or “stage 4, from the beginning” and something that only 6-10% of all stage 4 diagnosed patients experience. All others—roughly 90% of others with a stage 4 diagnosis— will have had an earlier stage diagnosis previously. Nothing prepares you for these words. Hearing this stage 4 diagnosis, from the start, is traumatic. Absolutely traumatic. Your mind races with all what you could have done, what doctors could have done, for something…anything…to look different. But here’s the hard reality: I did everything I could to not get to this point. For four years prior to this diagnosis—yes, 4 years! —I was under strict surveillance with a breast surgeon. Due to family history of breast cancer (both my mother and grandmother), I was seen twice annually for breast ultrasounds and mammograms. The occasional cyst would show up and then I’d be given an “all clear” from the surgeon and sent home with a reminder card to come back for another check in 6 months. I even had annual MRIs. This surveillance happened year after year because there was never anything of concern until there was concern . One month before my diagnosis, I was at the breast surgeon’s office for my bi-annual check-up. An ultrasound revealed a few new spots but as usual, cysts were suspected. Even my mammogram from this visit came back from the radiologist as clear. Yes, all clear. But the MRI later came back with multiple concerning areas, suspicious of malignancy, including areas in my right breast, lymph nodes, and sternum. How could a mammogram be clear and an MRI show cancer in at least 4 different areas? Dense breast tissue , that’s how. Yes, it appears my very dense breasts (or cloudy tissue) made it extremely hard to see anything on mammogram film. As I’ve learned now, mammograms are not accurate diagnostic tools for everyone, and they were certainly not effective for my personal breast tissue type. And, even more concerning, how could I go from multiple “all clears” to a stage 4 diagnosis? That’s a question that still haunts me today. But I do know, there are some things you can do to be an advocate for your own care—both in terms of prevention and maintenance. 1. Take the driver’s seat: Your health is too important to take a back seat. The driver’s seat belongs to you, not your doctor. Ask hard questions. Get second opinions. If things feel off—either in your body or through your intuition—it’s okay to steer your car in a different direction and seek care elsewhere. 2. Pay attention to your body: Your body communicates to you. It often communicates quietly—and then loudly if we don’t pay attention—through aches, pains, fatigue, or just feeling off. I was struck with intense bone pain before my stage 4 diagnosis. My bones were aching, and it hurt to walk (femur bones aching) and even laugh (ribs hurting), but I did not realize this was my body trying to communicate. I now take great care to pay attention to what my body is saying to me. 3. Follow up on all scans and appointments : Don’t skip an appointment. Don’t neglect to schedule that recommended scan. If you do, things could be lurking in your body and you can miss a crucial window of time to act in a timely manner. Although I did not miss appointments or scans, I often wonder if I had taken the driver’s seat and paid close attention to my body, would I have been in a better position to ask the right questions and look deeper when things felt off? We can be our own advocate. And although we shouldn’t live in fear, we can live empowered. We can use the appropriate tools to take care of ourselves, pay attention to our bodies, and make timely appointments with a breast care doctor. Doing so will put you in the driver’s seat as you navigate the days ahead. About the Author: Amanda is a proud Florida native, born and raised in Winter Park, Florida. She is a three-time UCF graduate obtaining a bachelors, masters, and doctorate in health care administration and health leadership. She is currently an assistant professor at AdventHealth University and teaches both undergraduate and gradate students pursing degrees in health care administration. Apart from career, Amanda takes great pride in being a mother to two boys: Luke, a 14 year old 9th graders at the Geneva School, and Jimmy—an 19 year old, sophomore at the University of North Carolina in Charlotte. She and her boys enjoy traveling, hammocking, hiking, going to the beach and spending time with their adorable Labradoodle, Lincoln. In 2018, Amanda’s life flipped upside down. She was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. Not only was she completely shocked to be diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 39, but she was shocked to learn it had spread to dozens of bones in her body. She had no early stage breast cancer diagnosis and was even under the care of a breast surgeon for four years prior to this metastatic diagnosis. She has spent the last nearly 2 years in active treatment for stage 4 cancer, undergoing countless bone infusions, multiple surgeries, and monthly oncology visits. She is taking oral chemo to help stop the growth and spread of cancer. Amanda and her family are no strangers to hard things. Prior to her diagnosis, Amanda lost her husband, James, to mental health issues in August of 2016. Since then, she has become an advocate for mental health and wellness. She has spoken publicly about mental health issues and uses her social media platforms to remind others that their story matters and their lives are worth living. It has been almost two years since her cancer diagnosis yet Amanda is thriving and learning how to find life, even in the unknown. She recently received her yoga teacher certification and spends a lot of time in quiet outdoors, doing yoga, and finding joy in the midst of the hard.

Surviving Means So Much More Than Not Dying Hi, I'm Corean Foley. Diagnosed at 41 Stage III Double mastectomy 19 lymph nodes removed (5 were positive) 12 weeks of chemotherapy 6 weeks of radiation 10 years of hormonal therapy ​ ​And this is my story. Before March 3rd 2017, I thought a “breast cancer survivor" was simply a woman who had breast cancer and did not die from it. Boy was I wrong! "Survivor" doesn't give justice to what it is we really overcome. It's more than just "not dying"- it's about surviving the mental abuse that cancer will put you through. It will have you questioning and second guessing every decision you once were so sure of. A breast cancer diagnosis is about surviving the emotional abuse that to often leaves you feeling crippled, but with no crutches, it’s about surviving while everything you once knew about yourself is being taken by an unseen imposter that confusingly... is you! It's about surviving through every life changing surgery- some so painful that at times you forget how to breathe. Praying for it to at least lessen just enough to catch your breath, for just a moment. But overtime, the pain does lessen while little by little strengthening the way that we will view ourselves. We become proud to wear our permanent badge of honor and are finally able to see the beauty in the "new us," while becoming so much more than just our scars. But that won’t happen until we overcome everything we once never thought we could, like having my breast removed, possibly having my ovaries removed and put on hormone therapy to stop the estrogen in which fuels my cancer, leaving me to ask “If you take all of that from me, than how will I ever feel like I am a woman again?" ​​Being a survivor is the moment we are handed the pen in which our oncologist gives us and we are told to place our signature on a form (before we are given chemotherapy) stating that we understand that chemo will kill some of us. You see, I'm unsure whether I will win or lose my battle to stage 3 breast cancer, but that's ok because our fight is way bigger than just fighting for ourselves. We fight for the possibility that maybe, just maybe because of the fight in which we are fighting today, it will give my children and your children a greater possibility to never have to wonder whether they will win or lose their battle to breast cancer because we already fought that fight for them. Thank you for sharing your story, Corean. We love you. SurvivingBreastCancer.org Resources & Support: How To Talk with Your Children About Breast Cancer Parenting & Breast Cancer Affirmations & Meditations Breast Cancer & Mental Health Online Support Groups

Meet Laura And Explore Her Beautiful, Silver Lining My name is Laura, and this is my story. The Before Bliss I was literally bobbing along, floating in the ocean, in complete bliss and harmony. It was my 50th birthday, and I was on vacation with my family and life had never been better. I reflected on the previous decade: I’d weathered a nasty divorce, 10 years of single motherhood, the stress of being a career caregiver, and that I somehow had managed to keep it all together in the face of all that. Yes, I was heavier, yes I was addicted to caffeine and sugar, and yes I had long since abandoned my regular workouts for sporadic “when I have time” fits and starts of exercise. But on this day, none of that mattered. I had my 2 children, my 7 siblings and their families, my mother, and my wonderful husband of two years, all with me. LIFE WAS GOOOOOOOD! What Came Next Soon after vacation ended, I had my annual mammogram. Yup, you know what’s coming next, but I sure didn’t. Exactly one month to the day after my glorious 50th birthday celebration, I learned I had breast cancer. It was like being a happy-as-all-hell child, skipping around without a care, who suddenly falls face first on the concrete. How on earth could this be? Ok, so I had strayed a bit from my normal uber healthiness during my 40’s – HELLO LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES – but I’d always taken good care of myself. I didn’t smoke, drink, or use drugs, I exercised and ate nutritionally more than I didn’t, and it just made no sense to me. Well, I had about two seconds to think about that before a slow swirl of subterranean anxiety set in… and onto the breast cancer train I reluctantly boarded. Get an MRI, have a biopsy, get a surgical consult, make friends with the words lumpectomy, radiation, and sentinel node. Breathe in and breathe out. Change your care team from suburban and local to the big city specialists, and then have not one but TWO lumpectomies (because it wasn’t fun enough the first time), and THEN find out that you learned the words lumpectomy and radiation for nothing because what you REALLY needed to learn was mastectomy, reconstruction, and chemo. Difficult Times During my treatment, I had wonderful support from family and friends, and I know I’m very fortunate to have had that. It certainly made the chemo crater feel less like an abyss. Experiencing baldness (oh but my lonnnngggg hair – gone, all gone), anemia, neuropathy, nosebleeds, digestive problems, profound fatigue, and prednisone puffball status were certainly no picnic. ​ I felt frustrated to be missing out on life around me. As I made a dent in my couch from the abject fatigue and brain fog, I worried about how my kids were handling seeing me like that. I felt concerned about lasting cardiac and nerve damage from the drugs. I felt somewhat stressed that I might not have a job waiting for me anymore when I was finally better. My frustrations and concerns framed out some difficult times. The Silver Lining But inside the suck of it all came a beautiful silver lining: I was forced to slow myself down from the life I had before (birthday vacation excluded) and really dial in to what was important. AND what I needed to let go of. With lots of introspection, blogging, and journaling, I came to understand that cancer didn’t happen TO me, it happened FOR me. And as sick as this may sound, I’m grateful for what it did for me. My life now, with cancer two years in the rearview as of May 17, 2019, is so much more meaningful. I am now PRESENT. I’ve made significant changes in my life, for the better. I do my best not to sweat the small stuff anymore. (It’s all small stuff!) I vigilantly protect my emotional and physical energy in service to what is aligned with positivity, personal growth, and joy. (And I’ve even forgiven that ex-husband of mine! LOL!) I know I’m one of the lucky ones. Because I lived. I survived. And now I thrive. It makes me sad to know that there are many women who have to fight harder, and longer, and that their battles are much more proverbially bloody than mine. Cancer doesn’t care. It can take any one of us. For this reason, and many more, I feel it is especially important that we survivors speak up and speak out, and create the noise necessary to fund more and better research, so that the dreaded “1 in 8” can be a thing of the past. Thank you for sharing your story, Laura. SBC loves you! SurvivingBreastCancer.org Resources & Support: Writing For Therapy Breast Cancer Poems Our Weekly MeetUp Online Support Groups Breast Cancer Book Club

Breast cancer treatment often involves a combination of conventional medical approaches such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. However, many individuals also explore holistic or complementary practices to augment their overall well-being during and after treatment. Understanding these holistic approaches, their benefits, and their integration with conventional treatments can be valuable for individuals navigating the breast cancer journey. Understanding Holistic Approaches to Complement Breast Cancer Holistic approaches encompass a wide range of practices that focus on treating the whole person—mind, body, and spirit. These practices aim to complement traditional medical treatments and may include: Mindfulness and Meditation :  Mindfulness practices cultivate present-moment awareness, while meditation techniques promote relaxation and stress reduction Yoga and Exercise :  Offers physical activity combined with breathing exercises and meditation, promoting flexibility, strength, and stress relief Acupuncture :  Traditional Chinese medicine technique involving thin needles being inserted into specific points on the body to alleviate pain and promote overall well-being Nutritional Therapy :  Emphasizes a balanced diet with whole foods, antioxidants, and supplements to support overall health during treatment Benefits of Holistic Approaches Though they may not always be prescribed by doctors during breast cancer treatment, many holistic healing methods can yield several positive physical and mental outcomes. Patients incorporating holistic remedies can experience a variety of improvements, including: Stress Reduction :  Holistic practices like meditation, yoga, or deep breathing exercises can help reduce stress and anxiety levels often associated with cancer treatment. Pain Management :  Techniques like acupuncture or massage therapy might assist in managing treatment-related pain or discomfort. Enhanced Well-being :  Holistic practices contribute to overall well-being by promoting relaxation, improving sleep quality, and fostering a positive outlook. Supporting Conventional Treatments :  Integrating holistic approaches can complement traditional treatments by supporting the body's natural healing processes. Integrating Holistic Approaches with Conventional Treatments Holistic and conventional treatments can seem at odds with one another, but they can often be complementary when using an informed approach. For optimal treatment outcomes, consider the following: Consulting with Healthcare Providers:  Always consult with healthcare providers before incorporating holistic practices, ensuring they align with the ongoing treatment plan. Incorporating Mindfulness:  Practice mindfulness and relaxation techniques daily to manage stress and promote emotional well-being. Physical Activity:  Engage in gentle exercises, such as yoga or walking, to improve flexibility, reduce fatigue, and enhance overall wellness. Nutritional Guidance:  Seek guidance from a registered dietitian to ensure a balanced diet that supports treatment and recovery. Safety and Consideration Breast cancer treatment is not experimentation, and every patient should explore every necessary safety consideration before starting a new holistic practice in conjunction with their treatment. Be sure to consider the following for your safety during treatment: Healthcare Team :  Inform healthcare providers about any complementary practices being incorporated into the treatment plan. Individualized Approach :  Holistic approaches should be personalized to meet individual needs and preferences. Potential Interactions :  Some herbs or supplements might interact with medications, so always discuss these with healthcare providers. Conclusion: Enhancing Well-being Holistically Holistic approaches offer a multifaceted approach to support individuals throughout their breast cancer journey. When integrated thoughtfully with conventional treatments and under the guidance of healthcare professionals, these practices can contribute positively to emotional well-being, stress reduction, and overall quality of life.

By Kiara Ford A promising breakthrough has recently emerged in the ongoing clinical trials for the datopotamab deruxtecan drug . AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo have been conducting research as part of their TROPION-Breast01 trial, seeking to determine the effects of datopotamab deruxtecan against single-agent chemotherapy for patients with inoperable or metastatic HR-positive, HER2-low or negative breast cancer who are not candidates for endocrine therapy or have already previously progressed on other interventions. This research is taking place through randomized, multicenter, open-label trials with over 700 patients across Asia, Europe, North America, South America, and Africa. What is Datopotamab Deruxtecan? Datopotamab Deruxtecan is an antibody-drug conjugate , a class of drug designed for targeted therapies and most often used in cancer treatment. There are currently at least 12 clinical trials ongoing worldwide to study the effects of the drug on multiple tumors, with a particular interest in its effects on hormone receptor-positive, HER2-low or negative breast cancer. Breast cancer is classified as “ hormone receptor-positive ” after a biopsy to collect cancer cells. These cells are then tested to determine whether they contain proteins that can act as receptors for the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Cancer cells with receptors will require these same hormones to grow. Being hormone receptor-positive means that the cancer cells contain receptors for either estrogen, progesterone, or both. Hormone receptor-positive cancer typically grows slower than hormone receptor-negative cancer. HER2-low or negative breast cancer is a categorization based on the level of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) proteins in breast cells. At the right level, HER2 proteins can help control the rate of breast cell growth and maintenance. In cancer patients, however, a high level of HER2 may indicate that the breast cancer is growing and spreading rapidly. Specific drugs and therapies which target HER2 proteins, but patients who are HER2-low or negative typically will not respond well to such treatments. Does Datopotamab Deruxtecan Improve Cancer Survival Rates? The most recent development from the Datopotamab Deruxtecan Phase III trials demonstrated that patients whose cancer was hormone receptor-positive and HER2 low or negative had “statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement” toward the end goal of progression-free survival while taking the drug, compared to chemotherapy. Progression-free survival is the amount of time during or after treatment in which a patient continues to live with the disease without disease progression. The datopotamab deruxtecan trials seek to understand the drug’s impact on both progression-free survival and overall survival (the duration of life after initial diagnosis). This most recent study also suggests that datopotamab deruxtecan can have a positive impact on overall survival, but the data are still new and require further study before any definitive statements are made. These results are just the beginning of Phase III of the drug trials, and a greater understanding of datopotamab deruxtecan’s efficacy will become clearer as more data is gathered. Still, in the meantime, it is encouraging to see the drug yielding positive results for patients with hormone receptor-positive HER2-negative breast cancer. Learn More: Video: Clinical Trials 101 Clinical Trials Resource Guide Understanding Your Pathology Report: A Comprehensive Step-By-Step Guide Different Types of Breast Cancer On the Podcast: Breast Cancer Conversations Is the Medicine Working? Exploring Treatment Efficacy in Breast Cancer A bout the Author: Kiara Ford is a recent graduate of Emerson College, where she majored in communication studies and minored in health and society. She is currently a community health worker trainee with the non-profit organization Asian Women for Health. She is passionate about patient advocacy and health equity, and hopes to raise awareness and increase understanding of patients’ rights through her work. From the Same Author: Metastatic Breast Cancer: Understanding the Significance of Stage IV Breast Cancer and Healthcare Access Within the Hispanic Community Inflammatory Breast Cancer: Breaking Down the Basics

By Danny Barbare Content warning: death My uncle took her to the emergency room that night. She suffered from breast cancer several years. My immediate family stood around her. Her face was yellow. In her hospital room we tried to comfort her, afraid of the doctor giving her morphine, but she needed something. Later that night I was given a call she had passed away. She was good, did everything right, ate right, did her best. She died at a young age. That’s all I can remember, but a sweet, loveable sister we all loved. Share your poetry: https://www.survivingbreastcancer.org/submit-breast-cancer-story SurvivingBreastCancer.org Resources & Support: Podcast Weekly Meetup s Free Events

When we think about breast cancer, our minds naturally go  to things like early detection, treatment plans, and survivorship. However, we sometimes overlook another crucial piece of the puzzle: heart health . It might surprise you, but research has found that some breast cancer treatments can increase the risk of heart problems. That’s why it’s so important to look after your heart, too — not just during treatment, but also afterward. Continue reading to stay informed, proactive, and empowered every step of the way. Why Heart Health Matters for Breast Cancer Patients Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women in the United States , and breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women. Unfortunately, those who survive breast cancer may face an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease due to specific cancer treatments. According to the National Cancer Institute, some breast cancer treatments can cause short- or long-term damage to the heart.  These include: Anthracyclines (chemotherapy drugs) such as doxorubicin can weaken the heart muscle HER2-targeted therapies,  such as trastuzumab (Herceptin), can interfere with heart function Radiation therapy directed at the left side of the chest can expose the heart to radiation and increase the risk of heart disease later in life How Big Is the Risk? A study by the Mayo Clinic, published by the National Cancer Institute, found that women treated for breast cancer had a significantly higher risk of developing heart failure compared to those who did not have cancer . The risk varies depending on the type and duration of treatment. What You Can Do to Protect Your Heart If you or someone you care about is undergoing treatment for breast cancer, it’s essential to know that cancer therapies, while lifesaving, can sometimes affect the heart. The good news is that there are proactive steps you can take to support heart health during and after treatment. Here’s how you can take charge: 1. Talk to Your Care Team Start by having an open and honest conversation with your oncologist  about the potential effects your cancer treatment could have on your heart. Certain chemotherapy drugs, targeted therapies, and radiation — mainly if directed near the chest — can increase the risk of heart complications. Ask whether your treatment plan includes any therapies known to affect the heart and whether seeing a cardio-oncologist — a specialist who focuses on managing heart health in people with cancer — might be beneficial. Involving this expert early on can help you prevent or manage heart issues more effectively. 2. Monitor Your Heart Health Regular monitoring can help detect any early signs of heart strain or damage before they become serious. Your health care team may recommend heart tests such as: Echocardiograms  to measure how well your heart is pumping Electrocardiograms (EKGs)  to check your heart’s electrical activity Blood tests  to monitor heart-specific enzymes You can complete these tasks at various points — before treatment begins, during therapy, and follow-up visits after you complete treatment. Staying on top of these appointments is crucial for identifying any issues early. 3. Practice Heart-Healthy Habits Taking care of your heart can also mean making everyday choices that support your overall well-being. Here are some heart-smart habits that can make a difference: Eat a nutritious, balanced diet  of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Try to limit processed foods, excess salt, and added sugars. Move your body regularly . Even gentle forms of exercise, such as walking, stretching, or yoga, can improve circulation, boost your mood, and help maintain a healthy heart. Join SurvivingBreastCancer.org  for yoga, Pilates, and other movement programs. You can check out our full event calendar at https://www.survivingbreastcancer.org/events . Avoid tobacco use  and limit alcohol intake. Both can add stress to your heart and reduce your body’s ability to heal. Manage stress . Cancer treatment can be emotionally taxing, so it’s important to care for your mental and emotional health, too. Mindfulness exercises, deep breathing, journaling, speaking with a counselor, or joining a support group  can all be beneficial. Join SurvivingBreastCancer.org for   Thursday Night Thrivers , our weekly virtual support group with special meetups for metastatic breast cancer, early-stage breast cancer, inflammatory breast cancer, and a Spanish-language group! 4. Know the Symptoms of Heart Trouble As you focus on cancer treatment, make sure to watch for signs that your heart may be under strain. Notify your doctor right away if you experience: Shortness of breath, especially if exacerbated by minimal physical activity Persistent fatigue  that feels unusual for you Chest pain or discomfort Swelling in the ankles, feet, or legs A rapid or irregular heartbeat These symptoms can sometimes be subtle or overlap with side effects from cancer treatment, which is why it’s so important to speak up if something doesn’t feel right. Remember:  You don’t have to choose between treating cancer and protecting your heart — both are possible. With the correct information, support, and care, you can work closely with your medical team to manage your heart health while focusing on your overall recovery. Count On Us for Information, Resources, and Support  Understanding the connection between breast cancer and heart health  is essential for survivorship and long-term wellness. Healthcare professionals are increasingly recognizing the need for integrated care  that supports both cancer recovery and cardiovascular health. With the right knowledge and support, you can thrive during and after your breast cancer treatment and protect your heart for the journey ahead. Remember, you’re not alone. Rely on your health care team, loved ones, and support networks to help you through this time. Whether you’re newly diagnosed with breast cancer , are navigating survivorship, or are the loved one of someone experiencing breast cancer, you can count on SurvivingBreastCancer.org to keep you informed. We provide educational information to help you better understand symptoms , testing, treatment options , surgery, and other related topics. Additionally, we offer podcasts  featuring professionals, advocates, and caregivers who share valuable insights and perspectives. Your donations  enable SurvivingBreastCancer.org — a community dedicated to empowering those affected by breast cancer with knowledge, understanding, and a network of care — to offer resources and support every day, every month, and every year.  Note: This article offers general information and does not replace professional medical advice. Make sure to discuss your options with your healthcare provider. Read More: Treatment Tips & Questions to Ask Your Medical Oncology Team Exercise and Breast Cancer Managing Fatigue During Breast Cancer Treatment: Tips for Conserving Energy Nutrition After a Cancer Diagnosis On the Podcast: Breast Cancer Conversations Breast Cancer in Younger Women: Navigating Survivorship, Surgery Choices, and Lymphedema with Dr. Kohli Share your story, poetry, or art: https://www.survivingbreastcancer.org/submit-breast-cancer-story SurvivingBreastCancer.org Resources & Support: Podcast Weekly Meetup s Free Events

By Debbie Lesser Listen to Debbie on the SBC podcast, Breast Cancer Conversations: 23andMe Found my BRCA Mutation with Debbie Lesser Have you ever heard of The Butterfly Effect ? It’s the idea that something as small as the flutter of a butterfly’s wing can ultimately cause a typhoon halfway around the world. That theory pretty much sums up how I ended up here, as a BRCA1 mutation-positive previvor  with cherry blossoms tattooed across my chest. Let me back up. In 2013, I was a full-time medical sign language interpreter. I spent my days (and nights... and weekends) interpreting for doctors and hospitals across the country via video - picture Zoom, but with more emergencies and less “can you hear me now?” I’ve always been a curious person. A bit of a medical nerd, if you will. So, when I was accepted into a highly competitive medical interpreter training program (only 15 of us were chosen nationwide), I jumped at the opportunity. One of the speakers in that program was a genetic counselor. Her presentation was fascinating. Afterward, I thanked her, and she casually mentioned I could take an at-home DNA test to learn about my ancestry and health risks. So, obviously, I ordered one for myself, my husband... and our dogs. (Don’t judge… they needed to know where they came from, too.) And you better believe I spat in that little tube the second I got home. And Then… The Results A few weeks later, the results were in. I was fully expecting to be Scottish (thanks to reading the entire Outlander  series). But, plot twist: I was actually Polish, Russian, and Ukrainian. Which, honestly, made way more sense given my carb preferences. Turns out, I’m almost 100% Ashkenazi Jewish. Cool. Fun (and not-so-fun) fact: being of Ashkenazi Jewish descent puts you in a high-risk category for BRCA mutations. If that’s your background, get tested! Seriously… it’s a tiny tube of spit and a whole lot of peace of mind.  And then I saw it - BRCA1 gene mutation. I wasn’t alarmed. I thought: these at-home DNA tests are cheap, probably full of false positives, and besides, no one in my family had breast or ovarian cancer. So, I casually mentioned it at my next mammogram appointment. My doctor agreed it was probably  bogus but offered to refer me to a genetic counselor just in case. I said yes, not because I was worried, but because I’d never seen genetic mapping done before. I thought, “Hey, this will be fun and educational.” (I know, I’m a riot at parties.) At the appointment, I told the counselor, “I’m sure this is nothing, I just wanted to see how you do your thing.” She asked if I was Jewish (check) and if there was any cancer in the family. The only thing I could think of was my paternal grandfather, who died of pancreatic cancer in his late 70s. But again, nothing too alarming, right? Except... wrong. The genetic counselor recommended that I undergo additional testing to confirm the direct-to-consumer results, which indicated I did indeed have the BRCA1 mutation.   Now, here’s the thing: everyone  has BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes . They’re like your body’s personal cancer security team, meant to suppress tumor growth. But when there’s a mutation… it’s like firing the security team and leaving the door wide open. Suddenly, I wasn’t playing with house odds anymore; I was holding a losing hand. There was more than 60% chance I’d get breast cancer and about 39-58% chance of ovarian cancer . Not exactly the kind of gamble anyone wants to take, and definitely not the kind of lottery you want to win. I was 45. No family history. No warning. Just a wildly inconvenient mutation silently passed down through my father’s side; a family line I barely knew. My dad had no siblings, was distant from extended family, and both his parents had already passed. The counselor suspected the “silent” gene mutation came from him. The Family Web My mother is one of five siblings, four of them women. Still, no history of breast or ovarian cancer there. I, however, have five sisters (my dad has two girls from each of his three marriages… yes, it’s like a mini-series). I also have two daughters. I told everyone. My older sister, who has developmental disabilities, tested negative …huge relief. I’m the second oldest. The next two sisters tested positive. The last two have never spoken to me about it (families are complicated, right?). When my daughters turned 18, they wanted to get tested . They’re both BRCA1 mutation-positive. That moment hit me hard – not just as a woman, but as a mom. The Choices We Make After confirming my DNA results through a second (far more expensive) clinical test – not covered by my insurance, of course – I began the slow, messy journey of risk management. First up: full hysterectomy. Ovarian cancer is nearly impossible to detect early and has a 51.6% 5-year relative survival rate . I was done having kids, so this was a no-brainer. The surgery went smoothly. I was up and walking quickly. And thanks to a low-dose estrogen patch, menopause didn’t completely knock me flat. But deciding whether to have a mastectomy? That was harder. At first, I said no. I went with “watchful waiting” – alternating mammograms and MRIs every six months. I figured I’d cross the mastectomy bridge if  I got cancer. Then one day, at a routine mammogram, my breast specialist (the same one who agreed that the original test was “probably a false positive”) noticed my estrogen patch and said, “You need to take that thing off or get a mastectomy.” Then she hit me with this zinger: “Do you want your mastectomy with a side of chemo or not?” Surgery, Setbacks, and Strength So, on June 1, 2016, at 48 years old, I underwent a nipple-sparing prophylactic bilateral mastectomy  with direct-to-implant reconstruction using textured teardrop implants (yes, that’s a mouthful). Recovery was… let’s just say “challenging.” I couldn’t lie flat for two weeks because gravity hurt. I lived in a recliner. About three weeks after surgery, my right nipple developed necrosis and required an emergency surgery. (I now refer to it as my “wonky nipple.”) Three rounds of fat grafting followed. Then, in 2019, my annual routine MRI showed my left implant had ruptured. Around the same time, those very implants were banned worldwide for causing a rare lymphoma. So, hey, silver lining? That rupture may have saved my life. In July 2019, I had implant exchange surgery and, you guessed it, more fat grafting. But you know what? It’s been smooth sailing ever since. No cancer. Just scars, gratitude, and a new perspective. The Cherry Blossoms To reclaim something beautiful from all this - the surgeries, the fear, the lost sensation, the hard choices - I got a tattoo that wraps from my right breast up to my shoulder. Cherry blossoms. They symbolize the fragility and brilliance of life… how it blooms gloriously and ends too soon. They’re a reminder to live in the present. To bloom fully, even if briefly. To be grateful. Life is short and stunning, so pay attention. Previvor, Not Survivor… But Still Impacted Previvor  means “a survivor of a predisposition to cancer.” In my case, it goes beyond carrying the gene mutation. It’s facing your odds and choosing to fight preemptively . And yes, some people have actually said to me, “At least you got a boob job out of it!” Okay. Deep breath. Let me put it this way: A boob job is like remodeling your kitchen. A prophylactic mastectomy ? That’s like evacuating ahead of a Category 5 hurricane because you live on the coast (Hi, I’m from Florida). You demolish the house before  the storm hits, rebuild it from the foundation up, and live every day knowing you made the right call. It doesn’t look the same. It doesn’t feel the same. But I’m grateful for the choice and for my life. No, I didn’t “suffer” the way many cancer survivors have. I didn’t lose my hair or vomit my way through chemo. I didn’t have to stare down a terrifying diagnosis or wait for a doctor to tell me the odds. But I did make gut-wrenching, body-altering, emotionally exhausting, counterintuitive decisions – choosing to remove healthy body parts in order to avoid that suffering. That takes a whole different kind of strength – the kind that whispers, just because you’re not sick yet doesn’t mean you sit and wait to be . And through it all, my daughters got front row seats. They didn’t just watch their mom navigate risk; they watched her flip the script. They’ve seen strength that doesn’t wear a cape but walks into a surgical consult with a spreadsheet. They’ve learned that being proactive isn’t overreacting. It’s smart. It’s fierce. It’s survival with a strategy. They’ve learned to be vigilant, stay informed, and trust themselves to make decisions that are right for them. People have asked, “Why would you go through all of that when you might never even get cancer?” And my answer? Ask a breast cancer survivor if they’d have jumped at the chance to prevent it all… the chemo, the surgeries, the fear. I don’t need a crystal ball to know what most of them would say. The Final Flutter All of this, every test, every decision, every scar, traces back to a single conversation I almost didn’t have at a training I almost didn’t attend. And that traces back to a woman named Dr. Mary-Claire King, who almost didn’t get on a flight to present her BRCA research to the NIH in 1981. She got on the plane. She got the grant. The rest is world-changing science. I wrote to her once and thanked her. Because her butterfly wings flapped hard enough to reach me decades later. We are all  part of someone’s Butterfly Effect. You reading this might be part of someone else’s. And if sharing my story helps even one person take action, to get tested, talk to their doctor, or just pay closer attention, then maybe my wings are flapping too. Read More: Understanding Genetic Testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 Mutations Genetic Testing and Previvorship: Preventative Measures to Reduce Cancer Risk My Previvor Story From Fear to Freedom: Embracing a Risk Reduction Mastectomy The Power of Knowledge (My BRCA Story) On the Podcast: Breast Cancer Conversations 23andMe Found my BRCA Mutation with Debbie Lesser Share your story, poetry, or art: https://www.survivingbreastcancer.org/submit-breast-cancer-story SurvivingBreastCancer.org Resources & Support: Podcast Weekly Meetup s Free Events

By Kristen Carter Dear Kristen, I have gained six or seven pounds since I finished chemo and began taking Letrozole. Nothing fits, I don’t feel like I look like a woman anymore, and my oncologist and PCP say there’s nothing they can do. Please help; I’m desperate and hate the way I look. B.E. Dear B.E. I’m so sorry to hear you’ve been struggling with this issue, which is one so many of us in our community face. I am not a metabolism expert, but fortunately our president, Laura Carfang, has done some research on this AND has sought the advice of people who are. That content will begin to appear in this newsletter beginning in April or May. One thing Laura discovered in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism is that women on Letrozole and other aromatase inhibitors had a greater percentage of body fat and insulin resistance compared to those with no history of breast cancer. They are also more likely to develop high cholesterol, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. In short, you are in very good company, even though you’d rather not be. Laura is also on Letrozole and wrote a blog not too long about her personal struggles with weight gain as well. When you next speak to your doctors about this, ask for targeted advice for your situation, and insist they take you seriously. What you are going through is tough and they may have recommendations to refer you to a nutritionist. Members in our breast cancer community also rave about the Live Strong program, which also provides participants with a gym membership. As for the non-metabolic aspect of your question, as a life coach and someone who has experienced my own permanent physical changes due to cancer treatment, I would love to wave a magic wand over you and help you appreciate your body regardless of the numbers on the scale. When I was first diagnosed and given a few weeks to live (I was already in liver failure), I realized just how precious this bag of skin and bones is to me. I was almost always critical of it until then, finding flaws by comparing myself to others and my own ideal image of myself. All off a sudden, *poof*, it was my favorite place to be in the whole universe, and I wanted to keep it forever (or at least a few more decades). I know my story is pretty dramatic, but all of us who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and lived through therapy could look down at our amazing bodies and say, “Geez, you’ve dealt with so much. Thank you for coping and getting me this far.” Not only would kinder self-talk feel better, it could also help you achieve your health goals. According to research by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, being dissatisfied with your body leads to poorer health behaviors like binge eating, lower levels of physical activity, and less fruit and vegetable intake. It’s like we’re punishing the poor thing for not being the way we want it to be. On the other hand, people with positive feelings about their bodies were more likely to engage in healthier behaviors. Simple steps anyone can incorporate include: Starting the morning off with a big glass of water to wake up your insides. I love the visual imagery of water washing over my body! Incorporate movement into your day. Perhaps a stroll after dinner to wind down, or a few quick 10-minute walks throughout the day. I recently started Taxol, which has sapped my energy so much that even a stroll down the block and back feels like a long walk, but it makes me feel so much better. Capture your feelings in a journal – the good, the bad, and the ugly. Laura noticed that when she starts journaling about the weight gain and frustration, she often ends her journal entry with “new day same goal” and recommits to making healthy choices one day at a time. We’re in it for the long game! Try choosing one day a week where you eat vegetarian or vegan, and play around with new recipes. And of course , check out the number of Movement Monday classes SBC offers, you’ll be with an amazing community of women who enjoy yoga, meditation, Zumba and more! No matter your weight, shape, or size, you matter. You are lovable, loved passionately by the universe, and deserve to be kind to yourself. I’ll let the poet Mary Oliver take it from here: Wild Geese You do not have to be good. You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert repenting. You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves. Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine. Meanwhile the world goes on. Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain are moving across the landscapes, over the prairies and the deep trees, the mountains and the rivers. Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air, are heading home again. Whoever you are, no matter how lonely, the world offers itself to your imagination, calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting – over and over announcing your place in the family of things. xo Kristen

By Kristen Carter Dear Kristen, Do you have any suggestions for dealing with moodiness? Between the stress of having breast cancer and the side effects of treatment, I get irritable so easily. I’ve even snapped at my daughter, who’s the most important person in my life! I’d love some ideas for staying calm. First of all, give yourself some compassion for your irritable feelings; it’s no wonder you have them when the major stressors of cancer, surgery, radiation, and/or chemo are invading your life. Additionally, if you are pre-menopausal, chemotherapy and hormonal therapies can throw you into forced menopause causing a dramatic shift in your hormones. Acknowledging your emotions and being gentle with yourself for having them is sometimes enough to let a little light shine into your dark mood. If you are looking for more recommendations beyond giving yourself grace, try one or more of the following strategies: Ask Yourself, “Why?” It might feel like it’s the slow cashier who’s causing your blood to boil, but in truth it might be the fact that you’re tired or nauseous or worried about tomorrow’s scan. Try Smiling When you smile, your brain releases tiny molecules called neuropeptides to help fight off stress. And a 2019 meta-analysis of 138 research studies showed that smiling makes people happier. Laughter can also be a great mood-changer; try TikTok, YouTube, favorite comedians, laughing yoga – anything to help crack open your negative mood. Give Yourself a Time-Out It works with young children and it can work for you, too – ask whoever you’re with to please excuse you, then go somewhere quiet and calming for a few minutes. Get Some Perspective This is one of my personal favorites: Imagine watching the scene you’re in from a different spot in the room, like above it all, floating next to the ceiling. This perspective gives me just enough space to see how temporary the situation really is and to calm down. Another trick: imagine standing behind the other person and seeing things from their point of view. Belly Breathe When we’re stressed, we tend to breathe in and out of our chest, which signals to the brain that we are under threat. Taking big, deep breaths in and out of your belly, on the other hand, tells your brain that you are safe and helps calm down your whole nervous system. Surviving Breast Cancer offers several free programs to help get you breathing, including Zumba with Angela Rose, Restorative Yoga with Kate, and Group Meditation with Gloria. Be Grateful It is difficult, if not impossible, to feel gratitude and stress at the same time. So make a quick mental list of things you’re grateful for right at that moment, even if it’s as simple as “life is precious and every day is a miracle.” If you try these and still blow your top, the best thing to do is apologize. You’ll probably wish you had behaved differently, so say so. Acknowledge what you said or did and the impact it had on the other person, say you’re sorry, and promise that you won’t let it happen again. If you end up on the receiving end of someone else’s bad mood, forward this column with a note that says something like, “I love you and I know you’re going through a hard time, but I’m feeling stressed out by what you’re saying/doing. Here are some lovely ideas that might help.” Advice From Others in the SBC Community I really loved your question and wanted to garner perspective from what other people in our SBC community do and keep in their tool box when their emotions are wild. I turned to Laura, the Executive Director of SBC to ask her what her tactics are. Here’s what she shared: “As a Scorpio, I love hard and I fight hard. Throw a cancer diagnosis on top of that and deplete my estrogen to zilch, you have complete chaos! Here are my go-tos: Exercise. I am someone who has no time and I cannot always prioritize exercising 30 minutes a day, but I always try to get the heart pumping for a minimum of 10 minutes. If I break my day up into a few bursts of jumping jacks in between zoom calls, a brisk 110 minute walk with the pup at lunch, and then maybe some light weights at the stove while I am waiting for the water to boil for dinner, bam – somehow I reached my 30 minutes of exercise that day. Remember, it’s ok to break things up and exercise has been a great tool for me to release steam. Similar to what you mentioned above about receiving other people’s bad energy, a friend told me about this visualization technique that I love to do to kick off my nighttime routine (this can also be done before walking into the house after a long day at work, before picking up your kids at school, etc). I take several deep breaths to ground myself and I literally wipe off the bad energy that clung itself to my body. Literally, I will go through the motions of wiping off my arms, my shoulders, and my legs. Bad vibes don’t always cling either. I take my hand in the form of scissors and literally cut away the strings of cobwebs around me, literally detaching myself from the negativity. Finally, I visualize the “crazy” float off of me and drift far far away. Lastly, I want to break the stigma that seeing a psychiatrist is a bad and shameful thing that we need to keep secret. No, seeing a psychiatrist is to be rewarded! It means you are carving out time for you! It means you are engaging in self care. It means you are getting help and support! Having constant mood swings was impacting my day to day life. I was so sensitive at work, I would have to rush to the bathroom sometimes to burst into tears. Seeing a colleague's email pop up in my inbox gave me so much anxiety I couldn’t even open the message. My debilitating anger was unmanageable (after all, I was the vegan who got cancer!). After seeing a psychiatrist, I am on medication to help create balance. I am proud of this because it enables me to remain on my treatment regimen and for me, that was my priority.” Wishing you peace, Kristen

By Kristen Carter Dear Kristen, I’ve always been a positive person and I’m trying to stay positive since my recent cancer diagnosis, but it’s hard work. I believe our emotions and thoughts help create our reality, and that my positive thoughts will help me with healing. How do I stay upbeat instead of giving in to fear and anxiety and other negativity? Dear Reader, You’re right that our attitudes play a large part in our healing, and I thought I’d give you some good hard data to back this up. In one study, Johns Hopkins researcher Lisa Yanek and her colleagues explored the effects of positive and negative thinking on patients with a family history of heart disease. Her findings concluded that people with a family history of heart disease who also had a positive outlook were one-third less likely to have a heart attack or other cardiovascular event within five to 25 years than those with a more negative outlook. Yanek’s findings are relevant to those of us with breast cancer because positive thinking offered protection from the inflammatory damage of stress (inflammation is a factor in cancer as well), and the more positive people also made better health and life decisions. On the flip side, the researchers found that negative emotions can weaken immune responses. Much research on the link between our emotions and our health has also been done by scientists in the field of positive psychology as well. In a number of different studies, people who reported having the highest levels of happiness also had: Improved heart health (Steptoe & Wardle, 2005) The ability to combat stress more effectively (Zautra, Johnson & Davis, 2005) Reduced risk for stroke (Ostir, Markides, Peek & Goodwin, 2001) A stronger immune system, leading to greater health all around and the ability to fight off illness and disease more effectively (Stone et al, 1987, Cohen et al, 2003, Marsland et al, 2006). An overall healthier lifestyle including eating a healthier diet (Dubois et al, 2012), engaging in more physical activity (Sapranaviciute-Zabazlajeva et al, 2017), and overcoming poor sleeping habits (Steptoe et al, 2008). A better ability to mitigate pain (Zautra, Johnson & Davis, 2005) Increased longevity: Researchers believe that because of the impact happiness has on all of the above health benefits, it can ultimately help you live a longer life (Carstensen et al, 2011, Lawrence, Rogers & Wadsworth, 2015, Chida & Steptoe, 2008). So, there are plenty of reasons to lean into your positive emotions and to cultivate as much positive energy as you can. But all this doesn’t mean we should try to be only positive all the time. Doing so would be to ignore reality when you’re living with something as serious as breast cancer. All your thoughts and feelings are valid, and trying to suppress the negative ones is like trying to hold an inflated beach ball underwater: exhausting and futile. It’s gonna pop up sooner or later. The trick is to not dwell on those negative thoughts, ruminating on them and letting them take over our whole lives. To process negative emotions, try this technique: Take one negative emotion at a time and imagine it as a tiny human or creature standing in the palm of your left hand. What does she/it look like? A monster? A dictator? A scolding parent? A wild version of yourself? What does she have to say? Let her say everything that’s on her mind until she grows quieter and more still. Thank her for sharing all that valuable information with you, and sympathize with her emotions by saying something like, “I totally get what you’re telling me and I empathize with what you’re going through. It isn’t easy.” Ask her what she needs most. Can you grant this wish? If yes, promise to do so. If not, tell her you will do your best to find the solution. Ask if there is anything more this small person wants to say to you, and repeat the last few steps until she feels fully seen, safe, and supported by you. Invite her to return to her place within your body/ mind/ system and promise her you will check in on her regularly to ensure she is still feeling okay. Check in with her daily for a few days, see if she needs to talk to you, and repeat this process if things come up. A couple of years ago I created an evening journaling process that helped build my positive emotions and also allowed me to touch base with my negative emotions. On one page of my journal, I wrote three things I was grateful for and what I did to make those things happen (this builds a sense of empowerment and agency), and then wrote down one thing that was really bothering me that day. It allowed me to get that thought out of my head and onto paper, and sometimes that was all I needed to move on. Other times, I used the seven steps above as journaling prompts and wrote until I felt I understood the problem well and had taken some of the intensity out of it. Finally, the best way to boost overall happiness is to experience more moments of happiness; happiness is fleeting, so plan ways to experience small doses of it as often as you can. xo Kristen

By, William Laferriere, Survivingbreastcancer.org board member Hello darkness my old friend.... I’ve come to talk with you again, Because a vision softly creeping, Left it’s seeds while I was sleeping. Fools, said I you do not know, how Silence like a cancer grows… Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel, The Sounds of Silence While hosting an exhibit booth recently with survivingbreastcancer.org founder Laura Carfang at the CelebASIANS Breast Cancer Awareness benefit in Boston, MA, I met a survivor who approached with the plaintive cry that “I am so lonely”. I walked around the exhibit table, hugged her and said that she had come to the right place, exemplified by our raison d'etre @ survivingbreastcancer.org , where we attempt to empower breast cancer survivors from day one. I suggested that she join our Fb group and introduce herself and enjoin our community of Survivors. Loneliness is a complex and unusually unpleasant response to isolation, and ergo, a lack of companionship. A great Beatles song, Eleanor Rigby opined: All the lonely people, Where do they all come from? All the lonely people, Where do they all belong? The affects of loneliness are felt by many of our vaunted breast cancer community. Early on at the September, 2018 Living Beyond Breast Cancer Conference in Philadelphia, PA an elderly woman approached our exhibit table and talked at length about her diagnosis and long term treatment and survivability, but then said she mostly came over for hugs and an embrace from Laura and myself. We gladly obliged and she asked us what we we @ survivingbreastcancer.org were all about. I gave her the impromptu response that “We look to inject positivity into the fabric of a heinous diagnosis”. At a white water raft trip last summer in the Poconos, along with the Staten Island Cancer Tamer gang we shared a communal experience of rafting, zip lining and Soul Re-engineering’s Claudia and Jim’s incredible Shamanic, Akashic Lakota chanting/readings/cleansing on the waterfront. At the end of the day we performed a group hug. One of the survivors, currently a second time stage 4 BC diagnosis at the age of 74, held onto me for a prolonged hug and told me that we had just made her so incredibly happy. We’ve also met survivors whose spouses couldn’t handle the impact-fulness of a BC diagnosis and treatment; many verbalized that their family and friends couldn’t handle either. One woman contacted me through our website and informed me that her spouse had an affair while she was in the hospital having her surgery. He proceeded to leave her for the other woman shortly thereafter. I suggested that by just reaching out she was halfway back from the despair of loneliness and invited her to join us as well. Laura and I have discussed these, and other similar stories of loneliness, and despair, and how valuable community, embracing, and hugging were and how these consistently contributed to enhancing the health and wellness of a survivor. Studies (credit below) have found that part of the reason for this loneliness is because the person with breast cancer is experiencing situations and emotions that few others can understand. Experiencing loneliness, especially chronic loneliness, may aggravate the cancer. In fact these studies “have determined that rats who were isolated experienced increased incidences of breast cancer. The tumors were significantly larger than in the rats who were not isolated. The researchers suggested that people who experience high degrees of loneliness may also experience greater degrees of breast cancer as well.” Therefore, lonely women could be at greater risk of breast cancer returning or exacerbating. Scientists have shown the stress and anxiety caused by ‘social isolation’ can speed up the growth of potentially deadly tumors. Other studies have shown that social support and friendship can boost a woman’s chances of recovering from breast cancer, and that the lonely and depressed are more vulnerable to a host of serious diseases. Warner (credit below) identifies the relationship between loneliness and decreased immune functioning as well as increased inflammation, all of which may negatively impact attempts at treating breast cancer. Even after a person goes into remission, loneliness continues to linger. Mary Rosedale (credit below), in her research talks about survivor loneliness of breast cancer survivors. “Their experience of loneliness included several themes such as emerging consciousness, in which women talked about the ongoing feelings of loneliness despite others being around and transcending time, where family and friends often moved on from the breast cancer experience whereas the women were still dealing with it. Often this would happen after the first year, when people assumed that the women have moved on.” Misunderstanding “was another theme that focused around how even those closest to them misunderstood how breast cancer changed their lives. One other important theme was withholding truth, which discussed how these women would censor what they say, and not communicate what they are really thinking or feeling. Withholding truth was a form of protection from having to hear feedback from others; feedback that is often hurtful, such as confirming a fear or having others feel sorry for them.” So, what can be done for those who are currently experiencing or have experienced breast cancer and loneliness? The process of connecting to others who are experiencing similar conditions is a common thread among support/self-help groups. The powerful component of these groups is the ability to be authentic, to reveal one’s fears, desires, hopes, and concerns to others who “get it” because they have similar experiences. In those groups, it’s okay to say, “I am scared about a relapse,” because there are others in the room who are scared as well. The point at which a person can become authentic, vulnerable, and truly connect with others is the point at which loneliness begins to disappear. Support groups are an excellent way of doing that, but certainly paying attention to feelings of loneliness and making deliberate attempts to be authentic, vulnerable, and to connect to important loved ones is also a great strategy. In closing a look at loneliness through the eyes of a poet: I shiver melancholia, entombed with my winter blues in the dark dreamless hollow of my frowning igloo. Draped in decor of dispirited drear I wear a wistful woebegone fog, an overcoat of overcast moods sown of sneering sunless, scentless days. I weep wall to wall in the long light-less nights alone with my lonely longings~ my psyche withers a little more each dull day, I shrivel. I shiver sadness, my colorless tears cry out loud for color; yearning for watermelon sunsets, pink sands and swirls of marigold kisses, for rainbows to color my lackluster laughter and fireworks to celebrate in my mirthless eyes, for Sol’s warm hands to tenderly undress and caress me and lay bare my soul straitjacketed by winter blues... Susan Ashley January 4, 2018 Please see the below links for blog contributions. • The Harmful Connection Between Breast Cancer and Loneliness ... www.psychologytoday.com/blog/web-loneliness/... The researchers suggested that people who experience high degrees of loneliness may also experience greater degrees of breast cancer as well. You can get a summary article here on the study . • Cancer And Loneliness: The Vicious Cycle | The Breast Cancer ... blog.thebreastcancersite.greatergood.com/cancer... And cancer sends a person to a unique place—suddenly everyday matters seem unimportant when forced to consider your own mortality. Cancer tends to focus a person on what’s truly important, and that may mean that relationships that worked before cancer no longer work during or after cancer . • The Loneliness of Cancer | HuffPost www.huffingtonpost.com/lisa-masters/the... The Loneliness of Cancer . ... Even though I write about breast cancer now being treated as a "chronic disease" again, today's reality says that this cancer will kill me. I push those thoughts to ... • Loneliness and breast cancer - 'Breast cancer treatment left ... www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/news/a579443/breast... Loneliness and breast cancer - Battling breast cancer in rural Cumbria left me isolated and lonely. A teacher and mum of two is calling for more emotional support for those affected by breast cancer . • Loneliness may sabotage breast cancer survival ... - CBS News www.cbsnews.com/news/loneliness-may-sabotage... Loneliness may impede long-term breast cancer survival, a new study suggests. In the years after treatment, women who don’t have strong social ties are more likely to have their cancer return or ... • Loneliness May Sabotage Breast Cancer Survival - WebMD www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/news/20161212/... MONDAY, Dec. 12, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Loneliness may impede long-term breast cancer survival, a new study suggests. In the years after treatment, women who don't have strong social ties are ...

SurvivingBreastCancer.org (SBC) is excited to unveil new accessibility features on our website ! As mentioned in our 2024 Impact Report , SBC is committed to making our website and mobile app as accessible as possible. Through our accessibility efforts, SBC aims “to break down barriers so that every person diagnosed with breast cancer can easily access the resources, support, and community they need, no matter their circumstances.” What exactly do we mean by making our website accessible, and why is this important? Let’s take a closer look. What is website accessibility? When a website is described as “accessible,” this means the site can be used by people with various disabilities, which can include visual, auditory, and motor impairments. Accessible websites use specific designs and features to facilitate access for these site users. As explained by the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division , “People who are blind may use screen readers, which are devices that speak the text that appears on a screen. People who are deaf or hard of hearing may use captioning. And people whose disabilities affect their ability to grasp and use a mouse may use voice recognition software to control their computers and other devices with verbal commands.” Why is web accessibility important? When a website isn’t designed and planned with accessibility in mind, it’s very likely that site visitors with various disabilities will be unable to use some or all of the site’s content and features. The Civil Rights Division  goes on to describe just how detrimental this can be for potential site users: “Inaccessible web content means that people with disabilities are denied equal access to information. An inaccessible website can exclude people just as much as steps at an entrance to a physical location.” Through our accessibility efforts, SBC aims to make all of our resources more accessible for everyone – from those diagnosed with breast cancer and their loved ones to individuals wanting to know more about breast cancer risk factors, signs and symptoms, and treatment options. What’s new on SBC’s website? The SBC website now includes an accessibility toolbar from Recite Me. This toolbar allows our website users to customize their website experience based on their accessibility needs. By clicking the “Accessibility Tools” button at the top of our website, users can choose from a variety of accessibility options. These include text-to-speech, text size customization, automated translation, magnifier, and more. Give it a try and find the settings that work best for you! We aim to make our website accessible to everyone. If you have any questions or feedback regarding our website accessibility, please reach out to us at info@survivingbreastcancer.org .

Issue: 276 Tick, tock... did you remember to change your clocks ahead one hour yesterday? Let’s enjoy these later sunsets as we make our way towards a glorious springtime!   This weekend, SBC attended the Infinite Strength MBC Conference in New Haven, CT. A huge congratulations and shout-out to Infinite Strength's founder and president, Roberta Lombardi, and her fabulous team, for hosting an educational, powerful, and intimate conference where we were able to connect with experts in the field and forge strong bonds with patient advocates. Among the many key takeaways, I learned the importance of exercise. The question now is, how much exercise does one need to do to receive the benefits and at what point is more not necessarily better? Research is being conducted to explore what the #RightDose of exercise. Dr. Teplinsky gave an exceptional talk normalizing the discussion around sex and intimacy when living with metastatic breast cancer. From providing recommendations on creams and suppositories like Intrarosa and Revaree, she encouraged us to speak with our oncologists and gynecologist about vaginal and pelvic floor health. Oftentimes these questions come up at the end of our already short and usually rushed appointments with our doctors so Dr. Teplinsky recommended making a separate appointment to specifically address these concerns with your team. From laughing about the crazy stuff people say to those diagnosed with breast cancer, to discussions around "you don't look sick", we laughed, cried, hugged, and came together as a community in support of each other's experiences.   As the founder of SurvivingBreastCancer.org (SBC), and diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, I am so grateful to be welcomed into the sacred space of the MBC community! We continue to provide relevant programming to address the pressing topics of those living with MBC. You can check out our MBC Webinar Series and catch our next Webinar this Wednesday hosted by Abigail Johnston and Amy Parliman where we talk about everything you need to know about scans. And a reminder that this Thursday is Write Your Story Day! Perhaps you'd like to attend tonight’s writing workshop with Thomas  to write it out. Whether or not you submit your writing for our blog, writing down thoughts can be a really helpful way to process your breast cancer experience. I encourage you to give it a shot! You might be surprised at what you create :) Happy writing! xo, Laura Editorial: Effective Listening At SBC we received a heartfelt, brilliant note from community member and MBC Leadership Team member Kathleen Friel, regarding how to properly listen to and respond when speaking with someone with a speech impairment. See her email below. Kathleen’s memo got me to thinking about how I can personally improve and develop effective listening habits, and after some quick research I came up with the following: Effective listening is a crucial skill that goes beyond simply hearing words; it involves fully comprehending and interpreting the message being conveyed. One key aspect of effective listening is providing the speaker with your undivided attention. This means putting aside distractions, such as phones or other electronic devices, and maintaining eye contact to signal that you are fully engaged. Furthermore, active listening involves non-verbal cues, like nodding or mirroring the speaker’s body language, to convey understanding and encouragement. In addition to non-verbal cues, paraphrasing and summarizing the speaker's message demonstrate that you are not only hearing but also processing the information. This reflective aspect of listening ensures that both parties are on the same page, fostering clarity and preventing misunderstandings. It’s essential to refrain from interrupting and allow the speaker to express themselves fully before responding. This patience and respect contribute to a more open and communicative environment, where individuals feel heard and valued. Ultimately, effective listening is a skill that strengthens relationships, promotes understanding, and facilitates successful communication. From The SBC Blog No Scars to Your Beautiful By Jayita Chatterjee [This one is for me, for my pink cancer friends that went through lumpectomy, mastectomy and/or reconstruction , and really anyone else that needs to hear this.] If you feel horrible, looking like a Frankenstein, with giant stitches all across your body… I am here to tell you it is OK to feel how you feel! It is NOT vain. If your partner or others say that you look beautiful, but you don’t like how you look right now, it’s OK. If you don’t want to look at your body right now, it’s OK. You went through a lot. You went through multiple surgeries, chemo, maybe radiation, immunotherapy. And yes, you are alive. But we are allowed to mourn our old self… not just the body, but the person we were the day before we were told we had cancer.  Yes, it’s physical changes, but that’s on TOP of so many other life-altering moments. One day you’re just living your life, and the next you’re talking to oncologists, geneticists, and surgeons. The world will tell you that you’re supposed to be grateful for being alive, and how you look does not matter. But it DOES. From the SBC Poetry Lab Moremi By Goldiin Kelvins In life, I met a girl so strong, brave, and true, Within four walls, she battled, a constant cue. Surviving, not living, she faced a relentless strife, Moremi, a young soul navigating through life. Born in Nigeria's west, in Africa's embrace, Her memory lingers, my heart's sacred space. I try to divert my thoughts, but I can't deny, Her innocent gaze, a plea in each dark eye. Her mind puzzled, imagining the world outside, Yet, hope waned, like a fading tide. She fought against sickness, a brave young soul, Yet, it fought harder, taking its toll. A 12-year-old warrior, courage in her stare, Yet, sickness, a ruthless terror in the air. Determined to live, dreams she'd conceive, But sickness threatened, luring dreams to grieve. Docs and teams fought, her heartbeat's descent, Body systems failing, a despairing lament. Yet, she'd jolt back, gasping for air, Mother's dripping tears, a father's silent prayer. Wishing for release, from the hands that tried, From loved ones' grasp, in pain, she'd hide. Drowning in the pit where life began, Her tears echoed, a heart-wrenching plan. Today, we lay her down in the earth's embrace, Cancer claims victory, a bitter taste. To those fighting, courage to you I send, May your stories not meet this tragic end. Lost a girl, lost a niece, grief in the wind, Adieu, Moremi, where memories begin. Today on the Podcast 11 Years of Survivorship - A Breast Cancer Survivor's Story with Dawn Aegle Dawn shares her journey from diagnosis to traveling the world doing cat sitting after caring for her mother. Their conversation touches on major milestones, personal experiences, and the impact of travel on Dawn's life post-treatment. Tune in for an inspiring story of resilience and adventure. (Click to Listen) Upcoming Events

I am halfway through radiation treatment (15/30)! So far so good. I wasn’t really sure what to expect. Like everything, I was doing way too much research and preparing for the worst. Radiation is a local treatment impacting just the area of cells being radiated (unlike chemotherapy). In my case, we are using radiation as part of my preventative care and to be extra sure that the cancer will not recur. By going through radiation, we are “killing” any residual, or leftover, rogue cancer cells that were not removed from surgery, or did not “die” from chemo. Overall, I have to say, I am responding to radiation pretty well. The skin looks good and after 15 rounds, I’m not too red (yet). I like to thank my Italian genes for allowing me to tan well! Outside of skin irritation, other side effects include fatigue. While I am managing this well, I do get tired and nap when I have to. If anything, just listen to your body as it knows best! When going through radiation, it is important to speak with your doctor about the pros and cons. Like any treatment, a benefit analysis needs to be taking into consideration. In my case, because we are radiating on my left breast and lymph node area (which I did not realize goes up to your color bone!) a few key risk factors needed to be hashed out. For example, the impact radiation would have on my heart and lungs were a big concern for me! I am a very active person and plan on remaining active for a long time! Having heart and lung problems are not things I am looking forward to! Nor is the potential development of lymphedema, or other cancer in the long term. While there are a few risks to manage, I cannot lose sight of my initial goal which is to be cancer free and ensure breast cancer does not return! As such, radiation and onward. Moisturizers I recommend:

Taxol Treatments for Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) My name is Bridget Bates. I’m 38 years old and I was recently diagnosed this year, January 3rd, 2020 with Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) Stage 3 in my left breast. Because Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is such an aggressive type of breast cancer my doctors went forward right away with all tests and scans necessary. Let’s break it down! Mammogram: Breast Ultrasound: Breast Biopsy:Left Breast MRI: Breast Bone Scan CT Scan: Chest, Abdomen, Pelvic Biopsy: Armpit left lymph node PET Scan: Sternum MRI/Biopsy: Right Breast Brain MRI After all is said and done, but still waiting on my brain scan results, but I can say the cancer only has spread to one lymph node under my left armpit. I started chemotherapy January 27, 2020 with appointments every Monday featuring a combination of Taxol (Paclitaxel) and Carboplatin. The first round of treatment was stressful. I went in that Monday with high anxiety. Taxol Allergic Reaction My Doctors did warn me that the majority of women are allergic to their first dose of Taxol. Understandably, I was so anxious. I did become allergic within the first 30 minutes of my treatment. My hands started turning bright red. I rang the nurse immediately. Thankfully they were quick to stop treatment and flush me out and add more Benadryl to stop the reaction. My anxiety hit the roof at this time and I was going into full panic attack mode. One of the nurses asked if I wanted some lavender oil to calm my nerves. Knowing about how essential oils work wonders, I responded “Yes, Please”! After all this excitement, we decided to start up again. I was still nervous, but knew I couldn’t just give up on the first try. I can say I completed my first round somewhat successfully. Taxol Side Effects Now going on my sixth infusion, it appears to get easier over time. Of course anxiety is still there, but my lavender is never too far. I have to say I've been pretty lucky regarding my side effects from taxol. Mild nausea once or twice. I definitely can’t eat any dairy, or I will end up with nightly bathroom runs. Lol. But I feel deciding early on that I would combine holistic with my chemotherapy has definitely helped me get through my rough days. Headaches Hairloss I’m not one to pill pop, so I find natural ways to cope with the side effects from taxol. But I know if it ever gets too hard “I will give in and take a pill". Only if necessary! With the headaches, this has been more of the pill popping scenario. I've experienced more headaches than ever which I attribute to the steroids given during treatment. Taxol Hair Loss One of the hardest side effects from taxol for me has been the hair loss. I discovered my hair falling out after the third infusion. I couldn’t control it, chunk after chunk. I decided to shave the back and leave some hair on top. I will eventually shave it all, but I wear hats a lot and beanies at home. It’s wonderful to know there’s so many options on the market to help with this issue. There are so many different organizations and hospitals that give away free wigs and head accessories. If you just ask, people will help! As for now I take it day by day. I enjoy the moments I feel my best and make those days were I take a walk, get fresh air and just enjoy being around family and friends who lift me. I still have a long journey ahead: six months of chemotherapy followed by a bilateral mastectomy, followed by six weeks of radiation, but I will never give up. This girl is staying positive and strong every step of the way. Cancer isn’t me, I am me.