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By: Char Murphy author of “Unshakeable Power-Through Seasons of the Soul” I’ve asked myself this question hundreds, if not thousands of times over the past 17 years since my first breast cancer diagnosis. Can my breast cancer recur? Honestly, I think we all know it can, so the real question here is, will my breast cancer return ? Unfortunately there is no one right answer to this question. Worse, the opinions and science are all over the board concerning our questions about recurrence. Let me tell you a little about my breast cancer journey. My name is Char Murphy and I’m a four time breast cancer survivor. It all started in 2003 when I had a thriving law firm in Little Rock, Arkansas. I had been in practice for eight years at the time and things were going great, even though I was constantly stressed out trying to manage a large overhead, employees, work load and balance my home life. It was September of that year and I had just been named “Best Lawyer in Central Arkansas.” I had also attended a large luncheon and fashion show where the models were all breast cancer survivors with a girlfriend, not knowing I would be modeling as a survivor myself the very next year. You know the feeling, if you’re a survivor reading this. That literal ‘gut punch’, when your doctor says those four words...”you’ve got breast cancer,” and you become speechless, frozen, like a deer in headlights as my doctor told me I looked like in that moment. When it comes to the second , third and even a fourth diagnosis- that’s a whole other ballgame. And by no means am I minimizing your experiences. We’re a sisterhood and brotherhood of real people sharing similar feelings, asking the same questions. I had seen, read and heard all the statistics, ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’, on the chances of complete recovery and/or recurrence with or without radiation in addition to the lumpectomy I had. Reluctantly, I chose to undergo it for six weeks everyday, even though I knew it wasn’t or there wasn’t a 100% guarantee that it wouldn’t rear its ugly head again. I also knew, it might end my business and my career, as well as change everything about my life, forever. I’m one of the truly blessed ones, I lived through it all. After surgery and radiation, it was immediately apparent that was exactly what would happen. My doctors all said, “you can’t keep doing what you’re doing”- the stress of trying to keep all the balls in the air would kill me, or make me sick again. I tried anyway, because it’s just not my nature to give up. That lasted about 18 months and I realized more and more, I didn’t have the same stamina or energy, I was exhausted, totally worn out. My body and mind couldn’t do what I needed to get done. It was time to retire at age 50. Six months later after losing everything I owned, came the second diagnosis and another lumpectomy. Then another and then yet another...my life for those seven years before my doctor said that’s it, is still like a huge black blur or scribble of ink on a map. Conservative treatment was over and it was on to the bi-lateral mastectomy, and that’s another totally different conversation. Truth be known, even at this juncture of my journey is, the reality of the topic of this piece- can my breast cancer come back? The answer is still YES. Miraculously, I have officially just crossed the “ten year” benchmark since I went into remission after my mastectomy, the question will it come back, still looms like a low hanging cloud in my mind. I could go into way more detail on each diagnosis, the shock and disbelief I felt after each and every single one, but you know all too well, the shock and immense amount of feelings...now multiply that by four. There are only so many words to describe it. It was and still is unbelievable. I’m simply a walking, talking miracle- akin to a battery that “takes a lickin and keeps on tickin.” Your questions to me are many. How did you keep on going? Were there any warning signs? What advice would I give you if you were in my situation, facing a God forbid second or even third diagnosis? Would there be anything I would change or do differently looking back? Is there anything you can do to prevent this from happening to you? The answers to those questions are many and diverse, depending on your level of understanding the disease itself, your spiritual beliefs, your family situation, your work/career situation, your plans for the future. Every single decision we make regarding each of these questions is very personal to us as individuals. And every one of us has a different response, a different reaction. There’s no handbook on the correct way to handle anything, especially breast cancer and recurrence. If there is anyone trying to tell you what you should or shouldn’t do, or how to handle a recurrence is in my opinion stepping over boundaries. Even your physician herself can’t tell you what to do. What she can do, is give you the latest stats on the various options regarding success of certain treatments for various cancers at different stages. At the end of the day the answers for you, can only be made by you. There are a few key pieces of advice I can give you here with regard to any cancer diagnosis, or chances of recurrence and what to do to if it does recur. 1. Become thoroughly educated on the type of breast cancer and stage you were diagnosed with. Do your own due diligence and research, research, research. Read everything you can get your hands on about it. 2. Always get a second and even a third professional opinion on everything. 3. Keep all your records, your mammogram images themselves and the reports. 4. Ask the tough questions of your physicians, insist on getting the answers. 5. Don’t assume anyone else knows your body, mentally or physically better than you do. 6. Trust in your own intuition, listen to what your body and gut is telling you. 7. Pray, meditate on what you should do next. Ask the Universe to give you the right answers for next steps. Then listen and watch for the signs. 8. Self care is paramount. Do something nice for yourself, something which you would think to do for someone else in your situation. It doesn’t have to be a big thing. Buy yourself some flowers. Go out to dinner with a friend, or just order delivery in. Get those regular mani-pedis and your hair done. 9. Put yourself first for a change. It’s okay to be what some people would call being “selfish” as opposed to being “self-less”. Say no when you need to, you’re not obligated to anyone or anything more than yourself. 10. Have a team of friends and family behind you. Have someone drive you to doctor appointments, someone to take notes of everything the doctor tells you. I can guarantee you won’t remember half of everything you hear. You need to be able to really listen. 11. Do what you feel is right for you. If you’ve researched a specific procedure or drug being recommended, or told you have to do something, but you don’t feel like your body can handle that thing, you don’t do it. Just make sure you understand the possible consequences of your decision making and be comfortable with it. 12. Make sure you find out what all of your options are, then take the time to sit with them and talk it over with your support team. Determine the positives and negatives and YOU make the final decision. Then be confident in your decision and stick with it. 13. Be grateful for everything. It’s in our most challenging and trying of times which we learn our true inner strength and courage. Everything is “mind over matter”. 14. Sometimes what we thought was the worst possible thing that could ever happen, turns out for the very best. 15. Real learning, growth and positive change occurs when we allow ourselves to step into our own inner power, grit and determination to persevere through what we thought was impossible!

By David Engle, My breast cancer journey began in the late fall of 2018, just after I’d turned 70 years of age. I had noticed a slight swelling in my right breast, just below the nipple area in a self-examination in the shower. It was not painful; but it was a change and it concerned me. I scheduled an appointment with my physician. He thought it was probably gynecomastia; but was concerned enough to schedule me into a mammogram appointment at his clinic’s imaging partner in Bellingham, Washington. While I felt like this might be something of an overreaction; I was okay with being extra careful. The reason I decided to error on the side of being extra careful was due to my having heard a story in Rotary that caught my attention. We had a presenter who had lost her husband to breast cancer. She shared with us that he had ignored warning signs and symptoms until it was too late. She noted that while male breast cancer was rare, it had impacted her and her husband directly. That story was in the back of my mind while I was waiting for my mammogram appointment. I arrived at the Women’s Breast Clinic in time for my mammogram and prepared for the experience by reading an information sheet provided me. I am a relatively trim man at 6’1” and 190 lbs. and I didn’t have much in the way of breast tissue. That made my mammogram pretty challenging. The technician did a great job working with me. She did say that they didn’t see many men in the clinic; so I was a new challenge for her. I knew something was out of the ordinary when the clinic’s attending doctor met with me and noted that she saw a problem in my left breast! This surprised me as I had not noticed a problem on my left side. She wondered if I had time for a breast biopsy as they had had a cancellation and could fit me in right away. As I had traveled for several hours to get to Bellingham from Port Townsend where I live; I agreed. We proceeded with the biopsy immediately. That procedure made the original mammogram seem easy by comparison. After that procedure I left for home full of questions and heightened concern. On December 6, 2018, I received a call from my physician notifying me that I had stage 2 breast cancer in my left breast. He referred me to a surgeon in Bellingham and I followed up with a visit shortly after being diagnosed. The surgeon confirmed, through ultrasound and reading the original mammogram images that I had cancer. At that point I decided to seek advice from the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. I knew of their reputation for wrap-around cancer care through friends who’d been treated there. Besides, I knew it was worth seeking a second opinion in this arena. I am so glad that I followed up with this idea. My experience with the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance has been extraordinary. My first visit there was characterized by a level of teamwork and professionalism I’ve not experienced before. My team of doctors met with me and my wife and supported us thoroughly as we charted a course of action and treatment. First, they did an examination that led to a biopsy on my right side (my original concern) where they diagnosed Stage 0 cancer. This had not been diagnosed in my earlier meetings in Bellingham. We scheduled a double mastectomy for January 31, 2019 and I began preparations for a different kind of winter season than I had anticipated. I cancelled my annual ski trip to Colorado in January and began preparations for the surgical experience I was about to have. I was 70 years old when I was diagnosed. My double mastectomy was deemed a success with clear surgical margins and minimal lymphatic involvement. I did not require radiation therapy or chemotherapy subsequent to my surgery. I will be taking tamoxifen for up to 5 years as a precautionary measure against recurrence. So far, I’ve managed the side effects of this drug without too much difficulty. During my diagnostic phase, I participated in genetic testing and was advised that I did not carry BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 mutations that would have led to my cancer. I shared this information with family members (I have six siblings). To date, I am the only one in my family with this particular cancer diagnosis. I continue to be a subject in a study that is looking more deeply into my genetic makeup to determine if there is any other genetic risk factor at work here. That genetic research may require up to a year of testing and study. I am in favor of finding out as much information about my cancer as is possible. I want something useful to come from my affliction! My initial response to my diagnosis was disbelief and then shock as the reality settled in. I’ve led an active, healthy lifestyle the entirety of my life. To be told that I had cancer was enough of a shock; but to be told that it was breast cancer put me in a very disbelieving frame of mind. How could it be? I didn’t even know that men could get breast cancer. I had to traverse a difficult minefield of conflicting thoughts and emotions before I got to a place where I could make informed decisions. After the shock of the diagnosis I got right to educating myself about my options. I learned all I could about male breast cancer. I used the resources of the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (they have a great little research library space at their Seattle clinic that I used whenever visiting there) and I did my own online searches to learn more. I quickly became conversant with the medical terminology I’d need to know and became an informed advocate for my care. Also, I decided to be very public about my diagnosis and treatment in the hopes of raising awareness with other men about this particular cancer. My local community newspaper has done two front page stories on my cancer journey. They did a story not long after my surgery in January, 2019, and another follow up story in September, 2019 (my 9 month anniversary!). These stories were very well received in the community. I’ve encountered a number of men who were impacted by the stories. One man was experiencing symptoms and followed up with his doctor as a result of reading the story. He was diagnosed with breast cancer very early and is on the road to recovery following surgery. Another man contacted me who had been treated for breast cancer when he was a young man. He told me that he had spent a lifetime of being embarrassment and shame regarding his experience of the disease. He told me that my very public story made him feel free of those emotions now. To hear this from an older man was very touching. I feel like I’ve used my misfortune to help others along a more positive and constructive path. My family reacted to my diagnosis with love, support and understanding. I think my diagnosis was most impactful on my wife and children. They were as shocked as I was with the diagnosis. My elderly mother was concerned by my diagnosis, as well. She passed away on March 11, 2019, on the day I found out from my oncologist that my treatment wouldn’t require radiation or chemotherapy. I arrived at my mom’s house that day minutes after she had passed. I own a small consulting firm called Treehouse Education Consulting. I work with small, rural school districts to help them plan for the future. I’ve been doing this consulting work in the three years since my retirement as a superintendent of schools in 2016. My educational career extended from 1979 to 2016. I served as a teacher, principal, executive director and superintendent over the course of that career. I’ve worked at a national and international level with a number of educational initiatives (Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program, Smart Schools Academy, Project Inkwell etc.) and I’ve worked in the private sector (Educational Testing Service). I’ve been a superintendent of schools in Nebraska and Washington. All along the way I’ve been an active bike rider, mountain climber and skier. My cancer diagnosis and treatment is continuing to impact my life. While I’ve worked hard to rebuild my range of motion and strength following my double mastectomy; there are days when I feel mutilated and limited (the scar tissue reminds me of where I’ve been!). I continue to work on rebuilding my sense of wholeness and physical integrity. I’m not nearly as active as I was before the diagnosis; but I’m gaining ground with improved energy levels and more good days than tough days. I’ve learned to celebrate small improvements along this road to recovery. I’m looking forward to being much stronger when I celebrate my first-year anniversary after surgery. My support system includes my family and many caring people in my community. I’ve been contacted by a number of women who are breast cancer survivors who read my stories in the local newspaper. They wanted to let me know what they had experienced in their lives. I’ve been able to connect with so many people largely because I was superintendent of schools in Port Townsend prior to my diagnosis and had name recognition that I could use to advance public awareness. I want people to know that male breast cancer is a reality. I want men to know that they need to be aware of what is going on with their bodies and to respond immediately when they suspect something is not right. I want to help men understand what symptoms may look like and how to get the care they need early. My main message centers on awareness and early detection. I want to pay forward with my story so that other men don’t blunder into unnecessary suffering and loss. My openness about my breast cancer diagnosis and treatment has come at a cost in terms of privacy; but the idea that I can serve a greater good through my misfortune is a strong motivation for me. As a former public servant, I understand the need for hopeful communication and constructive ideas. I’m hopeful that I’ve done a bit of good work in that direction.

By Laura Carfang I always love meeting people who are a few years ahead of me in terms of living life after a breast cancer diagnosis. When I meet someone who is 5, 10, 15 + years out, I always ask if they could give me a hug and rub some of that longevity off on me (of course that was pre-Covid). This year, I am settling for virtual hugs. I know that a breast cancer diagnosis changes your life instantaneously. I also understand that your medical care team is going to help you navigate treatment decisions and share information with you on an as-need-to-know basis since the entire experience is overwhelming. Plus, if my doctors tried to tell me how my life was going to be one year out, let alone 4 years after surgery, I am not sure I would have believed them anyways. Before I jump into the current state celebrating my 4 year cancer-versary let me back up and share a bit about where I was this time, April of 2017. It was the eve of my breast conserving surgery , (aka, a partial mastectomy/lumpectomy) and the surgeon was going to also do reconstruction on the healthy breast to even things out as much as he could. Since my lymph nodes tested positive for cancer, a full auxiliary node dissection was in order as well. While I was calm leading up to the surgery having researched as much as I possibly could, the journey to surgery was preceded by 5 months of chemotherapy, the ACT- HP regiment to be exact. I was heading into surgery bald, without eyelashes or eyebrows, and April 7th 2017 was going to be the day they would remove the cancer from my body. What followed surgery was a month of radiation, 6 additional months of an oral chemotherapy called Xeloda , and a trial and error approach to aromatase inhibitors, Lupron and Zometa. Fast forward to spring of 2018, my pixie cut was fashionably in vogue, my body adjusted to the mood swings, hot flashes and joint pain from Letrozole and Lupron, and I was back to the daily grind commuting to work and grateful to be alive. Things didn’t snap back to the way life was before my diagnosis. I think the tail end of 2016 to 2018 was a blur yet I recall every detail; the weekly doctor visits, the infusions, the pricks, sticks, pokes, and prods and radiation burns. As I come to celebrate the 4 years since my surgery, which is what I refer to as my “cancer-versary”, below is the update on the current state of affairs. I’d like to point out that cancer-versaries are different for everyone. Some people choose the date they were diagnosed, the date they finished chemo, the date, the date, the date. There are so many dates, pick one and celebrate how far you have come no matter if you are early stage or late stage. Just celebrate! 4 Years Post -Op Fear of Recurrence: There isn’t a day that passes where I don’t think about the cancer returning. At first, it was every little cough, bone pain or headache and I’d immediately assumed the cancer had spread. 4 years later, I don’t think about it as often but I still google and remind myself of the stats and percentages feeling like I am walking in a minefield and at any moment, my world could be shattered yet again with the words you have breast cancer. Identity: You don’t need a breast cancer diagnosis to toy with the question of “who am I?” It’s natural that we give ourselves titles anywhere from “mom”, “sister”, “doctor” to “friend”, “spouse” and “teacher”. Just look at social media, people try and come up with a 150 character statement on Instagram to sum up who they are! And now, after a diagnosis, I am lost in the maze of identity. I never saw myself as “the patient” but reflecting back on my experience, that is exactly what I was, in my yellow hospital socks and blue Johnny. Am I the “survivor” because I made it through something? Am I the “person living with a breast cancer diagnosis” because it happened and could strike again? Words matter, language matters, and our mindset matters! I struggle with the words. Sometimes it’s just easier to tell someone I am a “survivor” because the term has become so common place and those not diagnosed with breast cancer understand what that means. But aren’t we all surviving something? Loss: The obvious one here is loss of a body part (or parts). But loss of a breast doesn’t make me any less feminine, or female. There is loss that comes with a breast cancer diagnosis beyond the physical. For many it could also mean the loss of ovaries, or of never having biological children. Unfortunately, there hasn’t been a person diagnosed with breast cancer that I’ve met who has said that they too have lost friends. Friends who do not know what to say, so they say nothing, they retract, they vanish. Four years since the cancer has been removed from my body and I feel like I am still processing my diagnosis every single day. Some days, more than others, but again, there is no road map. On the good days, I am sky high. High as a kite loving life, loving my breast cancer family, loving the outdoors and everything life has to offer. On the not so positive days I curse the meds, the meds to treat the med’s side effects, the lingering reminder of the long term side effects such as lymphedema , cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. A lot of this may be invisible to someone who doesn’t know my full story, but don’t we all have a cross we are bearing? Cancer has given me perspective. It has given me an appreciation for the time I do have on this planet and to make the most of every second that I have. But you don’t need cancer to awaken you to this notion. Some wake up with the Joie de vivre overflowing in their coffee cup every morning. Others have experienced a birth, or a loss of a loved one to remind them that today matters, today counts. You matter! If I have to sum up my experience to date, or even try and figure out what life ahead holds, I don’t think I could tell you. It’s unchartered territory as everyone’s experience is unique, and perhaps that is maybe why the doctors never tell you what to expect in life after a cancer diagnosis. There is no roadmap, but somehow we figure it out. Follow Laura on Social at @LauraCarfang & IG and Twitter

by Kettering Health Network© Reprinted with permission When Jan Hillman and her husband, William, moved to Dayton in 1980, she never imagined she would still be living here four decades later—let alone that the move would prove providential. She’s alive today because of it. “We came to Dayton because William got a job as a fellow at Grandview Medical Center,” Jan says. “We thought we would be here one year.” The couple had completed their graduate studies at the University of Toledo. Their daughter was born there, and they intended to move back. But “Dayton and Grandview have a habit of wrapping their arms around you,” Jan says. “William wound up advancing at Grandview until he was vice president of planning.” Along the way, they added a son to their family, and Jan’s own career advanced, including a position with Grandview and launching her own consulting business. By 1986, they were a happy family of four, living on a hobby farm outside of New Carlisle. Until one ordinary day, when Jan’s life suddenly became anything but ordinary. “I was doing a breast self-exam and wondering, how in the world does Dolly Parton do this?” Jan recalls. “It was that exact moment when I felt the lump.” She told William, “I found a lump. I know it is cancer.” He said, “How do you know that?” “I just know.” The battle begins When the biopsy results came back, “sure enough—it was cancer,” Jan says. “I waited until William got home from work, and when I told him, he went back behind the barn and cried. Then he came back and said, ‘We are going to play the hand we’ve been dealt, and I will be there with you every step of the way.’ And he was. He never left my side. “Shock was my first feeling,” Jan continues. “Then determination to beat cancer with the help of truly great family, friends, and health care providers at Grandview and Southview medical centers. My daughter was 6, and my son was 4. I was determined to not just survive but thrive, and my motivation was to see them graduate from high school.” Jan had stage 2 intraductal carcinoma. “The lump was small—the size of a pea,” she says. “Self-exam is so important. It is one of the critical factors in early detection.” She decided to have a lumpectomy. “I had my surgery at Southview and got great treatment there,” she shares. Another diagnosis Life moved on for Jan and her family. Her children became teens. William’s career with Kettering Health Network continued to advance, and so did Jan’s: By the mid-1990s, she was a director for the Kettering Medical Center Foundation, working on a campaign for what would become the Wallace-Kettering Neuroscience Institute (now Kettering Brain & Spine). Jan was immersed in raising funds for the foundation to acquire a powerful imaging machine that uses technology called positron emission tomography (PET) to detect and identify tumors and other masses. Although PET technology had been around for a while, it wasn’t widely known beyond research institutions, even among physicians. That Kettering Medical Center had this technology at all—let alone was raising funds to acquire a newer, more advanced version—was unusual for a community hospital. In 1997, Jan went for a routine mammogram and got a callback—“the thing nobody wants,” she says. Jan had a mass in the same breast as her previous tumor 11 years earlier. A biopsy determined that it was cancer. When she received the diagnosis, Jan planned to have another lumpectomy. “I was never one to invite myself to a pity party and include others in that,” Jan says. “Instead, I took a ‘whole person’ approach as an equal opportunity healer, utilizing meditation, prayer, exercise, socializing by being with family and friends, learning as much as possible about my diagnosis, trying alternative medicine techniques, and so much more.” A surprising discovery Jan also drew on her knowledge of PET and the support of her colleagues in PET who had become close friends. “Since I knew the power of PET so well, I knew that [a PET scan] was what I wanted—to know the full truth about any other masses I might have in my breast and the rest of my body.” Jan was able to get a PET scan by participating in a small PET research study on lymph nodes that happened to be going on at the time. The scan showed that while her lymph nodes were unaffected, there was a second tumor in her breast along the scar line of her 1986 surgery. “If I’d had the lumpectomy I was planning, the second tumor would have been outside the surgical margins of the tumor that was removed,” Jan says. This discovery changed the whole course of Jan’s treatment. Instead of a lumpectomy, she had a mastectomy and reconstruction. Had she not moved to Dayton all those years ago, had she not been working for the foundation to raise funds for PET, she would not have known to ask for the scan. Now, 35 years after her first diagnosis, Jan is cancer-free. Knowledge is power Jan’s experience has made her an even more ardent crusader for PET, telling others about it so that they, too, can ask their providers if a PET scan is appropriate for them. “I am a huge PET proponent because it changed the course of my disease treatment and potentially saved my life,” she says. “There needs to be so much more awareness of the power of PET in many ways, but especially in relation to diagnosing cancer, because it is powerful, it is accurate, and people deserve to have that kind of treatment if they need it. I’ll be forever grateful that the PET technology was available to me at Kettering Medical Center.” As a two-time breast cancer “thriver” (a word she prefers to “survivor”), Jan frequently speaks about breast cancer awareness and the importance of early detection. Though the pandemic has put her speaking engagements on hold for a while, she still has a message to share: “Cancer does not take a vacation, and it does not take a break for a pandemic,” she says. “So if you are due for a mammogram, you need to schedule one and get in and get it done. There are precautions being taken—do not be afraid. Get it done.” Facebook: @ketteringhealth Instagram: @ketteringhealth Twitter: @ketteringhealth LinkedIn: @Kettering Health Network

By Beth Wilmes A Survivor's Call For Supporting The Emotional Component Of Cancer Besides rounding up at a register or two, I never thought about breast cancer- that was until I was diagnosed myself. Why would I? I was thirty-five with a six, four, and one year old. No one I knew had breast cancer and there was no family history. Funny how something can go from being the last thing on your mind to something that rarely leaves your mind. The most surprising thing to me about being diagnosed with cancer was to find that cancer was just as much an emotional battle as it was a physical battle. I like most women found a lump. I knew immediately it was cancer. I called my OBGYN and the next day went for my first ever mammogram. I told the mammography tech how anxious I was that I have cancer and felt relief flood my body when she commented that based on what she was seeing, there was no reason for concern. I said a quick prayer of thanks before she told me they’d do an ultrasound just to be sure. It was during the ultrasound I knew something was wrong. There were to many people in the room, they kept going over the same area, the techs shared looks when they thought I wasn’t looking. Then they told me I’d need to come back later that week for a biopsy. There were four masses. Four!! The relief I felt only moments before was quickly turning to dread. My previous job in a hospital radiology department gave me the fortitude to ask if the radiologist was onsite right now. They told me he was but that he was getting ready to leave for the day. I told them to please ask him to do the biopsy now, waiting days to come back in for the procedure seemed like torture. To his credit he agreed and I laid there exposed and fearful as he extracted a few samples. It was only a day later as I was sweeping my floor that I saw a call from my OB pop up on my cell. I quickly answered and could tell from the tone of her voice the news wasn’t good. She asked me what I was doing and I responded that I was sweeping my kitchen floor. It was then that she told me the biopsy had come back positive. Does this mean I have cancer, I asked? Yes, she replied. I then remember her clearly saying she wouldn’t want to have treatment if it were her. At this point the room had gone a bit hazy but I remember saying, “You mean it’s so advanced that you’d decline treatment if it were you?” “Oh I don’t know about that," she replied, "I just meant I know what you’re going to have to go through and it’s going to be really difficult.” She told me my next step was to find a breast surgeon and they’d be able to tell me more. That was the beginning of my breast cancer journey which ultimately included a double mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiation, drug therapy, and two unexpected surgeries from a complication from reconstruction and the development of lymphedema. A bright spot in my journey was being introduced to another young survivor who offered to mentor me through the process. She was in another city and a busy lawyer so our communications were primarily through text messaging. When I felt scared or uncertain about what would come next, I could reach out and she would reassure me. After I was done with treatment, I began to informally mentor other newly diagnosed patients to pay it forward. My oncologist, upon hearing what I was doing, suggested I start a program and she’d refer to it. Initially I blew her off. The last thing I wanted to do was entrench myself in the worst thing that had ever happen to me and yet… I couldn’t stop thinking about what it was that allowed me to not just survive the experience but thrive despite it. I realized it was the emotional support I was fortunate to have and I began to wonder why the emotional component of cancer often takes a back seat in the cancer care process. I also wondered why cancer care stopped when primary or active treatment did. In my own, as well as in other survivors experience, it was survivorship that was the most difficult to navigate and yet there was very little support in that way. This was the catalyst for my nonprofit, Faith Through Fire . Our mission is to reduce the fear and anxiety that breast cancer patients feel and replace it with hope and a path toward thriving. We do this through multiple programs- a peer mentorship program where we pair a newly diagnosed patient with a thriving survivor to encourage them during treatment, a partnership with Build-A-Bear where we provide cuddly bears to children impacted by breast cancer, and a podcast called Besties with Breasties hosted by myself and another young survivor to reduce isolation and provide access to information. And finally, after conducting market research and finding only 19% of women felt equipped to transition into survivorship, we created the Survivorship Support Network . The Survivorship Support Network is a free private online community for motivated survivors who want to live their best life after a breast cancer diagnosis. Now I spend my time helping other women receive the emotional support they deserve both during active treatment and in survivorship. Faith Through Fire members love that we are there from the day of diagnosis all the way to and through survivorship. We are here for as long as you need us and have found helping others navigate their journeys has the added benefit of bringing meaning to our own. Thank you for sharing your story, Beth. SBC loves you. SurvivingBreastCancer.org Resources & Support: Our Weekly MeetUp Online Support Groups Breast Cancer Book Club Find A Mentor

Meet Joyce And Connect With Her Profound Story Hi I'm Joyce, and this is my story. I had been going for early mammograms starting in my mid-thirties because of a family history of breast cancer. In addition, I tried to do self-checks as much as possible. My breasts have always been very dense and painful so I was always a wreck when I did the self-check. Never having been quite sure if I was doing it right, but too nervous about possibly getting breast cancer not to do it. When I was 44 years old, I felt a hardness on my left breast during a self-check. At this time I had been working a lot and it was very hard to get to the doctor as they only saw people mostly at inconvenient times. Instead of going to my PCP, I went to the walk-in clinic on a Saturday. In the clinic, a doctor with an amazing bedside manner gave me an exam. I don’t know if she actually felt my tumor, or if she was just doing her due diligence, but she wrote out a script for me to have me have an ultrasound on both breasts. By doing this, SHE SAVED MY LIFE, I later learned. I didn’t think much about the ultrasound until the day of, and then of course, like usual, I was a nervous wreck. As I lay there and the technician scanned my breasts, I kept saying to myself, “It will be nothing. Don’t worry.” When the technician was done, the radiologist told me that I had a tumor in my right breast, and two other suspect points they wanted to get a closer look at. I would have to have a biopsy and an MRI. I was sure I heard the word “cyst,” so when I met the nurse to schedule my appointments, I asked her, “I have a cyst right?” She said to me, “No. You have cancer.” I started crying hysterically. The nice nurse gave me tissues and consoled me. I called my husband to tell him, and then I called my parents who live in Washington, D.C. I cried and drove myself home. When I got home, I told my kids who were 13 and 11 at the time. By the time my husband got home from work, we were all crying. My first biopsy came back positive for HER2 breast cancer, which is an estrogen-based cancer. The genetic testing showed NO genetic component, despite my family history. The MRI also showed two more spots of concern more clearly, and so I had my second biopsy. That’s when I learned that no two biopsies are the same. It REALLY depends on who is doing it and where. The first was with the Head of Radiology, Dr. Kelley at Dana Farber. in Weymouth. The second was with a young doctor in the hospital. The doctor kept trying to get at the site which was close to my rib cage, and the nurse kept repeating, “You didn’t get it doctor.” After jabbing at me for what seemed like forever, they finally sent me home and told me to wait for the results. Shortly thereafter, I got a call asking me to come back to Dana Farber for a third biopsy. When I got there, I saw that Dr. Kelley was there again. It was St. Patricks Day, and he said to me, “Joyce, I am SO sorry about having to do this again, but we need to do it. It’s in a tough spot, and it’s going to hurt A LOT.” Then he proceeded to get in and out of there like lightning, and he didn’t hurt me one bit. He made it easy for me. He told me, “Now, go drink some green beer.” I trusted him completely because he made it all about my comfort. Doctors should know that probably is the most important thing for a patient: Good bedside manner . For me—it was EVERYTHING. The pathology confirmed that it was cancer. Again, someone SAVED MY LIFE because they went above and beyond. Dr. Kelley told me and my mom (MY ROCK) later that he just “knew that the radiologist in the hospital hadn’t gotten the spot” and “the radiologist in the hospital was probably nervous about puncturing your lungs and killing you.” He had been doing it long enough, he told us, to know that the spot he saw on the MRI was indeed cancerous just by looking at it. I asked Dr. Kelley to be my nuclear medicine person for my lumpectomy in the hospital. He came in early just for ME. When we met him at the hospital, he walked my mom and I through everything, and once again he made everything easy for me, and pain free. He prepared me for everything so when it happened I was okay. I had a second lumpectomy to get clear margins. I was then officially diagnosed by my three doctors, Dr. Nimbkar (Surgeon), Dr. Faggen (Oncologist) and Dr. Macausland (Radiologist) as Stage 2 HER2 positive breast cancer. Three out of five of my lymph nodes they took out also had cancer. So while my tumors weren’t bigger than a fingernail, they had already spread. Which meant chemo and radiation. When it spreads they give you the HARDCORE chemo. I had a village around me and it was the hardest thing I have ever done. Two months of the chemo Adriamycin that is nicknamed the “red devil” because it is bright red and destroys everything bad (and good), and Cytoxan (which is only a LITTLE less bad). This was followed by three months of Cytoxan and Herceptin. HERCEPTIN IS A MIRACLE DRUG. It saved my life too. In 1991, my type of breast cancer went from being a death sentence to curable . Of course, it had side effects. The top of the list is that it can affect your heart. On the advice of my acupuncturist I took COQ10 to protect my heart. Every two weeks I had to get my heart checked in the hospital. The worst thing for me, though, was the steroids. Most people look good while on chemo because they can take steroids, which helps them keep the immune system fighting, makes you less sick, and of course I am highly allergic to steroids. The only way I can describe how it felt when I took the high dose of steroids is that I wanted to crawl out of my body. For four days straight I couldn’t do anything. Not eat, not sleep, not stand, not walk. I couldn’t exist. Nothing was comfortable and time was agonizing slow. If it weren’t for my village I WOULDN’T have made it. I had to quit my job as there were too many germs in the school where I worked. I couldn’t hug my kids or kiss my husband (who also is a teacher) during this time. Also, I had just gotten hired at this school so I didn’t qualify for disability or unemployment (Thanks America!) So we tightened our belts financially and lived on credit cards. (NOT RECOMMENDED). Before chemo I had shaved my head per advice online. It did feel empowering, and two weeks into my first chemo infusion I lost all of my hair, stopped having my period, and got really sick. My infusion nurses, Anne and Jenna, made sure that I was as comfortable as I could be. They are ALL superheroes. My oncologist, my nurse oncologists, and everyone were a part of my village. Because my body couldn’t handle the steroids I kept losing weight. At one point I was one hundred pounds. I haven’t weighed that little since middle school. I got thrush (childhood disease if you were wondering) in my throat so I had to eliminate sugar completely from my diet which made it extremely hard to eat because all I could eat was liquid lunch. I couldn’t even have fruit or bread! And I NEEDED TO EAT! I got acid reflux that was SO painful, also making it hard to eat! I felt one hundred years old. I felt like I was dying. My mother would make me walk around the block every day just to keep my body going, and I could barely do that. Everything hurt in my body, and I was so tired and weak. At one point I spiked a fever that wouldn’t go away so I had to have my first blood transfusion. It was a strange feeling to say the least. I always liked vampire movies but this was NOT cool. During this whole time my mom, dad, and husband made sure that the kids got off to school, food was put on the table, and house was cleaned. (I CAN’T THANK THEM ENOUGH). Next, was six straight weeks of radiation. Dr. Macausland, my radiologist, made this easy for me, as did all of her technicians. These days radiation is such an exact science. They tattooed little blue dots around my breast that look like constellations, and zapped me 15 minutes a day. By the end of six weeks my front and back were on fire and really raw. It goes right through you! The last was six more months was just Herceptin infusions and then finally removal of my port. By that time my hair had started trying to break through. Oh yeah! Forgot to mention that you lose hair on your head, eyebrows, body, nose (I constantly had a runny nose), and ear hair (which helps you balance). They all returned, thankfully. ​I will continue to see Dr. Faggen for checkups for the next ten years that I will be on the drug tamoxifen to keep the cancer from coming back. Dr. Faggen has been the MOST supportive doctor I have EVER had. She ALWAYS has time for me, and she is always kind and patient. She even asked me to do a photo shoot with her at Dana Farber for an article on young breast cancer patients. Now I am two years “No Evidence of Disease” (what they say now because it can always come back). Now, I can be a parent again, a wife again, and a daughter again. I get a second chance. My family has started to heal slowly. We got a puppy named Asher from the Northeast Animal Shelter. He brought unconditional love in the house and joy. He brought us together. He licked our tears and made my kids smile for the first time in awhile. I am so thankful to my village for helping me through this. I am thankful for my wrinkles and the chance to get older. I am thankful for the lessons I learned. I do yoga, I meditate, I laugh, and I let go of things that don’t serve me now. I am living, to quote my favorite guru Allan Watts, in the ETERNAL NOW where life is. Follow me on IG @Joyceraskinbooksandstuff Thank you for sharing your story, Joyce. We love you. SurvivingBreastCancer.org Resources & Support: Affirmations & Meditation Guide Yoga, Mindfulness, & Cancer Online Support Groups

A Thriver Shares Her Experiences With Breast Implant Illness And Explant Surgery I’ve never been a good writer, but I wanted to share my experience with breast implants. Breast Reconstruction In 2016, I was diagnosed with breast cancer HR+ PR + HER2- stage 2 grade 2. For those of you unfamiliar hormone positive, the cancer moved beyond where it started and was growing at a moderately fast pace. Given the history of breast cancer on my father’s side, I opted for a double mastectomy with reconstruction. As it turned out, they found grade 0 on my “noncancer” side, so it was a good call as I would have had to go through treatment again. I had some concerns about recon, as I have a preexisting connective tissue disorder, but my breast surgeon and plastic surgeon assured me it wouldn’t be a problem. As it turned out it was a problem, but not my biggest problem. My initial surgery went well, and I healed perfectly... until I didn’t. I had little pain as my skin stretched easily, so I happily got fills every 2-3 weeks. The scars looked great, but the expander on the right had a strange bulge at the bottom. I was told not to worry; the expander was probably in an awkward position. I stopped the fills and waited for the exchange to implants. Several months later, I had the exchange and I looked awesome. Perfect size large B- small C- just right I thought. Within weeks the expanders were moving all over the place. I had to wear a tight sports bra 24/27 to keep them from moving. Uncomfortable is an understatement. About 9 months later, in 2018ish, I was in the OR again exchanging for textured implants that would allow scar tissue to grow into the texture to keep them in place. My PS called my husband after the surgery and his exact words were, “It was a shitshow in there." The implants had moved around so much that they tore up my chest wall. He felt confident that this would be the fix. They were not perfect and still moved some, but nothing like before. They worked better than no texture, so I thought it was best to stop complaining and be thankful for what I had. They also looked great. In 2019, I was informed that the allergen textured implants were being recalled for causing cancer. My first thought was panic, and my second thought was get them out ASAP. So another surgery, but in the meantime, I also had acute appendicitis surgery, oophorectomy, and hand surgery. I knew this would be the last one as my plastic surgeon knew my body and had figured out what needed to be done to keep the implants from moving; under the chest muscle and sewn to my ribs should hold it all in place. The left side was perfect, with a good position and no motion. The right side was migrating toward my armpit, but I could push it back, wear a tight bra to keep it in place, sleep on my right side, and use the mattress to anchor it. I found myself unconsciously holding my breast in place so I was frequently seen walking, sitting, and standing with my right hand holding my boob. (Just the image I wanted to portray in public and at the high school I teach at.) My Symptoms In the meantime, I began having constant headaches, intense fatigue, dizzy spells, dry eye, vision changes, rib pain in my back, trouble bending over (it felt like my ribs were getting tangled), joint and muscle pain, memory and concentration problems, breathing problems, increased heart rate, sleep disturbance, dry mouth and dry eyes, thyroid changes, and increased anxiety- to name a few symptoms. I spent the summer of 2020 going to and from one specialist to another. They ran tests, tests, and more tests. I was hooked up to monitors, MRIs, tilting tables, ultrasounds, blood draws... the list goes on. Interestingly, they could not get a good look at my heart because the implant was blocking it. No one could tell me what was wrong with me. For every symptom there was an excuse either made by me or someone else. My body had been through so much, the weather changes, allergies, I’m doing too much, I'm not exercising enough, I should be eating better, and my favorite, everyone is tired these days. Breast Implant Illness I saw a video on Facebook about Breast Implant Illness (BII), and it resonated with me, but I didn’t want to be an alarmist so I did nothing. In January of 2021, my symptoms were so intense that they interfered with nearly every aspect of my life. I was taking 2-3 hour naps each day and had no interest in doing the things I once loved because I knew it would exhaust me. Sitting was difficult because my ribs always hurt, so I was always lying down if I was home. I was spending thousands of dollars on acupuncture, massage, cryotherapy, and chiropractic adjustments, and none of it was helping. I was waking up frequently throughout the night due to pain, and I was gaining weight- 25 pounds to be exact. Breast Cancer Explant Surgery Finally, in March, I made an appointment with my surgeon to discuss explant. He wasn’t loving it, but didn’t fight me on it either. I asked him if he thought BII was real. (In my research, I found many PS do not believe in it). He said he didn’t know and was following the research. At least he didn’t say no. He also told me that he estimated 90% of his patients who choose explant feel better after and 75% are happy with the physical results. I scheduled explant, my 10th surgery in five years, for May 4th. I was terrified. I was scared of looking deformed, afraid my husband would find my new chest unattractive, and fearful that I would go through yet another surgery and not feel better. My surgery was delayed for an emergency, so I sat in pre-op alone for 4 hours with my thoughts. I did more crying in those hours than I had done in the last 5 years. I woke up with no headache and no rib pain. My first thought was that it must be the anesthesia. I arrived home at 10pm and went right to bed. The next morning I was feeling good, but again I thought it must be the remaining surgery meds. Now, I am almost 4 weeks out and although not completely pain free, I feel so much better. I'm experiencing no headaches, no naps, and an increase in energy. I'm still wearing glasses, but my vision is clearer. I can bend over, I’ve lost 10 pounds without trying, and best of all, I’m still damn sexy. Looking Back on Breast Cancer When I was first diagnosed with breast cancer, my prize was perfect silicone breasts. For having to endure all the treatments and surgeries, I would forever have perky, firm fabulous breasts. I was disappointed that my body had failed me and blamed myself and my preexisting conditions on all that ailed me. Now I know the silicone was the culprit. The silicone made me sick and the silicone stole 5 years from me. Reconstruction options were all I was given at the time. Not one person suggested going flat as an option. Doctors are taught that all women want breasts. There is a doctor in China that tells patients who want a prophylactic mastectomy to flat that they will never be able to orgasm again without breasts. What kind of nonsense is that? What have I learned? Sometimes we have to make mistakes to get to where we need to be. Do your research, and talk to woman who have been through it. Ask the hard, personal questions. Doctors don’t know everything. Trust your instincts. BII is very real. If you have any of the above symptoms, research and talk to people who have been through it. My body did not like silicone. For me, it was a hormone disruptor, and I fully believe the implants contributed to many, if not all, of my symptoms. Today, I feel happy and awake, and I am getting on with my life. I want that for you too. Thank you for sharing your story, Meghan. We love you! SurvivingBreastCancer.org Resources & Support: Learn About Breast Implant Illness Informed Decision Making About Going Flat Reconstruction Resources Our Weekly MeetUp Online Support Groups

Meet Rebecca, Diagnosed With Breast Cancer At 27 And Wildly Resilient I never thought I'd be diagnosed with breast cancer. And why should I? I'm 27. I have no family history. I'm not a carrier for the BRCA genes. I'm healthy and active. But still, here I am. I hope to be a voice that raises awareness that breast cancer can happen to healthy young women too! This year has already had so many surprises, but breast cancer has been the most challenging surprise yet. I'm a Latina, first generation college grad who got accepted into medical school in February, got engaged in March, and to my surprise, was diagnosed with Stage 0 Breast Cancer (DCIS) on May 27, 2020. While it was hard to process my cancer diagnosis, I was not surprised because I had spent a year having my symptoms being dismissed because of my age, health, and family history. My Symptoms On My Left Breast During the first six months, I had a large mass on my lower left breast that was so painful, I had to stop wearing bras. I had a scab with discharge coming out of it, sometimes yellowish-clear and other times red. I was told it was most likely an abscess and was given medication, but my symptoms never went away. I also felt a piercing pain coming through to my nipple, and my left breast was sensitive to touch. Sharing The News Telling my family and friends that I had cancer was difficult because I didn’t want to burden them with fear or worry. Everyone cried, but they were all supportive and positive that I’d get through this. Losing my breast wasn't as difficult to process as having to lose one nipple (TMI), and having to explain that to family/friends, along with why I chose to remove both breasts... but I focus on the positives and what matters is that I am alive and well! Get A Second Opinion I cannot stress the importance of getting a second opinion ! Mainly because you want to be confident in and comfortable with the surgeon who is doing one of your most life-altering surgeries. My first breast surgeon gave me the news that I had cancer and the choice to keep my “healthy” breast. They didn’t explain my condition or their plan of action the way that I expected. In fact, the 8 minutes I sat with them was not enough time to explain very much at all about anything. As a result, I went for a second opinion, and it was a completely different experience. This breast surgeon spent over an hour explaining to my family and I the type of breast cancer I had and what it meant, gave us a detailed course of action, pamphlets with information, and was empathetic that I had to face this at such a young age. I already had my mind made up to have a double mastectomy, and my new breast surgeon agreed that it was best for me because although I only had cancer in one breast, there was no guarantee that in the future I wouldn’t get cancer in my other. Had I kept my "healthy" breast, I would have had to take a medication called Tamoxifen, which has a very extensive list of negative side effects. (Disclaimer: according to my oncologist, I was not a candidate for this medication because my cancer was not genetic and both breasts were removed, so there would be no benefits for me.) Lastly, I'd live a life of mammograms and screenings every six months for the rest of my life! Not to mention, I'd live in fear and worry of getting breast cancer again. Next Steps Almost three weeks after my diagnosis, I had a double mastectomy and expanders put in, on June 15, 2020. While my breast cancer was Stage 0 (DCIS), my cancer cells were grade three (cancer cells that look abnormal and may grow or spread more aggressively). While I was told I would not need chemotherapy once they confirmed that the cancer had not yet developed into invasive cancer, I was told that I may need radiation. Now with medical school starting so soon, I had to discuss all of the what-if’s with my team of doctors and began to overthink and fear the possibility that I’d have to miss a semester of medical school or possibly have to delay my start for another year. Now that the cancer is out, the chances of cancer reoccurring are extremely low, and the negative long term side effects of radiation are not worth it in my case. My Dream I decided that I wouldn’t let any of this stop me from achieving my dream of becoming a doctor and due to COVID-19, my medical school classes will start online; not only will I get to stay home and fully recover, I won’t miss a day of medical school! It's not how I imagined starting medical school, but I've seen God's hand through all of this and know that He'll be glorified! A Voice I hope to be a voice that raises awareness that breast cancer can happen to healthy, young women too! Awareness and early detection are so important, so never ignore your symptoms! Know your body, and if something’s off, GET IT CHECKED OUT! Thank you for sharing your story, Rebecca. SBC loves you! SurvivingBreastCancer.org Resources & Support: Breast Cancer Symptoms How To Speak With Someone About Breast Cancer Our Weekly MeetUp Online Support Groups

Meet Rosy, Misdiagnosed At 45 And Diagnosed At 47 I’m a widow. At 45, I was misdiagnosed . A mammogram screening missed the lump. I was told it was a cyst, that it was hormonal, and that it would go away. After two years with the lump growing, I took charge and went to a different doctor. They did a biopsy and the results came back... I was diagnosed with breast cancer : invasive ductal carcinoma, stage 2, grade 3. I did genetic testing because I have 2 sisters and a teenage daughter, and I wanted peace of mind. Thank God my cancer wasn’t genetic, making me the first in my family to have cancer. I consulted 3 different doctors because I was in denial. But finally, I met a great team of doctors at Mays UT MD Anderson Cancer Center. Chemo: June 8, 2017-October 2017 Successful Partial Mastectomy: November 2017 13 lymph nodes removed (By the grace of God, all were negative.) Radiation: February 2018-March 9th, 2018 (I was given an awesome certificate!) ​I felt very proud and blessed because God had my back all the time. I am currently in active treatments (Herceptin + Zoladex), and I should say with pride and joy that there is No Evidence of Disease! My routine to keeping cancer cells dormant are: prayer, exercise, and eating a balanced diet . I have integrated weights into my exercise routine, and I walk faithfully. I call them my "faithful4Life" walks. I laugh more, pray more, and forgive more. ​My diet is not a diet; it’s a lifestyle to help me restore my health! This is my story and I am very blessed to share it with you! Thank you for sharing your story, Rosy. SBC loves you! SurvivingBreastCancer.org Resources & Support: Positive Thinking For Healing Exercise Guide Nutrition Guide Our Weekly MeetUp Online Support Groups

Meet Ria, Diagnosed With Breast Cancer At 41 Hi, I'm Ria. November On November 5, 2018, I went in for a routine mammogram. The next day, I got a call to come in for more pictures, an ultrasound, and a biopsy. They had found suspicious calcifications. On November 26, 2018, I was given the news that the biopsy tested positive for cancer. I was diagnosed with malignant neoplasm of the upper-outer quadrant of right breast, estrogen receptor positive. ​Stage 1, Breast Cancer I had NO breast cancer symptoms, which was scary. I had no family history of it. Just a couple of months prior, I had my wellness exam and the test results all came back normal. But of course, I learned that cancer is not detected that way. I went through 6 rounds of: Carboplatin, Docetaxel, Perjeta, & Herceptin. On June 21st of this year, a week after my mastectomy, my oncologist gave me the best news! He said the pathology results showed “No evidence of disease!” This meant I had a complete response to chemo, and I did not need to have radiation treatment. I was told that I was cancer free and in remission, but that I did have to continue Herceptin treatments until the end of the year and start hormonal therapy. On December 17th, I had my last Herceptin treatment. The following day, my port-a-cath was removed. Cancer is life changing. The chemotherapy physically destroys your body, while cancer itself mentally drains you. With that said, I am glad I was still able to exercise. It was, and still is my therapy. Life After Cancer I am trying to get used to my new normal. My second chance at life. I have met some amazing people through this journey. Cancer has taught me what is important in life. To take it one day at a time, and to live life to the fullest. I hope to inspire others with my story. I believe that the routine mammogram is what saved my life. Thank you for sharing your story, Ria. SBC loves you! Ria was on our podcast, Breast Cancer Conversations ! Check out this episode, featuring her incredible story. Ria was also a part of a panel discussion on Thrivership After Breast Cancer . Listen to this episode now! SurvivingBreastCancer.org Resources & Support: Exercise Guide Our Weekly MeetUp Online Support Groups

Laticia's Brief And Powerful Reflection, Living With Stage 3 Breast Cancer There is no remission for me since the cancer is present in my body and traveling through my lymphatic circulatory system. At some point it will attack one of my vital organs. I’m having a lot of difficulties paying my medical expenses, therapy that helps mobility issues due to lymphedema, and home care. My bones are also being affected. My inclination is to live a nice, rest of my life, as comfortably as possible, rather than suffering nausea and all the side effects of chemo and radiation. I’ve had a wonderful life and praise God for all his/her many gifts and the opportunity to share some of these with all the wonderful people whose paths have crossed mine throughout the years. I’ll go down a fighter as I have always been, defending myself and the dignity and rights of those who could not speak for themselves. Thank you for sharing your story, Laticia. We love you. SurvivingBreastCancer.org Resources & Support: Online Support Groups Attend an Event Listen to the Podcast: Breast Cancer Conversations

Meet Sam, Diagnosed With Breast Cancer At 29 And Writing To Heal In October of 2017, I found a small lump in my left breast, and I was so sure it was nothing important. ​ At only 29 years old, can you blame me for being a little naive and afraid? ​ Breast Cancer Diagnosis The good news is that I brought it to my amazing physician's attention within two months of the first sign of it. It turns out that I have stage 1, grade 2, invasive ductal carcinoma breast cancer on my left side, ER+ and PR+. The only person in my family who has ever had breast cancer is my first cousin who had the exact same type of breast cancer 7 years ago when she was 32. Our genetics testing is currently inconclusive, but I am of the belief that in a few years science will finally discover the hereditary genetic mutation that led us both to cancer. Until then, I want to think of myself as a scientific mystery! Lumpectomy ​I was diagnosed on December 28, 2017 and had my lumpectomy surgery less than a month later. I was so nervous because it was the first kind of surgery I've ever had, but also because the pathology report will confirm some important details. You see, they removed some of my lymph nodes under my arm to test if the cancer has spread. The MRI suggested it hasn't, but the lymph nodes will really confirm that. I am keeping my fingers very tightly crossed because if it hasn't spread through the lymph nodes, then I will probably not need chemotherapy. As excited as I am about that, I also feel a weird sense of guilt about not needing chemo when so many women with breast cancer have no choice but to go through it. I am just lucky to have found the cancer at an early stage. Right now, I am waiting for the pathology report. Financial Concerns As a 29-year-old teacher living in an already expensive part of the country, my biggest concern after my prognosis is the financial situation I will be in once the medical bills start rolling in. I'm married but my husband and I don't make a lot of money. We've worked so incredibly hard through our 20's to have enough money to pay our mortgage for our little townhouse, to work on our school loans, and to travel. Budget traveling is my favorite thing to do, and I lose sleep at night sometimes thinking about how cancer has really thrown a wrench into my short-term and long-term travel plans. This is particularly because so much of the money I worked to save for traveling (similar to how many others my age save for having kids) will instead have to go towards my cancer treatment. It's shocking how much it costs. Therapeutic Writing Writing in my travel blog, on a customized cancer page, and even here on SurvivingBreastCancer.org have been my therapy. We all have our ways of coping mentally, and I encourage other women to try writing as a means to do so. I will keep writing over the next few months as I continue my treatment with my head held high. Thank you for sharing your story, Sam. SBC loves you! Related articles: TNBC in your 20's and 30's SurvivingBreastCancer.org Resources & Support: Writing As Therapy Breast Cancer Symptoms Online Support Groups

By Tabby Duff ----- I guess it makes sense to just start from the beginning – from the moment I found a lump to today: one week on since being told the words no-one ever wants to hear, “I’m really sorry, it’s cancer.” October 2020 I’d woken up late on a Sunday morning with a slight wine hangover, but in one of those really positive, how-great-is-life moods. As I lay there basking in my naïve, happy little state, I suddenly felt some sort of twinge in my right boob. Not too sure what this feeling was, I went to touch it just to see what it was all about. And that’s when I felt a lump. A marble-sized, rock-solid little thing that seemed to have set up camp in my boob overnight. Now, I’m rather ashamed to admit I wasn’t checking my boobs as often as I should have (please don’t make that same mistake), but I truly believe that twinge was my body’s way of telling me I really needed to check. I could say I remained calm and collected upon this discovery but that would be a total lie. I am a MASSIVE hypochondriac. Seriously, even the slightest sniffle sends me into the pits of WebMD hell. So instead of my usual Sunday morning ritual of binging Gilmore Girls with a bowl of Aldi’s own Crunchy Nut, I was on the phone to my mum in tears. Next thing you know she and my dad were driving up to Manchester to take me out for lunch and try to calm me down. I'm such a bloody drama queen. Luckily, the next day I managed to get an appointment with my GP. A quick look and feel, and she told me it was most likely nothing to worry about – I’m only 26 and have no family history of breast cancer – but she’d refer me to the breast clinic anyway just to make sure. 2 Weeks Later My boyfriend took me to the breast clinic after work. For some reason (perhaps deep down my gut knew what was coming), I was nervous – I don’t think I uttered a word to him the entire journey. But after initially seeing the consultant, I was straight onto WhatsApp telling him everything was fine. I believe my exact words were, “good news – the consultant says it’s a benign lump, but we’re just doing a few scans to make sure.” Not-so-spoiler alert: it was not good news. That same evening I ended up having an ultrasound and a fine needle aspiration biopsy. Now, prior to this experience I thought I had a fairly high pain threshold – I’d sat through two tattoos, microblading, and numerous piercings including my nipple – but WOW this really hurt. I cried many, many tears. I almost passed out on the examination table. Fairly embarrassing. I just remember the drive back home, clutching my poor, battered boob and sobbing in pain. Did I mention I’m dramatic? ...Another 2 Weeks Later Finally, the day arrived after weeks of playing the waiting game. At last I’d find out what was going on with my boobies! But alas. My results were inconclusive. I needed to do another biopsy. Fan-bloody-tastic. 1 More Week Later This time, I had a core needle biopsy under local anesthetic (thank the lord). With no aching boob, and no big fat *CANCER ALERT* flashing up on the system, I left the appointment feeling more confident than ever that this was just a cyst or something. Seriously, I’d convinced myself at this point that this was all just precautionary. They did this to everyone in their 20s. I had absolutely nothing to worry about. My family and friends I’d confided in had said the same. Who gets breast cancer at 26? Well, me, apparently. On 10th November 2020 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was given the news completely alone (thanks COVID) and all I remember next is crying, begging for my mum to be let in the room, and holding on to her until it was time to go home. Today Since that day, it’s been an emotional rollercoaster – and that’s putting it extremely mildly. I’ve been upset; sad for my family, friends, and boyfriend for what I’m about to put them through. I’ve felt guilty that it’s my body and I’ve somehow allowed for this to happen. I’ve been so bloody angry – how dare my body do this to me? I’ve treated her so well for 26 years, and this is how she repays me?! But I’ve made it through, with only a few minor breakdowns and HOLY F*** AM I GONNA DIE moments in tow. I’ve had to make huge decisions about my future which I’d never even considered this time last month. I’ve moved back home with my parents. I’ve discussed my fertility options. I’ve told friends, family members, and colleagues about my diagnosis. So yeah, my life has completely turned upside down in a very short space of time. But honestly, I feel good. I feel overwhelmed with love, positivity and good vibes. Everyone has been supportive and amazing. And with each day and every hospital visit, I’m one step closer to beating this thing.

A breast cancer diagnosis is hard news at any age, but being diagnosed in your 20s can be uniquely challenging. For young, otherwise healthy women, it can be especially difficult to accept that this truly can happen to anyone. Since women in their 20s and 30s account for less than 5% off all breast cancer cases, it can feel especially lonely and more difficult to connect with other survivors the same age. Additionally, for many young women who may have still been planning to have kids, fertility becomes another concern. If this is a concern for you, two of our past podcasts that specifically address fertility preservation and egg retrieval may be of interest. In the articles and conversations below, young women share their experiences with breast cancer diagnoses in their 20s, and doctors provide advice about early detection and treatment. Triple Positive Breast Cancer Under 30 (SurvivingBreastCancer.org) In a recent episode of our podcast , Tabby shared with Laura her experience of being diagnosed with breast cancer in her 20s. Triple Positive Breast Cancer Under 30 bring about a unique set of experiences. No one expects to get cancer, let alone, in your 20s. Tabby shares her experience being triple positive (ER/PR HER2+) and how she managed side effects of her chemotherapy regiment. She brings a positive light to a dreadful disease and we can all learn from her realistic optimism. Read More. Too Young to Screen: Breast Cancer in Younger Women (Yale Medicine) If you’re under age 40, which is when it’s recommended that women begin having screening mammograms, you may think you are too young to get breast cancer—but that’s not true. While breast cancer in younger women is rare, it is the most common cancer among women ages 15 to 39. “While breast cancer is most typically diagnosed in post-menopausal women, this is a condition that can and does happen in young women, too,” says Yale Medicine radiologist Liva Andrejeva-Wright, MD, who specializes in breast imaging. Even if you are too young for regular mammograms, it is still important to be "breast aware" to potentially detect cancer early on. While there’s no way to predict who will get breast cancer, some factors put women at higher risk at a younger age. Breast cancer risk is higher in women with a family history (a mother or sister) of breast or ovarian cancers at a young age or who have an Ashkenazi Jewish heritage. Having had radiation therapy in the chest (for instance, for lung cancer treatment) is another important risk to know about. Read More. What It's Like To Have Breast Cancer in Your 20's (The Cut) In this article from The Cut, a young woman shares her experience of being diagnosed with breast cancer at age 28. When she first noticed the lump, she figured it couldn't be breast cancer at her age, but because of the pain she decided she needed to talk to a doctor about it. After her diagnosis, she recalls a lot of shock and denial. "From the day I got my diagnosis until the end of treatment, I didn’t really cry; I was in this state of permanent of disassociation, this prolonged out-of-body experience. I probably didn’t go longer than a minute for the first month without asking someone in the vicinity if I was going to die. They sent someone into my hospital room one day to help me draft up my will; I picked out what I wanted on my grave; I had to think about potential palliative care. And I was so reluctant to do any of it, because there was no part of me that was at peace with dying so young; I was really angry." Read More. If Something Is Off, Get It Checked Out (SurvivingBreastCancer.org) Rebecca, who was diagnosed at age 27, recently shared her story with us on the blog . As a healthy, active young woman with no family history of breast cancer, she never expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer. After painful symptoms that lasted for over a year and were initially dismissed by her doctor, she decided she needed to get a second opinion. She encourages others to get a second opinion if they believe there is something wrong. Along with her doctor, she has opted for a double mastectomy and reconstruction. And, now a medical student, she's not letting her diagnosis stand in the way of her dream of becoming a doctor herself! Read More.

By Jennifer Reynolds Hi, I'm Jennifer. I am a mother of three and have been married for twenty years. We have a great life. I worked as a postpartum/ newborn nursery nurse and lactation consultant for a large hospital for almost twenty years. For the last few years, I have been self-employed with my own business; I do home visits for new moms and babies as a doula and lactation consultant. My job is very rewarding and I love it. Lately, I have not been working much. This year was supposed to be a good one after last year not being the best. But unfortunately, it wasn't. After a routine mammogram, I was called back for more tests. They did ultrasounds, biopsies, scans, and more. I was then diagnosed with breast cancer, left side IDC stage 2b. I had it in my lymph nodes. This was the most shocking news, and I never... ever anticipated THIS. I was very overwhelmed and so was my family. They knew I had to fight. I was started on chemo after my tests, blood work, and more. My chemo was six rounds, every three weeks. I had a port which did end up being a good thing. I did cold capping which is very expensive, but my family wanted to pay for it to keep as much hair as I could. I am glad I did. They also found out that I am PALB2 positive which complicates my case. I have no idea how or why I have this. My mom and daughter have since been tested, and they are negative. So recently, on June 30th, I had a DMX with reconstruction and lymph dissection. Six were found, and they took eight. This has been very difficult. I am emotionally up and down. I have a long road ahead. I have been healing well and have had three fills. I have my radiation MD consult this week. That will be for six weeks. I also have to be on two different meds to help prevent reoccurrence. I have an amazing family and support. I have a very busy and full life... but what happened to my old life? Everything has changed. I will keep working on getting stronger to fight this and do my best. Some days are really hard, and some are better. I pray and look forward to better, more stress-free days. Thank you for sharing your story, Jennifer. SBC loves you! SurvivingBreastCancer.org Resources & Support: Positive Thinking for Healing Our Weekly MeetUp Online Support Groups

By Susan Hi, my name is Susan. I’m a breast cancer survivor. I’m a warrior, a fighter, and a strong woman. This is my story. I was initially diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). A small cluster was found during my annual mammogram. I was 44 years old. Waiting for that phone call, that several people assured me would be negative, was in fact DCIS. I made an immediate appointment to meet my breast surgeon. This gracious doctor held my hand during 2 lumpectomies , a seroma , and making the decision to have a bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction . On September 11, 2018, I had my surgery. I said goodbye to my old breasts and was ready to battle ! I woke up from surgery to be told that my sentinel lymph nodes were cancerous. All my lymph nodes on my right side were removed. Further testing was required and that I was going to have to have further treatment. My initial thought was, I am so glad that I got a bilateral mastectomy . On September 17, I was told that 2 tumors were found in my right breast tissue, and that they were riddled with DCIS as well. I had 3 tumors in my lymph nodes . Thankfully my left breast tissue was clear. I have zero regrets about this decision. My life is more important to me. Stage 2a Invasive Ductal Carcinoma was my diagnosis. ER+, PR+ HER2-. I chose to be aggressive with my treatment. I compiled a team of doctors to guide me through. I had 4 rounds of AC (red devil) , 12 rounds of Taxol and then 25 rounds of radiation . Chemo was physically draining. Radiation was emotionally exhausting. I’m pretty sure I cried for 2 weeks straight. Through all of this though, from the moment of diagnosis, my husband was by my side, and my best friends, Janet and Jen, guided me through this. And my community, Beverly, MA, just amazing. People came out to support us without a second thought. We were showered with love, food, baskets of goodies, friendship, and so much more. They’re all part of my tribe. When faced with breast cancer, it’s so scary. Find your tribe. Your people, who will be there no matter what, because you’re going to need help. Let people help you. I couldn’t have made it through this without the support of my tribe. Thank you for sharing your story, Susan. SBC loves you! Read More Diagnosed with DCIS After a Clear Mammogram SurvivingBreastCancer.org Resources & Support: Positive Thinking for Healing Online Support Groups

By Tonya My name is Tonya Thomas, and in February 2019, I was diagnosed with an aggressive stage 3 breast cancer . I completed 16 rounds of chemotherapy over a 5 month period. On Tuesday, August 27th, 2019, I underwent a double mastectomy . I wasn't sure how I would feel after the surgery. Would I feel devastated, angry, sad, or less than a woman? Would I feel less than a whole person? Surprisingly, I didn't feel any of the things listed above. I feel free. I feel free to welcome this new version of me, and I love her even more. SHE IS STRONG! SHE IS AMAZING! SHE IS ME! Thank you for sharing your story, Tonya. SBC loves you! SurvivingBreastCancer.org Resources & Support: Positive Thinking for Healing Our Weekly MeetUp Online Support Groups

Submitted by Rod Ritchie of MaleBC.org, in honor of Gary Wong, 1955-2021 Diagnosed in February 2019, Gary was just 55 when he passed in hospital, in May of this year, surrounded by the family he loved. Gary’s cheery disposition and optimism infected those around him. He was determined to never give up, and he espoused a healthy diet and regular exercise, not just to give himself extra time, but for better quality of life. To his siblings, his kids, and his partner, he gave love and attention. As he said, he wanted to bring all who he encountered happiness. Gary knew breast cancer is not just about men or women, rather it was more about beating cancer itself. He had just been appointed to the Board of Advisors for ProjectLifeMBC, a survivor initiative based in San Francisco, for those with metastatic breast cancer. He was a diligent advocate for all guys with breast cancer. Gary doubled his prognosis estimate, and we’re all so much richer for the extra time we had with him. Thank you for honoring Gary, Rod. His legacy will live on. SurvivingBreastCancer.org Resources & Support: Affirmations & Meditations Guide Our Weekly MeetUp Online Support Groups

By Cheri In honor of #breastcancerawareness month, I thought I’d share a few things I’ve dealt with as a survivor! #cancerfighter 1. “I’m sicker than you are.” There’s no need to out-sick me. I appreciate but don’t necessarily want all this attention. I actually had “friends” delete me from their life and social media because they felt like their cause was worse but I was getting too much attention. Seriously? You can have it. I just want my boobs back. Thanks. 2. “There’s people everywhere raising money for you.” My friends and I have raised thousands of dollars for breast cancer patients. I’m not eligible for a cent because I have insurance and am employed. So if my amazing friends want to host fundraisers for me, it’s because I’m a good friend to them and would do the same thing. You should try it. Not to mention the money they did raise is just a percentage of the money we owe. I'm not going on extravagant trips. I don't even get my hair done. I don't have a maid. I have an 11-year-old car and live in a house from the 80’s. I'm just trying to keep my life as normal as it was before and not worry everyday about the "what-ifs." 3. “You get a boob job!” I didn’t choose this. When they removed my breasts, I became concave. So even with the biggest implants that an ethical plastic surgeon will use, I’m still smaller than I was before. Plus, I have 7-inch-long scars where my nipples used to be. Pretty sure no one requests that at their plastic surgeon appointments. 4. “I don’t know what to say to you.” Did we talk before? Why can’t you say the same things? I haven’t changed. But if you stopped talking to me, then you changed. Give me a hug. I love hugs. 5. "My so and so died from that cancer." Why do you think I want to hear this? Do you think you are encouraging me? I get that you are trying to connect with me and let me know you understand how bad it is. I wake up every day thankful that I WOKE up so I don't need a reminder that it could kill me tomorrow. Life is tough. I could feel sorry for myself every day. But I choose life. To get up and be strong and fight. Do I cry and get upset? Just about every day. But this life is better than the alternative. I’m going to live my life and enjoy every single day I have left. I'm going to spend time with my family and try and keep some normalcy just in case I ever have to hear those words again, "It's cancer." I hope you never have to hear those. Thank you for sharing your story, Cheri. SBC adores you and your realness! SurvivingBreastCancer.org Resources & Support: Positive Thinking for Healing Check out our podcast Online Support Groups

By Emily Cook I’m a 32-year-old United States Capitol Police Officer who was recently diagnosed last month with triple negative invasive lobular carcinoma. Previously, I was on Metropolitan Police Department’s mountain bike team and currently live in Maryland with my girlfriend and two French Bulldogs. I lost my mom to breast cancer in 2013 and my dad in 2020 to Covid. I fight this fight for those who have lost, those who continue to fight, and those who have survived. Connect with Emily via Instagram: @Emiliah_halfpint Thank you for sharing your story, Emily. SBC loves you! SurvivingBreastCancer.org Resources & Support: Our Podcast Our Weekly MeetUp Online Support Groups Free, Weekly Events

By Jennifer Douglas In 2019, I was diagnosed the day before my 42nd birthday with DCIS - Ductal Carcinoma in Situ- Stage 0 Breast Cancer. I sat in shock in my surgeon’s office with my best friend taking notes next to me as the doctor discussed the findings of my biopsy the week before. I walked out of the office with appointments to make, a tentative surgery date on the calendar, and a feeling of overwhelm cascading over me. I had no idea how to break the news to my husband and high school-aged sons. How could this be happening to me? I didn’t have time to be a breast cancer patient. How did this process start? It was my annual screening mammogram that caught my DCIS . The mammogram revealed calcifications in my right breast that prompted a diagnostic mammogram and an ultrasound. After all that imaging was complete, I was referred to a surgeon for further care. I was no stranger to abnormal imaging because I have several fibroadenomas in my breasts. These are benign breast findings and feel like marbles in my breasts when I do my self-exam. I had seen this surgeon several years previously for a biopsy on these findings. I was not excited to be heading back to another appointment with him. I came prepared with lots of questions for my appointment. However, the surgeon was focused more on reassuring me that it probably wasn’t cancer rather than addressing my concerns. The appointment abruptly ended when he got called away on an emergency. I had more to ask, but he was gone. The nurse directed me to the scheduler to get a biopsy set up. Something inside me went off like a warning bell. I felt frustrated and scared, and I hadn’t been diagnosed yet. I needed to have a surgeon who would take the time to answer my questions. I decided to seek out a second opinion. This decision turned out to be one of the most important things I did during my diagnosis process. The appointments and care at this second medical group were thorough, individualized, and not rushed. Imaging Galore and Biopsies... So Many Biopsies Once I decided to establish care with my new breast surgeon, he ordered new imaging- mammograms and ultrasounds on my breasts and then biopsies on the calcifications. One of the things I appreciated about the diagnostic imaging at this new facility was having a conversation with the radiologist immediately after my imaging. I was able to ask him about my calcifications and get his opinion on them. He was especially concerned with them because of their shape and urged me to get a biopsy. Throughout my diagnosis process, I ended up having five biopsies. The first and second biopsies were on the findings from the mammogram, and the other three happened after my MRI showed areas of concern in the opposite breast. The biopsies were what I hated the most throughout my diagnosis and treatment. During my first mammogram-guided biopsy, I passed out during the procedure. Thankfully the radiologist was able to continue the biopsy and get a sample. I made sure to warn the radiologists before my other biopsies that I might faint. I did better during my ultrasound and MRI-guided biopsies because I was lying down. There was something about sitting up during the mammogram-guided biopsy that didn’t work for me! I opted to have genetic testing done because of my age at diagnosis. My surgeon had recommended a lumpectomy for my DCIS, but wanted to make sure that I didn’t have any variants that would impact my recurrence rate. I was thrilled when the additional biopsies performed after my MRI were benign, and my genetic testing came back clear. These final steps in my diagnosis meant that I could make a surgical decision. Surgery- Finally I ended up deciding on a lumpectomy to remove the DCIS . The DCIS was only about 4 mm, and my surgeon was confident he could remove it and minimize any disfigurement. He also removed a benign fibroadenoma from my opposite breast during the surgery. I had never been under general anesthesia before, and I was terrified of the process. When I talked to other people about my fears, they made it seem like no big deal. But it was to me. I remember talking to my nurse just before they took me down to the surgery floor about my fears. She encouraged me to think pleasant things right before they put me under, and I would wake up feeling those emotions. So as they put the mask on me, I thought of my husband and the wonderful times we’d had together. The next thing I knew, it was all over. I laughed and cried. I couldn’t believe it was over. I woke up feeling relieved and happy. The lumpectomy was done as an outpatient procedure, so I could come home that night. It was wonderful to fall asleep in my own bed. The following day I woke up, disoriented at the light streaming through the shutters. For the first time in months, I slept all night and woke up without anxiety. A few days later, I got a phone call from my surgeon. He was in between surgeries but wanted to call me to say they had gotten clean margins in my lumpectomy . So, I wasn’t going to need another surgery! What a relief. I could concentrate on recovery and think about the next treatment options. Post Surgery Treatment: Radiation and Tamoxifen After a few weeks of recovery, my surgeon cleared me to see the oncologist. He discussed that I had the option of doing radiation and taking tamoxifen for five years. The radiation would eliminate any DCIS not yet visible on imaging, and the tamoxifen would reduce my risk of recurrence by lowering my estrogen levels. I made an appointment with the radiation oncologist, but I wasn’t sure if I would go through with radiation. The thought of getting the treatment was pretty terrifying. I had done a lot of research, and I knew that pairing radiation with a lumpectomy would reduce my risk of getting breast cancer again. My family had been through so much disruption with my diagnosis and surgery over the last few months. A part of me wanted to be done with this cancer treatment and skip the extra month of treatment. My radiation oncologist was amazing. During our consultation, she addressed every single one of my questions. She was patient and also extremely knowledgeable. As we discussed whether or not I should do radiation, she was candid with me. She said, “If you were older, I wouldn’t advise you to do this treatment. But you are only 42. Hopefully, you will have 40 more years of life. There’s a possibility other areas of DCIS are in your breast, but imaging can’t see it yet.” That did it for me. After that, I was committed to the radiation. I had 20 treatments of radiation spread over four weeks. It was exhausting, and my skin burned and peeled twice. It was tough to go through Christmas season 2019 going to treatment every day. My husband was able to work from home at that time and drive me to my daily appointments. The location was close to our house, so it was about an hour from start to finish each day. I had a severe case of radiation fatigue and couldn’t do much during that month except rest and put lots of lotion on. I finished radiation on December 23rd, 2019. That Christmas with my family was precious. We had made it through the trauma of cancer together. I began tamoxifen on January 1st, 2020, and was able to stay on the medication for about nine months. Unfortunately, the side effects, especially the persistent rib pain, impacted my quality of life to the point that my oncologist recommended I stop taking it. Nevertheless, I’m happy I tried taking it. I’m also grateful that my oncologist was willing to listen to my concerns and cared about my side effects. Life After Treatment I was surprised at how hard this cancer treatment was on my family and me. I was diagnosed at stage 0, didn’t need chemotherapy, and only had one surgery. Yet I was physically, mentally, and emotionally drained in ways I had never been before. I realized that a Stage zero diagnosis doesn’t mean zero challenges. Shortly after finishing radiation, I decided to write a book about my experiences. I didn’t tell anyone what I was doing. Each morning I typed until I had nothing left to say, then closed the lid of my laptop and went along with my day. For months this was my routine. I poured out my heart, delved into the emotions, shared what I had learned , and then went back to my day as a virtual school parent and homemaker. In the spring of 2020, I realized I had the first draft of a book. I was delighted that I’d followed through with my writing. I had always dreamed of being an author but had never completed a manuscript. Breast cancer taught me that I might not have unlimited time on the planet. I needed to share what I had been through and help others facing the same diagnosis. Over the past two years, I have embraced a new calling of being a writer and a breast cancer advocate. I didn’t expect that a surprise diagnosis of DCIS would lead me to this new vocation, but each time I’m able to share my story and offer encouragement, I feel inspired to continue. Connect with Jennifer via social media: Twitter (@mmejendouglas) : https://twitter.com/mmejendouglas Instagram (@mmejendouglas) : https://instagram.com/mmejendouglas Thank you for sharing your story, Jennifer. SBC loves you! SurvivingBreastCancer.org Resources & Support: Our Podcast Online Support Groups Free, Weekly Events

By Charmica Knight Last weekend I went to my special place (the bathroom lol) to think and reflect. This ultimately resulted in soggy eyes as I read through a post on a support board that I follow. The discussion was legacy and how this mother of 3 young children wanted to capture the moments of her life in a time capsule. I read and follow a lot of postings but this one just really hit home and shook me to the core. My fellow breastie was no older than 35 and had received a similar diagnosis, which was stage 2 cancer. After following all of the standard protocols for treatment she was saddened to find that cancer had returned a year later but this time it was metastatic. For those of you not familiar with the term metastatic, it means that those pesky breast cancer cells migrated to another organ or bone. So just like that she was catapulted to a stage 4 diagnosis and was told to plan for worst case scenario. This all can be so overwhelming and hard to manage when I truly pause to think about the severity of my type of disease. To think that the first medical "something" I face is the one with the worse prognosis and highest recurrence. Now don't get me wrong 69% percent survival and 50% recurrence aren't terrible odds but when you look at other types of breast cancer and see 90% - 98% for both it can be disheartening. I try very hard to not live in the space that I sometimes visit that is plagued with worry and doubt. Why? Because I remember that I have survived 100% of my worse days and this will be no different. Not to mention I owe myself the opportunity to live which means I will fight this with all that I have in me. You know what also helps? You! The person taking the time to read this post, the ones who still send me texts and emails just to check in, the cards because anyone who knows me would know that I love to receive mail, and the prayers that I cannot hear but I know are coming in on my behalf. Thank you. This all keeps me focused on the prize which is beating this disease! I am happy to report that my last round of tests showed that my tumor and lymph nodes have shrunk by 50%!! This is huge because I am still early in my treatment so plenty of time to see continued progress. Please keep sending those prayers, well wishes and thoughts for continual response to these treatments. I appreciate you all and thank you for keeping me lifted. I will rise up… I'll rise up Rise like the day I'll rise up In spite of the ache I will rise a thousand times again And we'll rise up High like the waves We'll rise up In spite of the ache We'll rise up And we'll do it a thousand times again ~ Song by Andra Day Thank you for allowing us to share your journal entry, Charmica! SBC loves you! SurvivingBreastCancer.org Resources & Support: Our Podcast Online Support Groups Free, Weekly Events

By Cora Fahy As I sit by the fire on this cold winter night, I am contemplating my upcoming birthday, while remembering previous birthdays that had a big impact on my life. I had hoped my 47th birthday would bring better tidings than the previous few years had. At 45, my husband divorced me, telling me in no uncertain terms... I’m DONE with you! 46 had challenged me to learn what it was like to live alone again, AND also almost took another of my siblings away from me. Forcing me to face the grief of loss square in the eyes yet AGAIN!! But instead of a wee break from the chaos, 47 brought me breast cancer instead. And what does one do when faced with ANOTHER storm ……well, you pull on your wellies (aka Wellington boots) and figure out how to navigate it! That’s what. And here I am, almost 7 years later and about to turn 54 in a few days, still navigating as best I can, and advocating so that others might have less to deal with on their own journey through cancer. And my advocacy is not big stuff, like starting organizations or organizing big fundraisers etc. It’s the small things, like being available when your friends reach out and say, ”Someone I know just got diagnosed, would you be able to talk/listen to them." Or like working in the PT community as a Cancer Exercise Specialist PT Assistant, and being able to offer some real world experiences to my patients, as I have walked the walk with some of the same treatments they are going through themselves. I’ve learned a load of things since being diagnosed with breast cancer, and one of them is to just “show up. ” To show up is defined as “to proactively commit to something; to seriously (rather than casually) pitch in and work.” To be there for others, in some way is also being there for yourself. It makes sense of the chaos, and helps give you a focus. A purpose. It helps lessen the loneliness that all of us feel when we hear the words, “It’s cancer.” So show up as best you can, because you never know how much that may help the next person who hears those awful words. Or is faced with ANY life changing challenge for that matter. Connect with Cora on Instagram: @boobambassador Thank you for allowing us to share your story, Cora! SBC adores you! SurvivingBreastCancer.org Resources & Support: Our Podcast Our Weekly MeetUp Online Support Groups Free, Weekly Events

By Heather Glover I'm one of the 55,000 women diagnosed with breast cancer, and one of over 10,000 women who lose their breasts as a result of the disease each year in the UK, and DON’T have reconstruction. In my mid 40s, whilst living an active and happy life, I found what felt like a large breast lump in my right breast whilst taking a shower. I wasn’t worried at all. I had a shower in the morning, worked as a nurse all day, returned home and ate dinner with my family, before heading out to the gym that evening. Cancer couldn’t happen just like that (so I thought). Besides, since being a teenager I had experienced many breast lumps. I had undergone investigation and scans - I’d had a mammogram 23 months earlier for a breast lump - it always turned out to be “nothing,” so I wasn’t worried on this occasion. Having been a nurse all of my working life, I never knew there were so many forms of breast cancer (triple negative, HER2+, lobular, inflammatory, etc.). Breast cancer had touched my life very recently as my sister in law was diagnosed 7 months before me. She was two months older than me, we went to school together, and she too had TNBC. Unfortunately, we still do not have a cure for breast cancer and Catherine passed away before she reached 50, in March 2020, just as the Covid pandemic was announced and the UK lockdown began. After my Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) diagnosis , I received chemotherapy from the summer until just before Christmas 2017. When I had surgery in January 2018, a lumpectomy and Wide Local Excision (WLE) and removal of my lymph glands (as cancer had infiltrated one of my lymph nodes) - I was informed that the tumor was exactly the same size as before all that chemo. That worried me a lot. What if it had escaped and spread and was resistant to the toxic effects of these drugs? I completed my course of treatment with radiotherapy in March 2018. I returned to nursing in May and trained for a half marathon, which I ran in under 2 hours, in Sept 2018. At the beginning of December 2018, I was feeling tired - but isn't everyone exhausted on the run up to Christmas? I was woken in the night with severe breast pain in my affected side . Of course, paranoid, I got checked out straight away. Despite a really thorough examination, there was no abnormality except a slightly swollen breast. I had suffered with a seroma when I had my initial surgery, and the opinion of the breast care nurse was that my exercise regime (press-ups) had caused localized trauma and this in turn caused the pain and swelling. Nothing sinister to be found, phew, all was ok. Seemed like a logical explanation to me. (My sister-in-law’s breast cancer had recurred by this point.) Just 4 weeks later, on New Year’s Eve 2018, while taking a shower, I found a big lump on my scar line. I was devastated. I felt immediately sick this time around. I was petrified. Fast forward to the end of my investigations, stage 3 TNBC had returned , twice as big and twice as aggressive. This was due to the increase in the tumor marker Ki67 (also sometimes referred to as a biomarker) which was 18% at my first diagnosis and 78% subsequently. This actually led to some debate as to whether this was a recurrence, or a new primary, but either way, the treatment plan was the same. In Feb 2019, I had a single mastectomy . My surgeon had agreed to perform a bilateral mastectomy as a preventative measure, but I would have had to wait an extra week for his theatre time. My right breast was so painful and I couldn’t sleep due to the worry and pain, so he brought my surgery forward and I underwent a mastectomy without reconstruction. They were worried that the skin wouldn’t heal due to previous radiotherapy, so I was unable to have reconstruction, or even an expander. I didn’t have enough flesh anywhere for a flap reconstruction, hence I remained flat. I then underwent 4 of 6 months chemotherapy- I just couldn't tolerate the full course. Whilst I didn’t lose all my hair this time around with a different cocktail of chemotherapy drugs , and I wasn’t even sick, I felt like I was slowly being hammered into my grave. I felt like my heart would stop or I’d just stop breathing - just like that. After the first dose I said I wanted no more - this terrified my family. I said the same after every dose, until I finally reached 4 months and said that was enough. In spring 2019, I joined the charity Prevent Breast Cancer, and I think this is what helped pull me through that chemotherapy regime , as well as my family. 100 women from the Greater Manchester area were invited to become “BooBees” and we travelled in a big pink bus raising both awareness amongst the community, and funds for the charity. The camaraderie and friendships, the laughs and the tears and having a purpose apart from just surviving, had a real positive impact for me. I now do as much as I can to raise support and awareness for the important work they do, as they believe they can predict who is at risk of breast cancer, and can prevent the disease from developing with targeted screening, protecting the lives of our future generations. In January 2020, I had risk reducing and symmetrizing mastectomy to my left breast. Reconstruction wasn't a possibility for my first surgery due to my skin having had previous radiotherapy. So my second mastectomy was performed to look the same. I couldn't get along with using prosthetics - I felt like I was changing character every time I put my bra on, I felt fake, I felt constantly reminded that I'd lost my natural breasts. I still wanted to wear pretty lingerie under summer blouses and dresses or just to tease my husband though, and I couldn't find any. Fast forward to 2021... the birth of the Skarlette - a beautiful flat bra designed by flat women, for flat women . This was the result of my friend Kate making me my own most beautiful flat bra, as I was so disappointed and frustrated with the poor selection of lingerie available for a flat chest. I felt so incredibly amazing that I wanted to share this experience with every woman in a similar position to me. I hadn’t even realized how “unfeminine” I must have been feeling, but I was overwhelmed with emotion when I put on my Skarlette for the first time. And that's when we decided to launch our business. Don’t get me wrong, it’s liberating not having to wear a bra, but every woman deserves the opportunity to feel sexy and attractive when she wants to. Our Skarlette lingerie is achieving this. Connect with Heather: Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheSkarlette Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theskarlette/ Thank you for allowing us to share your story, Heather! SBC adores you! SurvivingBreastCancer.org Resources & Support: Our Podcast Our Weekly MeetUp Online Support Groups Free, Weekly Events Read On Tripple Negative Breast Cancer In Your 20's and 30's

By TJ Hills My breast cancer story began about 15 years ago, at the age of 42. At that time, I was a very busy working mother- a stereotypical, New York City, Type A professional. I had 3 young children, my husband worked nonstop, and I had a financial consulting business where I worked about 40-60 hours a week. I got paid to be rigorous and methodical about data and research. It was a well-developed skill that I never once applied to myself. Ignoring My Health For the 18 months before my diagnosis, my menstrual bleeding was becoming more and more irregular. I was gaining weight, and I was easily becoming tired and sleeping more than I had ever in my life. I saw a few OB/GYNs to try to get some help with the bleeding, but basically, I ignored my health and did not take the time to get to the bottom of my symptoms. In early 2009, I found a lump in my breast. My Diagnosis After a biopsy, the lump turned out to be Stage 3, aggressive estrogen/ progesterone receptor positive cancer, or what oncologists call “garden variety breast cancer,” which refers to an estrogen positive breast cancer which is more than 85% of all breast cancers. I went into a state of shock. In 2009, I was the first person in my extended family, just like more than 80% of all women diagnosed with breast cancer, to have any form of cancer. Why I had cancer was a complete mystery to me and my family. The odds I was given, back in 2009 before some of the individualized testing, like Oncotype was widely in use, was a 30% chance of the cancer coming back within 5 years if I successfully completed surgery, chemo, and radiation. It seemed to me that to leave my children without a mother was a horrible thing to do. I was determined to improve those odds somehow started with using my research skills. Estrogen Gene Testing and Remedies Luckily for me, soon after my diagnosis, I met Dr. Veltmann, an expert in nutrigenomics, which is broadly defined as the relationship between nutrients, diet, and gene expression. The very first thing he asked me was, “Have you had any irregular bleeding?” My story and my cancer were not a mystery to him. On the contrary, he was working with a large group of female military veterans, all of whom had a similar story and a 30% chance of their cancer coming back within 5 years. None of his patients had their cancer come back. That was a success that I wanted to learn more about. He gave me an estrogen gene test which showed damage on every single gene- genes like CYP1A1, CYP1B1, COMT, MnSOD, GSTP, and others. My body does not get rid of excess estrogen properly. That means it may not all exit in your urine or sweat and may recirculate in your body, potentially becoming toxic. It is especially important for women diagnosed with estrogen positive breast cancer to improve their estrogen health and get rid of any excess estrogen. What are excess estrogens? It can be drugs that some of us take for decades. In the beginning, it’s birth control pills, and at the end, it’s hormone replacement pills in a prescription pill or a cream or something you picked up at Whole Foods. Some women may take fertility medications ranging from Clomid, to a full in vitro fertility cycle. And in America, we are surrounded by chemicals that mimic estrogen in our food, our water, our skin care, shampoos, cosmetics, and especially on our lawns. If you have questions about your estrogen health, definitely speak with your oncologist. Dr. Veltman prescribed simple remedies starting with a supplement called Dim-Pro which is essentially concentrated broccoli, Fish Oil, and strong antioxidants like Vitamin C. That’s the regimen that I use to improve how I get rid of excess estrogen. If Only But I kept thinking… IF ONLY I had taken an Estrogen Gene test earlier and learned about my lifelong estrogen health, I might have made different choices about drugs like birth control pills, fertility treatments, and hormone replacement therapy. IF ONLY I had learned about Estrogen Genes earlier, I might have started the remedies to get rid of the excess estrogens and might have prevented my breast cancer or perhaps had an earlier or less aggressive cancer. We still will never know why some of us develop breast cancer in the first place. IF ONLY every woman everywhere could take this test and learn about her lifelong estrogen health as early as possible. Applying My Skills After I finished treatment, I applied my professional skills to my own cancer. I investigated many options, including estrogen metabolism genes and decided to improve how I get rid of excess estrogen, in hopes of improving my cancer odds. I learned a lot about estrogen along the way, including that estrogen exposures are the primary risk factors for breast cancer. I also learned that while I didn’t have any cancer history in my family, I discovered an extensive background of estrogen metabolism dysfunction. Endometriosis, fibroid tumors, ovarian cysts, infertility, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), or acne so severe it required pharmaceutical intervention. Apart from the PCOS, I had every one of these conditions running rampant through my family. Why I Share My Breast Cancer Story I have been sharing my story for more than 10 years. I tell my story because hindsight is 20/20. I continue to believe that if I had stopped to listen to my body and I had sought help earlier, my garden variety breast cancer might have been a lesser one or maybe even have been prevented entirely. Whether you are someone diagnosed with breast cancer or a family member or friend reading this, I hope my story inspires you to take care of your health above any and all obligations. Don’t ignore an ongoing medical issue and get yourself an estrogen gene test. Some of the testing companies may call it a detoxification or hormone panel. It is important that you choose a company that includes protocols to improve your gene expression that you will review with your healthcare team so you get rid of any excess estrogens as well as possible. Know your lifelong estrogen health, make healthier decisions, and use the simple remedies to improve your estrogen health like dim-pro, fish oil, and vitamin C, but of course always check with your healthcare team before starting any new medications Take the same time, money, and energy that you would spend on your children’s health and spend it on yourself. Thank you for allowing us to share your story, TJ! SBC adores you! SurvivingBreastCancer.org Resources & Support: Our Podcast Online Support Groups Free, Weekly Events