We are Surviving
I know it’s cliché to say everything happens for a reason, but in my case with breast cancer, it certainly feels that way. I wouldn’t say that I was misdiagnosed in my late 20’s, I just didn’t know what it meant to advocate. I had recently moved to Boston, landed a great job in higher education and enjoyed life in my South End brownstone studio. I remember my boyfriend inquiring about a pea-size lump on my breast asked me if I felt it too. My response was, “yes, it has always been there”, and we went about life as if to say, we’re not going to worry about it. Why would I? I knew my body and that lump was something that I had always noticed so it did not seem abnormal. When I asked my primary care physician, she didn’t seem worried either so there you have it, everything was fine.
The timeline is a little blurry, but between 2010-2015 two of my colleagues were diagnosed with breast cancer. I watched as they navigated HR, work, treatment, being mothers, losing their hair, having surgeries, complications, and radiation. I remember not really knowing the difference between a lumpectomy and a mastectomy or what the stages of breast cancer signified. After all, aren’t all cancers aggressive?
When dimpling first appeared on my left breast, I knew it was time to see my physician again and push for a mammogram, despite not having any family history of breast cancer. As a vegetarian since age 16, turned vegan in my 20’s, and living an extremely active lifestyle, I was diagnosed with stage IIB breast cancer at 34 (ER/PR+, HER2 equivocal) in 2016.
At this point, I was grateful for living in Boston with access to some of the best medical institutions in the country. I had colleagues I could lean on to help me navigate work, HR and my career, and my boyfriend, now of 10 years, was by my side and committed to attending every doctor’s appointment.
My higher ed career lead me to earn my doctorate in Education and climb the ranks at a business school known for entrepreneurship. Needless to say, it was time to embark on my own entrepreneurial venture to fill a gap in the breast cancer community. I wanted to use my passion for education and teaching and provide resources and community to those diagnosed with breast cancer and their families. In 2018, we received our IRS Determination Letter and our 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Survivingbreastcancer.org, was formed.
I am cognizant of the gerund verb form, surviv-ing. We are actively surviving breast cancer. Our tagline from “day one and beyond” signifies that we are here to support you - from risk reduction strategies and false positives, to diagnosis and beyond - because we all know that breast cancer doesn’t end when treatment does, or because you were diagnosed de novo, or lost a loved one to MBC. There is a continuum, and that is the unwavering support we offer.
We provide education, resources, and community through our website, weekly newsletters, blogs, podcasts, book club and support groups & webinars. Within the overarching umbrella of breast cancer, there are myriad subsets to consider from tumor characteristics and staging to age at diagnosis and pre and post menopause. I’ve learned so much from my friends and colleagues in the breast cancer field. I’ve learned how language matters. Fear is ok, and we don’t have to be “thrivers” every day. I’ve learned about sorrow, disenfranchised and anticipatory grief. I’ve learned about clinical trials, systemic disparities and the unique needs of families and caregivers. I’ve learned from mothers who have lost their daughters to MBC and husbands who have lost their spouses. There is so much more to learn and do. The work is never done and I am more inspired than ever to continue to share stories, elevate voices, and advocate for our community.
It is an honor to collaborate with Our MBC Life and be an added resource and community for those diagnosed with MBC. I would invite you to check out our MBC Webinar series that we hold every other Sunday at 4pm ET. We are also in the process of developing toolkits and resources, specifically for navigating terminal illness, end of life care, including palliative care and hospice, etc. We are stronger together.
While I do not wish or hope for a recurrence, I started this piece by saying everything happens for a reason. I feel blessed to have met so many amazing and inspirational people in the MBC community who have helped shape our Survivingbreastcancer.org nonprofit and who have partnered with us, so that if my cancer were to metastasize, I know I have the tools, support and resources to proceed with grace.
