My cancer dance began way back in 2009, when I was 27 years old and found out that I carried the BRCA1 gene.  At the time it was overwhelming to find out my greatly increased cancer risk for both ovarian and breast cancers, but I know now that this knowledge likely saved my life.  For the next 10 years, I was fortunate to be given access to a regular surveillance protocol that included semi-annual mammograms, MRI’s, ultrasounds, blood tests, and physical exams.  It wasn’t always easy showing up to those appointments in my late 20’s and early 30’s and having some techs side eye my need for them, but I kept up with the surveillance dutifully for a full decade until December 2019 when I went in for a regularly scheduled MRI. I wasn’t overly concerned, since I had received the “all clear” just a few months earlier from a mammogram, ultrasound, and physical exam that July.  I even considered rescheduling the MRI to get a jump on holiday travel.  Thankfully I didn’t, as just hours after the scan, I received an urgent call to tell me that the imaging had revealed a new 3 cm mass as well as enlarged lymph nodes.

Given my BRCA1 status and the seemingly rapid rate of growth, it was well understood that this was likely something of concern, and I was sent for a biopsy as soon as I was home from the holidays.  On January 8th, 2020, at the age of 37, I was officially diagnosed with stage 2 Triple Negative Breast Cancer that had spread to my lymph nodes.

I had 18 months of active treatment, including neoadjuvant chemotherapy, a bilateral mastectomy, 25 rounds of radiation, and 6 more months of additional oral chemotherapy.  I also underwent a preventative oopherectomy to remove my ovaries and reduce my risk of ovarian cancer.  One of the hardest parts of my diagnosis and treatments was going through it all at the height of the pandemic.  Not only did I attend almost every treatment, surgery, and appointment alone, I also faced uncertainty with treatment options.  For example, I wanted immediate reconstruction during my bilateral mastectomy but had to fight and advocate hard for it because the reconstruction portion was considered “elective” at the time – thankfully, it did go ahead as I’d hoped.

Looking back, I feel extremely lucky to have gotten the level of screening which I did.  I have no doubt that my outcome would have been much worse if I hadn’t known about my BRCA1 status and been monitored so closely.  Now that many of my girlfriends are in their early 40’s, I strongly encourage them to get screenings and to push for ultrasounds and further imaging if they have concerns, even if seeing “clear” mammograms.  Looking back at the years of imaging reports I had done, including the mammo and ultrasound 6 months prior to the MRI that caught my stage 2 breast cancer, the report always noted, “breasts are dense, limiting assessment” – which I’ve learned makes cancers much harder to detect.

It’s so important to advocate for yourself, stay on top of self-exams, and listen to your body.  We always hear that “early detection is key,” but I had no idea how quickly some breast cancers can progress.  With breast cancer affecting more and more young women, it is absolutely crucial that it is caught early and taken seriously.

Today, I’m so grateful to be approaching five years post-treatment and moving toward that big shiny milestone of five-year survivorship and remission.  Not every day is easy breezy as I still deal with some lasting effects of the surgeries, some stubborn brain fog, and the joys of entering surgical menopause in my thirties.  But, one of my favourite sayings I heard during treatment was, “their story isn’t your story.”  Every road is unique.  This became even more clear to me as I recently watched a breast friend go through her own breast cancer diagnosis.  I couldn’t believe how many advancements had already been made in a few short years.  Treatments are evolving, trials are happening, and progress is being made every day.  I want others who may just be starting their journey be it as a previvor, a patient, or just entering their survivorship era, that life can be great again!