Hi, I’m Tammy, and in March 2021, at age 47, I heard the words no one ever wants to hear: “You have cancer.”

I had no family history of breast cancer. When I first found the lump – by accident while brushing my hair – it didn’t even cross my mind that it could be cancer. I had always been told I had dense breasts (I learned this back in my late 20’s, after having cysts removed), but I thought my lump would be “just another cyst.”

I went in for a mammogram, and right after, I had an ultrasound. The doctor came into the room and told me I needed a biopsy. I had three biopsies in my right breast and two in my underarm. Still, I thought everything would be fine. I was wrong.

A few weeks passed and I got the call, that it was breast cancer and it had already spread to my lymph nodes. I remember thinking, this can’t be real! Less than.a month later, I had my first mastectomy. I was diagnosed with: Triple Negative, Invasive, Ductal, Metaplastic, Multifocal Stage 3, Grade 3 Carcinoma of the Breast. (These are big words that mean I had multiple lumps in different locations in the same breast)

My partner dropped me off at the hospital doors because Covid restrictions wouldn’t allow anyone to accompany me. I walked in alone. That became a theme – I did most of my treatments and appointments alone. My partner was there when it mattered most, but my family lived in Ontario while I was in Alberta, so much of this journey I had to carry by myself.

And as if that wasn’t enough, while I was still healing from my first surgery – with the staples still in my chest – I was diagnosed with Stage 2C Rectal Cancer. That’s a whole other story.

Altogether, I endured:

– 20 radiations + 6 rounds of chemo for breast cancer

– 36 radiations + 3 rounds of chemo for rectal cancer

– Two mastectomies, two years apart (the second was my choice, for preventative reasons)

– The removal of 17 lymph nodes, 4 of which were cancerous

I chose to remain flat. And let’s be honest – this is an amputation, and it’s not just physical healing. It’s emotional. It’s learning to see and love yourself again in a new way. Healing means finding your voice, reclaiming your power, and refusing to let cancer define you.

I had to advocate fiercely for myself. Three different doctors told me “no” when I asked to have my left breast removed preventivly. But I pushed until I got the surgery, because I knew my body and my risks. Advocacy matters! Early detection saves lives, but so does raising your voice and demanding answers.

I also learned that you can have two women with the same diagnosis, and yet their treatments, side effects, and experiences are completely different. For me, lymphedema is a daily reminder of what was taken. For someone else, it might be something else. There’s no one-size-fits-all with this disease.

That’s why I tell people:

– Know your family history.

– Ask the hard questions.

– Know your breast density

– Don’t go down the “Dr. Google” rabbit hole – save your sanity and go for a walk instead.

– And most of all – advocate for yourself. I am here today because I didn’t stop asking questions.

Cancer has also changed how I live my life. I’ve become very intentional about what I put in, on, and around my body. That led me to partner with a company that creates products without toxins – because prevention and awareness aren’t just about screenings, they’re also about what we do every day to protect our health.

Today, I’m a Gramma to the most handsome little man, Beau. I still love ladybugs, unicorns, and flip flops, because, why not?! And I want every woman to know: life can still be BeYOUtiful after a diagnosis. You can still laugh, love, and make memories. You are not alone in this journey.

And the more we talk about dense breasts, the more women understand their risks, and the more lives we can save. Because knowledge is power.

Thank you for this opportunity to share my story. I could have written so many pages as there are so many layers to this (haha) I send love, light, hope and strength to all that have to travel this path.

Tammy