They say no two snowflakes are alike. I believe the same holds true for anyone battling cancer.
The journey, that is.
If you put 100 breast cancer survivors in the same room, all with the same type, staging and treatment plan, you would find that the journey was different for each of them. Sure, you may find that there are some shared experiences, such as working while undergoing treatment. That too can be very different. One is a single mother without paid time off needing the paycheck and the other from a dual-income household, working for a company that grants her paid time off and encourages her to put her health first.
Like many breast cancer survivors, my diagnosis came during a routine mammogram. No family history and a mass that eluded touch. I tried to process what was said during my mammogram. Statements such as “the fact it was caught early given its location speaks to the skill of the technologist” and “now we have breast preserving techniques, like partial mastectomies” resonated with me. But those comforting words didn’t dispel what I thought my outcome would be.
There were no cancer survivors in my family’s history. My father had passed from esophageal cancer in his early 50s and my brother two years later from glioblastoma. It was hard to shake the images of their final days and fear that I wouldn’t survive cancer. It had been my only experience; cancer wins. Or so I thought. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
A biopsy confirmed my diagnosis. Again, words were said like “we caught it early” and “the overall survival rates for breast cancer have dramatically improved.” This changed my whole perspective and allowed me to believe my journey would be different. I made the decision to face my cancer with humor, optimism and resilience.
I will be the first in my family to survive cancer. My story would end differently than it did for my brother and father. It’s the research done by the American Cancer Society that allows for this ending. Cutting-edge research, 3D mammography, appeals for annual screenings and continued studies on new treatments are just a few examples of how important their work is.
I was fortunate that I was equipped to handle my diagnosis as I had the love and support of family and friends, great health insurance, and a company that allowed me to take whatever time needed to recover and undergo treatment. But there are so many women who aren’t as fortunate, and the American Cancer Society is there for them in every way imaginable.
I am proud to raise money for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of NH, so they can continue to change the ending of each patient’s story and give them the hope they need to handle their diagnosis and road ahead.
What a cancer diagnosis doesn’t prepare you for is how many amazing people you will meet on your journey. From healthcare providers to fellow survivors to those who are passionate about making a difference in the war on cancer. So many incredible people!
It also doesn’t prepare you for the strength surviving cancer gives you to handle the curveballs life throws at you. In 2021, I underwent brain surgery. As nervous as I was about the surgery, I was able to get through it because I had the experience of being a survivor.
Thanks to the important work of Making Strides, more women and men will be able to claim, “I am a breast cancer survivor!” And just like snowflakes, no two survivors’ journeys will have been the same.
Diane Stephens of Brookline is a vice president at Essco Calibration Laboratory.