Celebrating Strength and Raising Awareness: Mary’s Journey with Breast Cancer
This November, we’re honoring Mary from Uplift Intimate Apparel, who shares her breast cancer journey. Cancer affects people every day, and organizations like Pink Ribbon Connection make a real difference along the way. Don’t forget—schedule your yearly mammogram!
“My name is Mary and I was diagnosed with Stage IIB, HER2 – positive Breast Cancer on November 8, 2016 . My treatment lasted 11 months and 1 day. I had six rounds of hard chemotherapy, 11 rounds of Herceptin (“easy” chemo), 33 days of radiation, and three lumpectomy surgeries. The surgeries all occurred over a period of one month.
I have always been an avid runner and visited the gym most days but that all stopped once I was diagnosed. I used cold cap therapy to save my hair. The scalp must not be warmer than 65 degrees at any given time during the months of chemotherapy. So I did not exercise or take hot showers for a period of seven months, which was the duration of my chemo treatments.
After eight months I went on my first run which was about 3/4 of a mile and while it felt great I also realized how much work was needed to get back to feeling strong both mentally and physically. I started taking yoga and strength classes 2-3 times a week. Slowly I was getting stronger but the fear of the cancer returning was always on my mind.
My husband and I moved to Carmel about four years after my treatment ended and I started working part-time at Uplift. It is a wonderful place to work and a great job to meet new friends and share advice and love to clients in need of bra “support” and discussion about BCA.
As I continue to remain cancer clear, there is still emotional stress every November when I have my annual mammogram. Fortunately, I was given the opportunity to join a group of women (Breast Cancer does affect men – we just have women in our group) who were taught Mindfulness skills to deal with these emotions. I am still in the group and we are working on a smartphone app that could someday be offered to Breast Cancer patients free of cost.
My husband and two kids have always been my support system and I am grateful for that. Just a reminder to continue to do self-exams and see your doctor yearly or if something does not feel right. “🩷