Survivor Stories

My name is April Targa and I am a cancer survivor, but more than that I am also a mom, an OTF coach, athlete and lover of LIFE! Jan 2020 a 23andMe test revealed I was a genetic carrier of BRCA1. Family history and further genetic testing confirmed this. After much thought and research I chose a preventative route of prophylactic surgeries (full mastectomy and hysterectomy) to lower my risk of cancer. Covid delayed things a bit but I was told post surgeries, I had lessened my

It’s the month of Pinktober when ribbons and awareness make everyone feel like progress is being made in the fight against breast cancer, when it’s ok to talk incessantly about breasts, when I feel sick to my stomach because of the countless women I have known, loved and lost because there is still no cure. It’s the season that marks my 6 year anniversary of finding in Handful a bra that would put me back together again, after cancer took every organ that made me biologically

I saw a photograph of a woman who had had a mastectomy on the cover of The New York Times Magazine in 1993, and though she was a former model and it was beautifully shot with the words, “You Can’t Look Away Anymore,” emblazoned on it, I immediately looked away and thought to myself, “I better get on top of my self exams or I'll end up disfigured like her.” WTF, I actually thought that, and for those of you who don't know, today I'm living as a double mastectomy, no reconstruc

With mental and physical wellbeing at the forefront of this year's Breast Cancer ACTION month, we're re-sharing this post from our partners at  For the Breast of Us  on how fitness can help Breast Cancer Baddies reconnect with their bodies after a diagnosis. Contrary to popular belief, breast cancer is not the “good” kind of cancer (as if there ever were such a thing). Beyond active treatment, many people experience PTSD, body dysmorphia, depression , sexual dysfunction  and

Instead of counting the years that I’ve survived cancer, I prefer to say I just celebrated 7 years “cured” in May 2018. I was diagnosed with Her2 positive invasive ductal carcinoma after finding a lump in my right breast, near the rib cage. I completed 16 rounds of chemotherapy over 5 months. Four were the brutal kind and twelve were less brutal but with plenty of fun side effects! I kept exercising, both running and lifting weights, during treatment, but in the end I gained

I was diagnosed in March 2016, and it came as quite a shock. It was a major "inconvenience" as I like to call it, because as a 61 year old runner, I had signed up to run a couple half marathons, and breast cancer got in my way! Once my lumpectomy and sentinel node removal were finished, I received the news that my diagnosis was invasive ductal carcinoma, a class 3 tumor, and overall stage 1, Her2+, and hormone negative. This was good news/bad news, because there is targeted t

In July of 2012 at the age of 40, I was diagnosed with Stage 3, Grade 3 Triple Negative breast cancer (TNBC) in my left breast. I am BRCA negative with no family history of cancer. I went through 16 weeks of chemo (Taxol and Adriamycin) followed by a radical bilateral mastectomy and 6 weeks of radiation. Before radiation was complete, I noticed a lump the size of a marble growing on my mastectomy scar line. My doctors thought it was scar tissue, so they took it out without ch

My life changed forever in 2012. I turned 40 in January that year and went on a trip to Mexico with friends, visiting the Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza on my actual birthday, which was an amazing experience I will never forget. Later that same evening, we met a Mayan shaman who blew me away because he "knew" things about me that were impossible to know. He then told me I was about to face the most difficult thing I had ever gone through, that I would believe myself unable to ma

In October 2018, I celebrated 3 years of thriving after a diagnosis of triple positive Invasive Ductal Carcinoma Stage IIB breast cancer. I was 29 years old with a malignant tumor the size of a ping pong ball. The moment I was told I had cancer, I made one of the most important decisions of my entire treatment: no matter what, I was going to thrive and be kind to everyone I knew. This decision continues to give me the strength to be my very best. Treatment wise, I was delayed

I am a two-time survivor of 12 years, and I’m very happy to say I am 7 years out from my recurrence and sincerely hope that we took care of it completely the second time. My first diagnosis was early stage, and I had a lumpectomy and two re-excisions. I was followed closely with twice yearly exams for 4.5 years, and then we found a more aggressive cancer that had been growing silently the whole time. I ended up having a mastectomy and axillary node dissection which turned up

This blog, by Handful's very own Cary Kim, is reposted from our friends at fightingpretty.org Right now, the COVID-19 social distancing rules state guests, family members or caretakers cannot enter cancer clinics, meet with the care team, or sit next to patients as they receive IV infusions. This was the first time I was not at my mom’s side for treatment during the last 2.5 years since her diagnosis. This photo was taken last week, the tight smile an indication of the concer

I opened the package to my Battle Cry Pink Handful bra, and I paused for a moment. I was taken back to August 2016 when I was first diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. Taken back to all the thoughts swirling through my head in those uncertain days: Would l survive? What did survival look like? If I survive, will I ever wear a bra? If I survive, will I still be me? It started on an ordinary Saturday morning. Six days after completing an Olympic distance triathlon, I was stan

In 2006, at 16 weeks pregnant, she learned that she had breast cancer. Meet Lora: Breast Cancer Survivor. Mom. Badass. She sat down to answer our questions.  Here’s what we learned… When were you diagnosed with breast cancer? I was diagnosed in 2006 when I was 16-weeks pregnant with my daughter. Skip to present day, she just entered her Freshman year of High School and I’ve been here to celebrate every single milestone! How was your support system during your treatment journe

Before breast cancer happened to me, I have to admit I just didn’t think about it. With no family history and living what I believed was a very healthy lifestyle, it wasn’t part of my thoughts or worries. I look back on that time of innocence as a blessing. Ignorance was bliss, and I didn’t even know it.    I was living the happiest days of my life Memorial Day Weekend 2017, when I found out I was pregnant. In the week leading up to my first OB appointment at 7 weeks, I had b

On a gorgeous blue-sky day in New York City on the morning of September 11 th , 2001, I was one year into married life and five months pregnant with my first baby and felt that life could not be more perfect. When the first plane struck Tower 1 of the World Trade Center at 8:46 AM, we believed it was a horrific accident and started calling friends to make sure everyone who worked in lower Manhattan was ok. We had 17 minutes to keep believing that accidents happen, and boy are

It’s been nine months since I was diagnosed, and when I think about it, I should not have been surprised as there were tangible signs. I was the one who found the lump in my breast. I learned that I had to be my own advocate to get the first ultrasound as I was told that it was likely a lymph node and to come back in three months (they would contact me). I continued to monitor and still felt the lump so I scheduled another ultrasound. This time I was told it could be a lymph

This past June, I marked 8 years of surviving and thriving! My pathology was triple negative -- which translates to, “we have no stinking clue what’s causing this cancer to grow” -- with medium to rapidly growing cells. I had ten lymph nodes removed on my left side and as a result did develop some lymphedema, but I started physical therapy as soon after surgery as the doc would allow, and I’ve learned to manage it well! My treatments consisted of mastectomy, lymph node remova

I am a 12.5 year survivor! The diagnosis came as a complete surprise. I was 36 and my youngest had just turned one. I found a lump and didn't think anything of it. A friend of mine told me she had a similar lump, and it was an infected gland. So I went to my OB/GYN to get it checked out. She told me there was no way it was cancer because I was too young, had breastfed both of my babies, and breast cancer doesn't hurt (my lump felt tender to the touch). She told me not to lose

This October, I celebrate my 7-year "cancerversary"!  I’m hoping to keep my boyfriend NED (No Evidence of Disease) around for as long as possible (my husband is totally cool with him!). I was diagnosed with breast cancer in October of 2011, 2 weeks before my 33rd birthday, after I felt a lump in the shower. I had a bilateral mastectomy and four rounds of chemotherapy. I still see my oncologist every six months and still experience "scanxiety" and that little ball of fear ever

I celebrate 12 years of survivorship this year after being diagnosed at age 29 with Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC). It was already in my lymph nodes. I did upfront surgery with a lumpectomy and axillary lymph node dissection, as neo-adjuvant treatment (chemo before surgery) was not really offered at that time. This was followed by dose dense Adriamycin and Cytoxan chemotherapy given once every two weeks for 4 cycles. Next up was dose dense Taxol chemotherapy given once