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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

I have been diagnosed with cancer three times over the last 11 years. The first diagnosis hit me like a freight train when I was 30 years old. It was a complete surprise because I had no immediate family history. I underwent twenty weeks of chemotherapy followed by a double mastectomy with breast reconstruction. For years I took daily hormone therapy. I went on to earn a Masters in Public Health and marry my sweetheart, believing I had put cancer behind me for good. The secon

It was a busy summer, and I'm embracing the change in seasons and delighting in fall. Portland was gripped by high heat and an endless blanket of wildfire haze all summer long that while inconvenient for us meant tragedy for those whose homes were in the path of destruction. Rain was needed, so now that it's here, I try to remind myself of what happened in its absence. School and activity schedules are back in full swing, with my daughter Gabrielle entering 5th grade, ready t

I have been in a long term love affair with Handful since 2009, when I first tried one on at the Rock 'n Roll Half Marathon in Phoenix. Finally, a flattering and feminine sports bra I could wear on a run and not look like a boy with my AA chest. I loved what it did for my body so much that I decided to sell this amazing product as an independent sales rep for the brand. Little did I know that 7 years later, I would come to love and appreciate it even more, since I could step

When I allow myself the rare glance backward to the dark early days of my cancer "journey," the memories around the core needle biopsy when my lump went from "probably nothing" to something deadly still have a sharp sting. Even though I had five surgeries that repeatedly cut away at my chest until there was nothing left, snipped and pulled my ovaries out through laparoscopic holes in my belly, and even a clean slice that took my uterus above the cervix, none of those procedur

Hi Baby, Well, by the time you read this, you’ll know that I started this email address for you right after you were born. I wanted to document certain moments of your life and create a gift of emails for you to read when you are much older. Baby, I need you to pay attention to this one. It’s going to be long, but I need you to read EVERY SINGLE WORD and more than likely come back to it -- this one is important and what I have to say needs to sink in. This week, I, your mama,

October 3rd, 2025, marks 18 years since the day I heard, “you have breast cancer.”  It all started in May 2007 when I was playing softball. I was covering second base when I took a line drive ball that hit me hard in the right breast, completely knocking me over.  I developed a big bruise that grew into a hematoma. I was in and out of doctors’ offices over the next several months with no thought of cancer. I was 37 years old with no history of any cancer in my family and was

I was 38 and living in Dayton, when the plan for my life that I had mapped out so meticulously took a radical turn for the unexpected. I was heading into my fourth season as a professional triathlete with my health and fitness dialed, but somehow breast cancer found a way to get a foothold in my body. It was all the more painful and unbelievable because I had lost my mom and grandmother to pancreatic cancer just three years earlier. I didn’t want my family to have to open up

January 9, 2017, was the day of my double mastectomy. I was considered "free and clear" on that day, but I celebrate my cancerversary on my final chemo day which was June 5, 2017. Even though it was just a precaution, it was one of the hardest battles of my life.  I was 34 on November 3rd and sitting in the doctor’s office waiting for my biopsy results with my boyfriend. He sat there cool and confident, because he couldn't allow the thought of the test being positive. I sat f

One in eight women will get breast cancer in their lifetime. Inheriting the BRCA gene, prevalent among Ashkenazi Jews, means chances increase to more than 50%. A terrifying diagnosis at any age, young women might face a uniquely devastating loss. Chemotherapy may cause permanent infertility, and tamoxifen, the drug commonly used in long- term therapy, causes birth defects if taken while pregnant. Furthermore, as adoption becomes increasingly competitive, cancer survivors are

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010 at the age of 46. At the time, my son was 8 years old. Following a routine mammogram, an ultrasound and biopsy were recommended as “they saw something suspicious.” It was pretty apparent right then and there it would ultimately be a cancer diagnosis. Fortunately for me, the doctor reviewing my results was a breast cancer survivor herself, and she offered direction and encouragement for when I got the formal results as to initial step

Approximately five years ago, I ended a very toxic relationship. I wanted to be stronger both mentally and physically, so I started lifting weights. The gym gave me so much strength, even beyond the iron. Since then, my goals have varied and changed. The most recent goal for me was to return to the stage after being diagnosed with breast cancer and enduring 16 chemo treatments, 3 surgeries including a bilateral mastectomy, reconstruction, and many other procedures.  Training

There has been a lot of change in my life over the past five months. I’ve had the opportunity of a lifetime to kickstart my career transition into tech by joining GitHub as an apprentice. I have been facing my fears head on and putting my best energy out into the world. Things were good. Five months ago, my first cousin was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. We have always been close, and I was sad to hear this news, especially because she desperately wants to be a mother, and th

We are so honored to be mentioned among these other fantastic brands. Thank you Everyday Health for supporting us and moreover for supporting the 12.5% of women who face breast cancer in their lifetime. Everyday Health ranked our beloved Handful Adjustable Bra as the #2 best post-masectomy bra. Read their full review below for more details.   Source: Everyday Health "This medium-support bra from Handful is great for yoga, Pilates, hiking, walking, and other low-impact activ

Diagnosed while pregnant, Handful breast cancer survivor Amy shares her journey learning that a breast cancer diagnosis isn’t an automatic death sentence, but allowing herself the grace to grieve, Amy offers her best advice on navigating the anxiety and fear, working with your healthcare team and how to process it all for those who are starting their journey with treatment.  This is her story. How did you learn that you had breast cancer? I was about 4 weeks pregnant when I