In December 2023, while on vacation, I felt a marble-sized lump in the shower on my left breast. In January 2024, I went to my family doctor and I let her know I do not have a family history of breast cancer.  Out of an abundance of caution, she sent me for an ultrasound and the results came back as a “fibroadenoma” (a benign, non-cancerous tumour, common in women in their 20’s and 30’s and usually goes away during menopause). She suggested I go back for a routine ultrasound in four to six months to monitor the growth. During this time, I felt the lump increasing in size and reported dark veins around the area resulting in my doctor recommending me for a second ultrasound and a follow up biopsy. 

I went for the biopsy and I received the results in August of this year, where I was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer. Therefore, I will be undergoing a one-year of treatments including chemotherapy, immunotherapy and surgery to CONQUER this cancer! Triple Negative Breast Cancer tends to grow quickly and is more likely to have spread at the time it’s found. 

Thankfully, I am very blessed to report that my breast cancer is currently localized!

Since I have no family history of breast cancer, this diagnosis came as quite a shock. I am under 30 years old and most breast cancers are more common in people over 50 years old. As a female with no familial history of breast cancer, I was not eligible for yearly mammogram screenings. In Fall 2024, only if you are 40 years and older, you can self-refer for a mammogram. Otherwise, if you are under 40 years old, only people with high-risk status confirmed by a doctor or genetic counsellor based on family or medical history of breast cancer can be referred for mammograms/MRIs to check for breast cancer. 

I want to spread awareness for two major reasons, one, I am under 30 years old. Therefore, this is a call to all young people who may not know they are susceptible to this type of breast cancer, to check yourself regularly and go with your intuition/gut - if you feel something, say something and go to your doctor and get it checked immediately! 

Two, triple-negative breast cancer is rare and accounts for about 10-15% of all breast cancers. These cancers tend to be more common in women younger than age 40, who are Black, or who have a BRCA1 mutation.

Thank you for reading this and I hope you will join me in running/walking for the cure on Sunday, October 6th, 2024. Any and all donations are welcome! 

To show support for me and the thousands of Canadians diagnosed with breast cancer every year, I am participating and fundraising for this year’s Canadian Cancer Society CIBC Run for the Cure. With your help, I can reach my fundraising goal and make a life-changing difference for myself and many people living with breast cancer. Every dollar I raise will fund groundbreaking breast cancer research and support programs and services for those impacted by this disease. 

Please donate today! I believe better treatment options and survival outcomes are possible. Together, we can give Canadians impacted by breast cancer a reason to have hope. And we can help change the future for all. 

Thank you and I appreciate your generous support!