At the age of 36 I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. Until my diagnosis, I was ignorant that there were different types of breast cancer. In meeting with my oncologist, I was informed triple negative is considered to be one of the most difficult types of breast cancer to treat; it metastasizes quickly, and often becomes resistant to treatment. During my consultation with my surgical oncologist he remarked I was fortunate. My cancer grading was stage two based on my tumour’s size, but it had not advanced or spread. Throughout all my meetings and medical appointments I have learned a lot about triple negative breast cancer. It is the most commonly diagnosed in patients under the age of 50, and since we are young, we are not undergoing annual mammograms, so it is less likely to be caught early. The standard of care for someone like myself who is young, healthy, with no real red flags in terms of risk factors, including no family history of breast or cervical cancers is to take a wait and see approach. Get an ultrasound (which cannot determine whether or not a mass is cancerous), have a physical examination (which cannot determine whether or not a mass is cancerous). Even a mammogram cannot necessarily determine whether or not a mass is cancerous. This was true for me as I have dense breast tissue (which is also more common the younger a person is). The only way to make a clear determination about whether or not a mass is cancerous is to complete a biopsy. Due to this standard procedure, by the time most patients under the age of 50 are diagnosed with breast cancer it has metastasized making it harder to treat. This means that patients like me typically have to endure harsher treatments for longer, with less certainty about the outcome.

Given my experience, I consider myself lucky. I pushed and advocated for answers, screenings, and went to all my appointments. Because of this, my cancer was caught relatively early. I have responded well to treatment, and my oncologist has expressed that my cancer should be curable. But I am one of the lucky sub 50-year old breast cancer patients. And even with all my good fortune this has still been the darkest chapter in my life.  My treatment plan will take over a year to complete and has included everything from multiple forms of chemotherapy drugs, surgery, and radiation. However, I am not doing this run for me. My experience has brought me to the Canadian Cancer Society CIBC Run for the Cure, but I am running for future generations and those who have not yet had their world rocked by a cancer diagnosis. I am running so the next time someone in their 30s or younger presents with symptoms that in someone in their 50s or older would automatically be screened for cancer, they are. I am running for early detection, early diagnosis, and expedited treatments. I am running so there is adequate funding to better understand why triple negative breast cancer is so treatment resistant and pervasive in younger patients. I am running so young breast cancer patients have improved outcomes. I am running to fight back so hopefully others do not have to.