Blog

Barbara Goodman, of Hampton Falls, New Hampshire, was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer in 2015. In the first What I Wish I Knew for 2020, she writes about chemobrain and how acknowledging the problem helped her manage it. 

Susan Swanson was one of four Living Beyond Breast Cancer leadership volunteers to receive a grant to attend the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.  Athenex sponsored Susan’s scholarship and that of another volunteer.  In this blog Susan reflects on attending sessions, talking with doctors and industry representatives, and connecting with other patient advocates at the conference.

Claire Spera, 32, of Austin, Texas was diagnosed with stage III breast cancer in 2014. She is a Living Beyond Breast Cancer Young Advocate. When I can tell someone, “I’ve been there,” and they say, “I would have never known,” because they see a healthy person with hair living life to the fullest — that’s huge. When I can see their outlook shift, even just for a moment, I feel I’m using my experience to make a difference in someone else’s life.

Erica DeTar was diagnosed with stage II, triple-negative breast cancer in early 2019. When her doctors suggested scalp cooling to protect her hair, she had no idea what to expect. In this blog she shares some of the things she learned in her experience with scalp cooling. 

Abigail Johnston was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in 2017. After trying pain medicines that interfered with her daily life, she tried medical marijuana to manage pain from bone metastases and surgeries.She spoke to LBBC contributing writer Robin Warshaw about why she chose medical marijuana and how she uses it alongside treatment to manage side effects.

Kristine D’Elisa lives in Stamford, Connecticut with her husband and two daughters. She was diagnosed with stage III, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer in October 2018 at the age of 45. She chose to get reconstruction in both breasts after a bilateral mastectomy. In this month’s What I Wish I Knew, she discusses the complications she didn’t see coming and the importance of asking tough questions about your surgery.

Gerianne DiPiano received the Founders Award at the 2019 Living Beyond Breast Cancer Butterfly Ball for her longstanding support of LBBC and the people we serve. She serves as president and chief executive officer of FemmePharma, where she is also chairman of the board. She has been a member of LBBC’s board of directors since 2015.

Jenny Burkholder was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012 and told she would need a mastectomy. Her plastic surgeon suggested TRAM flap reconstruction, a procedure where the breast is rebuilt using tissue from other parts of your own body. In this month’s What I Wish I Knew, Jenny writes about the parts of TRAM flap surgery she wasn’t prepared for.

When Katie Shaw-Younkerman was diagnosed with breast cancer, she took a leave of absence from her job. But even after treatment, she has found that long-term effects from treatment impact her ability to work and carry out daily activities. She spoke to LBBC contributor Robin Warshaw about long-term side effects and how difficult it often is for family and friends to understand what she is experiencing.

Krysten Gentile was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in 2017. In this blog, she discusses the decision to protect her hair using cold caps, her experience with them, and why she recommends them to others.