Tag / cancer

by rebecca-reynoso

Fundraising for True North Treks Young Cancer Survivors Retreat

I know I used to post a lot more online, but over the years I’ve gravitated away from the social media spotlight. I can’t say this post is initiating a full return, but I do want to mindfully come back into the sphere bit by bit. So I figured the best first way to venture back into LinkedIn posting is to talk a bit about my breast cancer and a few opportunities I’ve recently landed in that space. 

Most of you know that I was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2021, two weeks after I turned 27-years-old. That was five years ago. And in the breast cancer community, 5-year survivorship without recurrence is usually an indicator (from medical professionals) that my chance of recurrence lessens over time. I’ll never fully be out of the woods, but I am excited that this year (in November, technically) will be the first major step toward full survivorship for me. 

I’ve been less publicly vocal about my breast cancer journey as the years have gone on, but privately, I’ve done research on programs offered to survivors as part of their healing journeys. This led me to apply to several cancer survivor retreats, and by the grace of God, I was selected for not one, but three different retreats this year. 

The first one was this past weekend, fly fishing in the middle of Missouri with 13 other wonderful breast cancer survivors and thrivers alongside an incredible group of volunteers who put on an unforgettable weekend teaching us to cast, tie flies, and fly fish for the very first time. A huge shout out to Casting for Recovery for the opportunity. 

The second and third opportunities are coming up later this summer, but I’d love to focus on opportunity #2 for this post. I will be attending a retreat with True North Treks in the UP in Michigan. This retreat is for survivors of all cancer types who were diagnosed between the ages of 18–39 along with one person of our choosing who has supported us through our cancer journey. 

True North Treks is a fully-funded experience for survivors that runs on a pay-it-forward pledge that all participants partake in. Our goal is to raise $1200 per attendee to help future survivors and their caregivers attend an experience like I’ll be doing in August. This upcoming trip was funded by past participants fundraising for future participants, and now it’s my turn to raise funds for future participants so that other young survivors may have an opportunity to attend next year. 

This 5-day trek will consist of hiking, meditation, yoga, swimming, camping, and most importantly, connection and conversation with other young survivors. It’s an opportunity that, looking back five years ago when I was in the trenches of pre-chemo IVF, chemo, surgery, radiation, and immunotherapy, I’d never have believed would be a possibility to experience. 

For moments during diagnosis and treatment, I genuinely wasn’t sure if I’d live or die. But I’ve had the blessing of surviving, the grace of living, and now, the opportunity to pay this once-in-a-lifetime experience forward for future survivors. I’ll drop the donation link below for anyone who’s interested in helping me raise funds for future attendees. I can’t wait to share the experience with you all once I’ve attended my retreat this August. 

HELP A FUTURE YOUNG SURVIVOR ATTEND TRUE NORTH TREKS!

DONATE NOW

I’ll drop info below for those of you interested in learning more about True North Treks, their mission, and how you can be involved either as a future participant or a volunteer:

by rebecca-reynoso

March 11, 2021: 3 Years Since My Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Three years is one of those weird points in time that feels so recent, yet so long ago all at once.

Three years ago today was March 11, 2021.

We were immersed in the pandemic for a full year, had acclimated to working from home as the “norm,” and a lot of things in my life were different. I had just gotten promoted to Sr. Editor with my old company. I was in the midst of house hunting with my boyfriend. I was actively planning to go on trips and enjoy my 27th year of life to the fullest.

But life had other plans for me.

On March 11, 2021, I was diagnosed with breast cancer, just two weeks after I turned 27 years old.

All of my big plans were put on hold as I underwent a grueling 13-month treatment plan consisting of:

  • IVF (in-vitro fertilization) treatment and ooycte retrieval surgery – my boyfriend (now fiancé) and I froze embryos together in the instance I have fertility issues from undergoing chemotherapy at 27 years old (March 2021)
  • 6 rounds of chemotherapy (TCHP regimen) every 3 weeks for 4 months (April, May, June, July 2021)
  • Lumpectomy surgery to remove affected breast tissue surrounding the tumor location (August 2021)
  • 33 rounds of radiation every business day for 6.5 weeks (September, October, November 2021)
  • 11 additional (17 total, counting the ones with chemo) targeted therapy infusions because I had HER2+ BC (September 2021–April 2022)

And in the mix of all of that, I had various ailments related to the treatments I was receiving:

  • Hair loss (that was the big one, of course) – head, eyebrows, lashes (not fully, but close)
  • Nail loss (full loss of my big toe nails on both feet, and nails on my hands wouldn’t grow)
  • Skin rashes all over my face and body
  • Fatigue + weakness
  • Inability to eat or taste food (and no, it’s not the same as losing your sense of taste from a cold or COVID)
  • Sun sensitivity (due to skin and hair issues)
  • Neutropenic fever (a severe decrease in white blood cells – though this explains neutropenia better than I can) that landed me a cool four-day-long stay in the hospital after my final chemo treatment

Those 13 months – especially the months when I was undergoing chemo – seemed to drag on when I was in the thick of it. Looking back now, it seems so long ago, yet also so recent. I know time has passed because my hair is growing back, my skin is clear, I’m able to taste food, and I’m able to do basic physical activities without feeling fatigued.

I’m in a different place in life than I was in 2021 and even early 2022 while I was finishing treatment.

  • I started a new job in November 2021
  • I bought a house with my boyfriend in April 2022
  • My boyfriend became my fiancé in December 2022 (and we’re getting married this May!)
  • I got a new tattoo in March 2023
  • I learned to drive and got my driver’s license in August 2023
  • I’ve traveled to so many new places since finishing treatment: San Francisco 3x, NYC, NOLA, STL, Charlotte, Vegas, Milwaukee, Mexico City, San Juan

March 11, 2021 was a hard day, and the treatment days that followed were even harder. But the days that came after have been nothing short of a blessing. There was a lot of loss, but I’m on the other side. I have regular check-ups with my oncology team, biannual scans, and have to be vigilant of my breast health forever onward, but overall I’m healthy, happy, and grateful for each new day I wake up to. Even on days where I’m tired and cranky and feel like shit – because feeling like shit from rough sleep is a walk in the park to feeling like shit from chemotherapy.

There will never be a point in time when I don’t speak about my experience in hopes I shed light on what it was like to go through these things at 27. It wasn’t glamorous. It wasn’t easy. It wasn’t fun. And it also wasn’t that long ago.

Because while three years is a long time, it’s also no time at all.

Hockey Fights Cancer
by rebecca-reynoso

Hockey Fights Cancer: Walking the Purple Carpet 💜

Last Thursday (11/03/2022), I got to take part in the Chicago Blackhawks’ Hockey Fights Cancer celebration at the United Center and walk the purple carpet.

The National Hockey League (NHL) commemorates Hockey Fights Cancer month every November, which celebrates survivors and thrivers and honors those who have passed away from cancer (all types).

This was my second year walking the purple carpet, but my first as a breast cancer survivor.

When I walked last year, I was in the midst of treatment. It was late November 2021, and I had just finished radiation, which was the fourth step in my five-step treatment plan: IVF + oocyte retrieval, chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, and immunotherapy. While I had already been declared no evidence of disease (NED) after my surgical pathology report came back in September of 2021, it was weird for me to call myself a “survivor” while I was still in active treatment. So this year I was able to call myself a survivor and actually feel like one six months out of active treatment.

Rebecca Reynoso walks the Purple Carpet for the Chicago Blackhawks Hockey Fights Cancer night

While lining up to walk the carpet, I met a few other wonderful women who have also either battled or are going through treatment for breast cancer currently, and we got to exchange numbers and connect with each other. There were all types of cancer patients in line: children and teens, adult women and men, and so many types of cancer were represented. Even so, I was the only 20-something in the line. Everyone was either a child, teen, or 40+ years old (as cancer patients tend to be).

Although being the only person your age can feel isolating, I was happy that the Blackhawks shared my story with the attendees. I wrote this in my intro paragraph (that they read aloud as I walked the carpet):

Rebecca was diagnosed with HER-2 positive, Stage 2B breast cancer (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma) in March of 2021, 10 days after turning 27 years old. She endured 13 months of intensive treatment, including IVF and egg retrieval surgery, 6 rounds of chemotherapy, a lumpectomy surgery, 33 rounds of radiation, and 11 targeted therapy HER2+ infusions. She finished all treatment in April of 2022 and has been declared no evidence of disease (NED) since undergoing a successful treatment plan with a positive response to chemo and surgery.

Rebecca runs a website, CandidlyCancer.com, which aims to help newly-diagnosed breast cancer patients and educate people about women diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 30. She also works as a mentor to newly-diagnosed breast cancer patients with Imerman Angels and is the volunteer events coordinator for the Young Survival Coalition of Chicago.

While having cancer isn’t a club anyone wants to be a part of, there are truly some incredible people you’ll encounter along the way who understand what you’ve gone through in a way nobody else truly can. I’m so blessed to have had this opportunity and so grateful to my favorite team for the best sport in the world for sharing my story and the stories of so many others affected by cancer.

Thank you again to the Blackhawks, the NHL, and for my forever supporters, Cindy (my mom) and Alen (my bf) for coming out to celebrate with me and see the Hawks win a hell of a game!

Here are a few snapshots of the evening:

  • Cindy and Alen look on at the Chicago Blackhawks Hockey Fights Cancer Purple Carpet walk
by rebecca-reynoso

Announcement: I’ve Joined Young Survival Coalition in a Volunteer Leadership Role

I’m excited to announce that as of September 1st, 2022, I’ve become Co-Coordinator for the Chicago outlet of the Young Survival Coalition!

For those of you who don’t know, Young Survival Coalition is an organization geared toward providing support and community for young women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer before age 40.

As an individual who was diagnosed fewer than two weeks after I turned 27, this organization’s mission is incredibly important to me and aligns with why I created Candidly Cancer in the first place. The statistics behind breast cancer in women younger than 40 shows the need for a community like YSC.

Breast cancer in young women has historically been underrepresented in most discussions surrounding “who” gets breast cancer. While cancer at any age takes a toll on the bodies and minds of the people affected, young women face higher chances of being diagnosed with more aggressive cancers, receiving less funding and research toward how young adults are affected by breast cancer, greater financial and relationship stability concerns, and longstanding issues with body image and mental health.

Since 1998, Young Survival Coalition has grown from a single group out of NYC to an international nonprofit with over 170 local Face 2 Face networking groups (one for which I am now a co-coordinator), an online community, and a conference specifically geared toward young women who have breast cancer.

As a Coordinator for the YSC Chicago F2F network, my responsibilities include planning events for our local chapter so other young women who are either going through treatment or have previously gone through treatment for breast cancer have opportunities to meet face-to-face, get to know each other, grow a community, and build friendships!

I’ve always had an affinity for event planning and coordination; now I get to do it for other young cancer survivors and thrivers. All this is to say: I am so thrilled to be the newest Face 2 Face Coordinator for the YSC Chicago F2F network, and I’m happy to be able to volunteer my time and event coordination leadership skills to such a wonderful organization.

Want to help YSC and young survivors or thrivers like me? Donate to YSC today.