Reflections on the Importance of Connection in Surviving Breast Cancer
It’s been almost 12 years since my breast cancer diagnosis. It seems like so long ago and also like it was just last week. That’s the thing with cancer - once it enters your life it quickly slips into all the little spaces of your mind and never quite seems to leave.
This morning I thought I’d go back through my old email correspondence from the early days of my diagnosis. Back then I was glued to my email and hung on every message from my nurse navigator, family, and friends. I can remember waking in the middle of the night with a nagging fear or question and jotting off an email to my nurse navigator, Pat. I’d wake in the morning to a response from her. It meant a lot to know she was looking out for me.
Pat was with me from the very beginning. When my husband and I met with the radiologist to receive my diagnosis, Pat was there too. Those of you who have been through this experience know how that encounter is branded into the brain. I remember Pat telling me that my triple positive diagnosis meant that I was lucky because I had great treatment options (Spoiler Alert - I didn’t feel lucky). She went on to say that she fully expected me to have a wonderful Christmas (we were now in the month of May). Pat didn’t sugarcoat things - but she knew how to deliver news in a way that gave me hope.
The other thing that Pat said that day - probably the most important thing - was that I should take advantage of every opportunity provided to connect with other survivors and every program offered at the health system where I was being treated. She told me that people who engage during treatment tend to have better outcomes. I took that to heart. In addition to the flyer Pat handed me that listed all of the programs offered by the hospital, I jumped on the American Cancer Society’s website to see what they offered in my area. I reached out to friends and family and shared my news and was blown away by the responses. Friends who had been through cancer treatment shared tips and coping strategies, others added me to their prayer lists, and many sent little gifts. I felt very supported and surrounded with love.
All of this support got me through my treatment and inspired my call to patient advocacy. Knowing I had so many people pulling for me gave me strength and courage to show up and face my fears. Even as I was going through chemo, recovering from surgery, and showing up for daily radiation it felt important to connect with those around me. The friends I met in the infusion center and other waiting rooms are still very much in my heart. The shared experience helped me manage the day-to-day realities of side effects, work and family demands, and uncertainty around my cancer. None of us were alone - we were in this together.
So, as I look over all of those 12-year old emails that are clogging up my inbox I am reminded of what it means to have someone on my side and how that knowledge fueled my determination to get through what laid ahead. I made a promise to myself and to the Universe back then that I would show that same support to others who needed it. It is just as important to me now as it was then, that no one should have to go through this alone. Thank you, Pat and all the others who were there for me.
Learn More
Geng Y, Myneni S. Patient Engagement in Cancer Survivorship Care through mHealth: A Consumer-centered Review of Existing Mobile Applications. AMIA Annu Symp Proc. 2015 Nov 5;2015:580-8. PMID: 26958192; PMCID: PMC4765566.
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network: Survivor Views on Social Connection & Isolation, October 17, 2023
van Eenbergen M, van de Poll-Franse L, Heine P, Mols F
The Impact of Participation in Online Cancer Communities on Patient Reported Outcomes: Systematic Review. JMIR Cancer 2017;3(2):e15
Take Action
Going Beyond the Pink offers opportunities for breast cancer survivors in the Wilmington, NC region to connect and learn how to thrive and grow in their survivorship. I encourage you to join us:
Monthly Workshops - Join other area breast cancer survivors in live workshops that explore topics ranging from nutrition to goal setting to managing side effects to building resilience.
REACH Survivor Symposium - a multi-day connection and learning experience that area breast cancer survivors. March 27 & 28, 2026 at Halyburton Nature Center in Wilmington, NC.
Pink Squad - GBTP’s FREE online community for breast cancer survivors, powered by The After Cancer featuring live programming, educational content, live group coaching and more.
Contact me for more information and opportunities to connect. Email Maggie at Going Beyond the Pink.
