My name is Joanna, and five years ago, I was diagnosed with stage 2 HER2-positive breast cancer at the age of 28.
I can still remember the exact moment my consultant said, “I’m so sorry, it’s breast cancer.” Even now, those words send shivers down my spine. Sometimes I catch myself thinking, Did that really happen to me? And then reality sets in—it absolutely did. I lived it. I breathed it. And in many ways, I still do.
That diagnosis changed everything.
At 28, I imagined my future very differently. I thought I would be planning for a child. Instead, I found myself watching others give life while I focused on doing everything possible to save my own.
My future shifted overnight.
Some lifelong friends faded away, while strangers stepped up in ways I never expected. Through it all, my support network carried me, and for that, I am incredibly blessed.
Five years on, the journey hasn’t simply ended. I still battle the demons that cancer leaves behind—the fear, the memories, the emotional weight.
But I also thrive.
I choose to live with intention, to inspire where I can, and to spread awareness so that others feel less alone in their diagnosis and survivorship. Breast cancer may have changed my path, but it did not take my strength.
I am still here.
And I am still moving forward.
— Joanna
Q1. What does HER2-positive breast cancer mean?
A: HER2-positive breast cancer grows faster due to excess HER2 protein but often responds well to targeted therapies.
Q2. Can breast cancer affect young women?
A: Yes. Breast cancer can occur at any age, and young women often face unique emotional and life-stage challenges.
Q3. Is it normal to struggle emotionally years after treatment?
A: Yes. Many survivors continue processing their experience long after treatment ends.
Q4. How can survivors help others after cancer?
A: Sharing stories, raising awareness, and offering support can help others feel seen and less alone.
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