I was 33 years old, a mama of four including one with special needs married to my high school sweetheart, living a full and beautiful life. My days were filled with all the chaos and love that comes with raising a young family. Life felt full. And then, on June 30, 2023, everything stopped.
That was the day I heard the words:
“You have Stage 2B Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.”
In a single moment, my world shifted. Everything I thought was certain felt uncertain. All of the plans and routines of my everyday life were suddenly replaced with a whirlwind of appointments, scans, and fear.
Soon after, I learned that I carry the BRCA1 gene mutation. This added another layer to my diagnosis and my decisions. It meant that I was at a much higher risk, and things needed to move quickly. My port was placed, and my medical team prepared me for the road ahead.
My treatment plan started fast and furious:
Nothing can really prepare you for what this does to your body.
I lost more than 30 pounds.
I experienced unrelenting fatigue, heart palpitations, joint pain, and adrenal insufficiency. My body started to feel like it was shutting down before I could even finish. By round 13, I could barely function.
And yet, I kept going because I wanted to be here for my children.
When it was finally time for my mastectomy, I walked into the hospital exhausted but ready to take the next step. My resting heart rate was 137. Doctors ran urgent bloodwork. Then they sat down with me and said words that shook me to my core:
“If we put you under anesthesia, you may not wake up.”
The immunotherapy had attacked my pituitary gland. I was in adrenal crisis.
Instead of surgery, I was admitted, stabilized, and my surgery was delayed for a week so my body could recover.
On February 15, 2024, I finally had my bilateral mastectomy with aesthetic flat closure.
One week later, I received the call that I will never forget:
“No evidence of disease. You had a complete response.”
After so many months of fear, pain, and uncertainty, those words gave me a kind of hope I hadn’t dared to feel.
I imagined that after surgery and hearing “no evidence of disease,” life would go back to normal. But survivorship isn’t what I expected.
It is quiet.
It is uncertain.
It is anxiety in a different form.
There are no weekly labs or appointments to reassure me anymore. And while my hair is growing back and people think I look “healthy,” I don’t feel like the same person.
The truth is that cancer changes you. It changes your body, your mind, and the way you see the world.
I am learning how to live in this new space. Learning to trust my body again after feeling betrayed by it.
Some days I feel strong. Other days I feel overwhelmed by grief for the person I was before cancer. But even in that grief, there is a deep well of gratitude. Gratitude for my family. Gratitude for my care team. Gratitude for a second chance.
I am almost 19 months post-treatment now. My body is still healing. My mind is still catching up. But joy feels closer than it used to.
If you are reading this while in treatment or freshly diagnosed, I want you to know this: you are not alone.
You do not need to rush your healing. You do not need to go back to the person you were before. You can take all the time you need to become someone new.
There is strength in asking for help. There is hope in connecting with other survivors who understand.
Kayla, your courage in sharing your story reminds all of us that no one has to go through this alone. By opening up about your fears, your strength, and your healing, you are giving so many others hope. We are deeply grateful for your voice and honored to share your story here.
Q1. What is triple-negative breast cancer?
A: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive form of breast cancer that lacks estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 receptors, making it harder to treat with targeted therapies.
Q2. What does it mean to be BRCA1 positive?
A: A BRCA1 mutation increases the risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Knowing your BRCA1 status helps guide decisions about surgery and treatment.
Q3. What is aesthetic flat closure?
A: A surgical approach that creates a smooth, flat chest wall after a mastectomy for those who choose not to have reconstruction.
Q4. How long does recovery take after TNBC treatment?
A: Recovery can take many months physically and often longer emotionally. Support from survivor communities can make a big difference.
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