From Provider to Patient (and back again)
When I started my career in physical therapy, I never imagined that I'd work in oncology. And when I began working in oncology, I never thought I’d become a patient myself. But here I am, with a story that many of us know all too well. The diagnosis hits us out of nowhere, always at the most inconvenient time—though there's never a convenient time to fight breast cancer. You just do it.
It's really hard. But we do it.
For me, I had three little girls relying on me to fight as hard as I could. After 16 rounds of chemo and a double mastectomy, I’m sitting on the winning side of the fight. But we know it's never really over, right? We feel it everyday—the pain, the worry that it might come back, the understanding that our bodies are forever changed—it’s tough. But we do it.
What helped me the most was my background.
My background in physical therapy was my secret weapon. I had a wealth of knowledge to draw from, and it made a huge difference. I’ve always felt that there was a reason I experienced breast cancer both as a provider and as a patient. I need to share what I know with others, especially when they’re feeling their most vulnerable and helpless. I can relate.
You deserve to advocate for yourself.
Cancer wasn’t the hardest thing I've been through—because I had my knowledge and experience. I knew what to do, what to ask, what I wanted, what I didn't, and how to advocate for it. And I want every woman in the world to have that, too. Cancer wasn’t a walk in the park, but my suffering was minimal because I felt controlled and supported. I had me.
I want you to have that, too.
Love,
Jasia