After her mother and grandfather were diagnosed with breast cancer, Gretchen Buchanan began participating in fundraising events benefiting Komen, which became more meaningful after her own breast cancer diagnosis. This is her story of finding joy after breast cancer in her own words.
I participated in my first fundraiser for Susan G. Komen, the Race for the Cure, after my mom and later my maternal grandfather were diagnosed with breast cancer. Participating was a way for me to support their breast cancer journeys. As I got closer to my 40th birthday, I decided I wanted to do something big to celebrate. I started running in half marathons, and when I came across an ad for the Komen 3-Day, I thought, “Well, that’s something big!”
I registered and participated in my first 3-Day in Atlanta in 2006. It was a wonderful experience, and I’ve continued to participate almost every year since to provide love and encouragement to the thousands of people impacted by breast cancer every year.
It never crossed my mind that one day I would stand among the survivors. Although I knew my family history meant I was at a higher risk of developing breast cancer than most, I was still surprised when I discovered a lump in January 2022.
How could this happen? My mammogram had come back clear just six months earlier. I tried telling myself it was something minor – like a cyst – but I made an appointment with my primary care physician. Because of my family history, she ordered a diagnostic mammogram. After what felt like an eternity, the appointment day finally arrived.
The whole experience was surreal. It never dawned on me that the lump was actually “something,” even as the radiologist requested more images and then sent me across the hall for an ultrasound. He sat down with me after viewing the images and said, “I’m fairly certain this is cancer, but we won’t know for sure until we do a biopsy.”
The drive home from that appointment was an out-of-body experience. I was in shock – what had started as anxious weeks of waiting turned into a whirlwind of scheduled appointments. On March 3, it became official. I was diagnosed with triple negative invasive ductal carcinoma.
My treatment included 24 weeks of chemotherapy and a year of immunotherapy. To keep friends and family informed of my progress, I kept an online journal. The deepening of my faith through writing about my experience sustained me throughout my entire breast cancer journey. The chemotherapy was working; it literally dissolved the cancer. I was given permission by my doctors to walk the Chicago 3-Day in 2022, and finishing as a survivor brought happy tears of relief as I was winning against my breast cancer.
Once I completed chemotherapy, I had a lumpectomy. The pathology report showed no sign of cancer at the tumor site or in my lymph nodes, and my doctor declared I was free of disease! I continued my immunotherapy treatments and started a month of radiation therapy to ensure no cancer cells were left behind.
I knew to anticipate side effects from the treatment, but I never expected to experience the brain fog that came at the end of treatment. I went through periods of time where I forgot how to do things: work, cook, walk the dog, brush my teeth… even how to go to the bathroom. These episodes led me to suffer from panic attacks. I thought I was losing my mind.
After ruling out brain metastases, my oncologist explained that some patients experience a chemical reaction when treatment has ended. Treatment had kept my body on high alert and in fight-or-flight mode for months. Now that it was over, my body chemistry was overcompensating. I was relieved when this side effect gradually disappeared over the next month.
Genetic testing found I have no known genetic link connected to my diagnosis, but I believe there may be a connection. Science just hasn’t found it yet. That’s why I continued to participate in the 3-Day, even while I was in treatment.
In 2023, I had the honor of being the final walker on Day 2 at the Dallas 3-Day. I wanted to use that moment to shine a light on triple negative breast cancer and how I was thriving after my journey. I entered the hotel to a standing ovation. I was so overcome with emotion that when I raised the camp flag, I couldn’t speak. I felt the love and support in that room. It was such a wonderful experience and one of the many “Pink Bubble” memories I will always cherish.
I am now two years out from being told I was free of disease. I have follow-up appointments with my oncologist every three months and mammograms twice a year. However, I’ve been hyper-focused on every little twinge in my body, fearing the cancer was back, as triple negative breast cancer has a high rate of recurrence. My husband and my oncologist both gave me some great advice. They each said, “You’ve been defining your life by your breast cancer experience. Now is the time to define your life by the things that bring you joy.”
This experience has changed me, but I refuse to let it consume me. I am blessed beyond measure, and I want to use my experience to help others going through similar experiences. I’m committed to rediscovering the joy of living life to the fullest with the people I love.
Statements and opinions expressed are that of the individual and do not express the views or opinions of Susan G. Komen. This information is being provided for educational purposes only and is not to be construed as medical advice. Persons with breast cancer should consult their healthcare provider with specific questions or concerns about their treatment.
