Prior to her breast cancer diagnosis, Monica had always been healthy. An avid runner, she participated in numerous half marathons and full marathons. She worked out every morning. In regard to her breast health, Monica was a stickler for getting her yearly mammograms. “I always wanted to know everything was okay,” she said.
Annual Mammogram Comes Back Abnormal
In July 2023, Monica went in for her annual mammogram. She received a message on My Chart that it had come back abnormal, and she needed a follow up (diagnostic) mammogram and an ultrasound. “I was working out with my girlfriends, and we were trying to figure out what the message meant, what ‘abnormal’ was.”
Triple Negative Breast Cancer
After the second mammogram and ultrasound, the doctor asked if she had a history of breast cancer her in family. “I told her no. Everything was so surreal,” Monica said. “She told me that she was pretty sure it was breast cancer and arranged a biopsy.”
The biopsy confirmed that Monica had stage 2 triple negative breast cancer. Sitting in the breast surgeon’s office, Monica thoughts turned to running. “I asked if I was going to be done by March, because I was supposed to run the Los Angeles marathon,” Monica said. “The nurse said no, you won’t be done with treatment yet. In my mind, I didn’t think treatment would take a whole year. I thought, oh a couple of weeks, maybe months, and I’ll be on my way.”
Preparing for Breast Cancer Treatment
Monica channeled her running background and marathon training into preparing for her breast cancer journey. “It was hard to think this was really happening, to understand what was happening. However, my surgeon was wonderful, she broke everything down for me,” Monica said. “And everything happened really quick. I had a CT scan, a bone scan, an MRI. It was whirlwind.”
Monica’s treatment included chemotherapy, a lumpectomy and radiation therapy. She then took immunotherapy (Keytruda) for a year. “Treatment really took over my life. It took over my boyfriend’s life, but he was there every step of the way. I fought for him and for my elderly mother. I couldn’t imagine leaving either of them,” she said.
Treatment was tiring. Monica’s bones hurt from the chemotherapy. She developed an infection. Also, she was so tired it was all consuming, so much so that she could no longer work out or run. To help with the pain, Monica started physical therapy sessions.
A Runner’s Mindset
“I knew I could do this, I could get through treatment, because of running half marathons and full marathons,” she explained. “When I run and I’m fatigued, I have the mindset that I can keep going, to keep pushing. And with breast cancer and treatment, I adopted that mindset, too. ‘I’m going to finish. I’m going to pass this finish line. I can do it.’”
Monica also had the support of her boyfriend, mother and friends. “I wasn’t going to leave them, I was going to keep fighting for them,” she said. “It’s important to remember not to give up. You have to find the strength within you.”
Back to Running After Breast Cancer Treatment
Now finished with treatment, Monica has started working out and running again. She’s participated in obstacle-course races and is slowly but surely rebuilding her endurance. “Giving up running when I didn’t have the strength was hard, but I’m on the move again,” she said.
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 health care provider with specific questions or concerns about their treatment.
