November Pink Bubble Story of the Month: Lauren M.

“My mom was more than her diagnosis; she was a beacon of strength, love, and compassion to everyone who knew her.

“At just 34 years old, she discovered a small lump during a self-examination and was diagnosed with breast cancer. Despite the fear and uncertainty, she faced her mastectomy and six months of chemotherapy with courage, all while caring for my 6-year-old sister and me, a 2½-year-old, and supporting my dad. Her strength and resilience saw her through, and after treatment, she was declared cancer-free and entered remission.

“True to her giving nature, once she regained her strength, my mom began volunteering at Victory in the Valley in Wichita, Kansas, helping other women navigate their own battles with breast cancer. However, in her fourth year of remission, the devastating news came: her cancer had returned.

“For five more years, my mom faced this relentless disease with grace, undergoing six different treatment protocols. She lost her hair and nails, but never her spirit. Even as a nurse, fully aware of the uphill battle she faced, she focused on teaching my sister and me about life, ensuring that we felt as normal and loved as possible despite her struggle.

“On November 2, 2000, at just 44 years old, my mom passed away. While she is no longer with us physically, her legacy of strength, kindness, and unwavering love lives on through my sister and me. We strive every day to carry forward the values she instilled in us, honoring the extraordinary woman who taught us what it means to live fully, love deeply, and persevere through even the most difficult challenges.”

“My friend, Sonia, is a survivor. She asked me to join her in this experience and I couldn’t be more grateful to have walked alongside her and our incredible team, STEPS. Being surrounded by such inspirational people—men and women who have given years of their lives to this cause—was deeply moving. Walking alongside people who were on their 36th walk or were tackling all four events this year was remarkable. It left me feeling like I’ll never be able to let a year go by without being involved in some way. Whether walking, cheering, or volunteering, I know I want to be part of this incredible community. Seeing the strength and resilience of the survivors and hearing their stories made a profound impact on my heart. Their courage is something I’ll carry with me always.”

—Lauren M., first-time 3-Dayer

Embarking on a 60-Mile Walk while Battling Breast and Ovarian Cancer

For Ashley L., sharing her story is a part of her healing journey.

In October 2022, Ashley decided to be proactive and get her first mammogram since her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 50 and is also BRCA 1 positive. At just 35 years old, this routine procedure led to a stage 1 breast cancer diagnosis with abnormal webbing that is only present in 6% of breast cancer patients. Shortly after, she learned that she, like her mother, was BRCA positive, another finding she needed to process.

In the following months, Ashley faced one life-changing, frightening event after another:

November 2022: Right breast removal including the nipple, spacer in place

December 2022: ACL surgery

January 2023: Stage IV ovarian cancer diagnosis

February 2023: Treatment begins at new hospital, City of Hope, with new doctors

Current Day: Ashley continues to receive infusions every three weeks and takes a chemo pill every day, which will go on for some time. Eventually, she will need to remove the left breast and nipple to prevent the return of the breast cancer and to prevent it from acting as a gateway for the BRCA gene.

As she continues her battle with breast and ovarian cancer, Ashley refuses to allow her diagnoses to define her. “I love trying new things, going on adventures, and I make a really big point to give myself space to have bad days,” she shared. She finds normalcy in her work as a Director of Staffing in property management, a career she finds extremely rewarding, and cherishes her time with friends, family, and her German Shepard, Ms. Harley. Through the hardships of treatment, Ashley remains steadfast in her passions of travel, painting, and writing, even recently publishing a children’s book!

Another favorite pastime of Ashley’s is walking, so when she saw an ad for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day® online she knew that she wanted to participate. As an active participant in other fundraising walks, Ashley decided to embark on the Komen 3-Day to not only raise money for breast cancer research, but to also enjoy the personal accomplishment of walking 60 miles.

Since signing up, she’s found the Pink Bubble to be a tremendously supportive community as she copes with both breast and ovarian cancer. “The Pink Bubble makes me feel not alone, supported and has helped me identify things I was concerned about physically through treatment,” she shared. In the meantime, she can’t wait to experience the 2024 San Diego 3-Day among likeminded people who are committed to ending breast cancer forever!

Shannon B. Is Ready to Join the Pink Bubble

Breast cancer survivor Shannon B. will be making her Susan G. Komen 3-Day debut in Chicago this year. After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020, recently undergoing reconstruction surgery and raising over $32,000 to date, Shannon is ready to take on 60 miles and join the Pink Bubble.

What is your connection to breast cancer?

I was diagnosed with stage 2, HER2+ breast cancer in October 2020, had 6 rounds of TCHP chemo, a full year of Herceptin, a bi-lateral mastectomy with 7 lymph nodes removed, 28 radiation treatments, and most recently, reconstruction surgery.

Why did you sign up for the 3-Day?

Ironically, I have felt so lucky and privileged through this whole process of having support, good insurance, a flexible employer, and a “best possible outcome” of being cancer-free with a low chance of recurrence. I know that SO MANY others have it much harder than I have, and I feel like I NEED to do something to help others fight breast cancer and fund research that has helped save my life. My oncologist told me that just 10-15 years ago HER2+ breast cancer was one of the deadliest because they didn’t yet know how to treat it. It’s because of research, trials, and the incredible individuals before me that my medical team knew the exact path forward to get me to this cancer-free stage.

What do you hope to gain from this experience?

More than anything I hope to make a difference, so others don’t have to deal with this disease, the treatments, side effects, surgeries, etc. Or if they do, maybe the money I raise can help make it just a little bit easier by helping with medical bills, transportation, etc.

How did you raise so much money in such a short period of time?

I am no fundraising superstar, but am surrounded by incredible people in my personal and professional life. I have worked at the same company for over 10 years and have built amazing relationships with people all over the country. My family and friends have never wavered in their support. I created a fundraiser on Facebook and posted on LinkedIn and Instagram. My birthday and anniversary of my last TCHP chemo treatment is coming up so I hope to do a few posts to bring in another wave of donations. I have raised A LOT of money, but it still wouldn’t cover the cost of one of my chemo treatments pre-insurance.

What are you most looking forward to regarding the event?

I am looking forward to being surrounded by others who are so committed to the cause that they are willing to sacrifice their time and energy to this incredible challenge. And selfishly, I am walking with one of my best friends and I can’t wait to have three days together! What am I least looking forward to (not that you asked)? I am a crier and will likely be crying 80% of the three days; it will be a hard weekend emotionally.

What advice would you like to seek or questions you’d like to ask from any veteran walkers?

Please tell me the blisters are avoidable! I can and have survived a lot, but I am a big wimp when it comes to blisters!

Do you have any advice for Shannon or any other first-time walkers? Tell us your best tips and tricks for conquering the 3-Day in the comments!