Breast Cancer: Susanne's Survivor Story

What happened, in summary

Susanne Ricke was 61 when breast cancer was found during routine mammography screening in 2022. She had kept up with screening because breast cancer had affected both her mother and sister, and because she had already gone through treatment for a malignant melanoma in 2021. The breast tumor was treated with breast-conserving surgery followed by 16 radiation treatments. Physically, Susanne tolerated treatment fairly well. She had mild skin changes and burns from radiation, nausea after anesthesia, and the difficult feeling that her treated breast no longer felt fully like part of her body. Over time, support from her partner helped her adjust. The diagnosis also changed how she thought about everyday life. She became more willing to rest, say no, protect her energy, and stop postponing things that mattered to her. By the July 2023 interview, Susanne had recently returned from rehabilitation, felt physically well, and was attending regular follow-up appointments. Those appointments still brought anxiety and sleepless nights, but rehabilitation, relaxation techniques, and conversations with other patients helped her feel less alone. She continued looking for psycho-oncology or peer support closer to her rural home. Her earlier melanoma experience also shaped how she approached the breast cancer diagnosis, making follow-up care both reassuring and emotionally charged.