What happened, in summary

April was 32 when a small lump in her right breast led to a stage 2 breast cancer diagnosis. She felt fearful, sad and alone, and the emotional impact continued well beyond the first months of treatment.

After completing active treatment, April remained on hormone therapy and targeted therapy. By 2024, she described herself as being in remission. She experienced diarrhea, fatigue and loss of appetite and said she sometimes self-medicated to cope.

Cancer also created financial strain. April had been out of work, her income was low and intimacy with her partner had decreased. She tried to build healthier routines by eating a more nutritious diet and exercising regularly.

Nearly 2 years after diagnosis, fear and sadness still surfaced. Her greatest concern was dying and leaving her son without a mother. At the same time, she wanted to reconnect with herself, succeed at work, travel and make positive memories with her family. Her remission gave her hope, but ongoing therapy and the emotional effects of cancer remained part of daily life.