What happened, in summary

Bridgette was 66 when she found a lump under her arm in the shower. Just 3 weeks earlier, her mammogram had been reported as clear. Further testing led to a stage 3 triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis in May 2012. The diagnosis was frightening, particularly because she did not know anyone with the same subtype and found few positive survivor stories at the time.

Her treatment included a lumpectomy, removal of lymph nodes, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Hormone therapy was not an option because the cancer was triple-negative. Fatigue, hair loss and lymphedema were the most difficult side effects. Bridgette tried to manage them through exercise, although her activity level fell during treatment, and she continued working toward a healthier diet.

After completing treatment, Bridgette described herself as being in remission and free of cancer. She became more intentional about contacting her parents, spending time with family and planning future travel. Her grandchildren and loved ones gave her a strong reason to keep moving forward.

Survivorship did not erase the fear of recurrence. Bridgette still worried that the cancer could return, but she encouraged other patients to build sustainable routines around nutrition, exercise, yoga or meditation and to hold on to hope during treatment.