October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is deeply personal to me.
I was diagnosed just after my 40th birthday in 2024 and underwent a double mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation.
From the beginning, I chose to be open and bring you along, because I want others to be better prepared than myself.
Despite being among the most common cancers for women in the United States - I knew very little about breast cancer.
It didn’t run in my family. I don’t have genetic markers that put me at higher risk. And I wasn’t even eligible for a routine annual mammogram until the age of 40.
The harsh reality is that my circumstances are all too common. The vast majority of breast cancer diagnoses have no family history. And in recent years, there have been steeper increases in breast cancer rates for women under 50.
The promising news is that although more people are being diagnosed with breast cancer today, the death rate has dropped 44% from its peak in the 1980s. Breast cancer research has long been among the most funded in the country, and that has translated to better screenings, treatments and outcomes.
But disparities and uncertainties still exist.
Black women continue to have the lowest survival for every stage of breast cancer when compared to other races and ethnicities. And once a historically low group, Asian American Pacific Islanders are now among the fastest growing breast cancer rate in the country.
And this year has put the future of breast cancer advancements in limbo. The Trump administration has made drastic changes to the National Institutes of Health and National Cancer Institute, which is the largest funder of cancer research in the world.
In the past year and change since my diagnosis, a compassionate silver lining has been the people I’ve met along the way. It’s the best part of being a local journalist.
So in the spirit of awareness and community, I am going to share some of the local support systems I’ve come across.
Cancer Champions
Cancer Champions offers health and wellness classes at no cost to cancer survivors.
The nonprofit has personalized plans through four pillars: fitness, nutrition, mindset and community.
“There is no cost. Period,” said founder Jen Miramontes. “There's over 400 recipes. There's close to 300 different exercise programs, anything from post-mastectomy to high-intensity training. There are mindset breathwork videos. And then they get included into the community, no matter where they are.”
Miramontes was inspired to create Cancer Champions after her mother’s cancer diagnosis.
“Her oncologist told her that they had run out of options and that she probably only had about three months to live,” Miramontes said. “I asked if she had any bucket list items and she said that she would like to climb in-and-out of the Grand Canyon. So, as you can imagine, a big feat for somebody who's been told that they don't have a whole lot longer to live.”
Miramontes started small, getting her mom to walk to the end of the driveway, and gradually built strength and endurance over time.
“The quick version is we got her moving, we started nourishing her body, and she did it. She got in-and-out of the Grand Canyon, and then actually lived three years past her diagnosis. And that left me realizing there's something to this.”
Albie Aware
When I decided I was going to share my diagnosis, the first local resource I found was Albie Aware Breast Cancer Foundation.
The nonprofit was created roughly 20 years ago by Doug Carson, in honor of his wife Alberta “Albie” Carson who lost her battle with breast cancer.
“We really try to be a one-stop shop for breast cancer resources in Sacramento,” said program director Melissa Manzo. “There's no income requirement.”
Services include helping people navigate breast health screenings, patient navigation, and financial assistance.
Albie Aware serves people in Sacramento’s six-county region: Sacramento, Placer, Yolo, El Dorado, Yuba and Sutter counties.
Triumph Cancer Fitness
Before my breast cancer diagnosis, I considered myself a pretty athletic person. Being active has always been a central part of my life.
But surgeries and treatments, like chemotherapy and radiation, unraveled any fitness level I once had. And ongoing medications and therapies have made it difficult or unrealistic to jump back into the active lifestyle that once was.
The reality is my body is different following cancer. There is no going back. But I learned that physical activity, at any level, is very much possible.
I’m happy to report that working out, hikes, and even running is back in my life. And a big reason why is Triumph Cancer Fitness.
The nonprofit offers a 12-week exercise program specifically designed for adult cancer survivors, at no expense to the participant.
Alliance for Fertility Preservation
One of the most painful lessons following my diagnosis is learning about fertility options, after it’s too late.
In California, there is a law largely geared to help cancer patients preserve their fertility before going through treatments - like chemotherapy - that can cause infertility
SB 600 requires the majority of health insurers to cover procedures - like egg and sperm banking - which can normally cost thousands of dollars out of pocket.
Unfortunately learning about the law is not a guarantee. Despite repeatedly raising concerns about family planning ahead of chemo, I was never told that I would have qualified for coverage. And the consequences are irreparable.
The Alliance for Fertility Preservation was founded to help cancer patients navigate fertility options, because what’s possible can vary greatly from one state to the next.
Joyce Reinecke is the Executive Director of the nonprofit and joined Insight earlier this year to talk about their mission to help alleviate one of the most distressing, life-altering consequences of cancer treatment.
Organic Skin Studio
Self-care often goes out the window when thrust into the survival mode of getting through cancer.
But the drastic physical changes - like hair loss, weight fluctuations and skin changes - are more than trivial, superficial consequences of cancer treatment. There is a sizable toll to mental and emotional health.
That’s where Vann Luong comes in. The emergency room physician assistant also owns Organic Skin Studio in Sacramento and is offering free facials to any cancer survivor for the month of October.
“I remember the very first year we did this. I had a 92-year-old female. She was a breast cancer survivor. She came in and that was her very first facial ever,” Luong recalled. “She was like, ‘Why did I never know about this or had it done before?” Very appreciative. Even though it was just an hour of skin treatment, facial relaxation, it really did something to help them feel a little bit better.”
A little pampering can go a long way.
“It makes us a part of something bigger,” Luong said. “And I think at the end of the day, being a part of something bigger in the Sacramento community is important to us.”
