“If you feel like something is wrong, speak up. You are your own best advocate.”

Shannon felt something was wrong. She didn’t know exactly what it was, but she was determined to find out. After multiple appointments, her persistence confirmed her suspicions. Shannon was not even 40 years old when she was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer. Because of her young age, she was not required to get a mammogram – which may have found the cancer sooner.

Cancer can happen to anyone, at any age. So be aware, get screened, and if something seems strange to you, trust your instincts. Push and be persistent.

Shannon’s determination paid off and she’s currently in remission. When her treatment ended, she needed to find the next step in her journey as she worked through side effects, such as brain fog. She initially heard about our brain fog class from her oncology office and then ended up registering for Survivorship 101. Shannon attended our Survivorship class virtually this February, because she lives in Iowa. She describes the class as a huge help while she struggled with bad brain fog and PTSD.

She especially appreciated connecting with other survivors. Other people would often tell her “you should just be grateful to be alive”, but the class allowed her to connect with other people who understood cancer and what she was going through.

Thank you so much for sharing your story with us Shannon. We’re happy that A Time to Heal was a part of your journey.