Wife, Mother, Advertising Art Director, Professional Photographer, Blogger
Nearly six months after a cardiologist told her that the chest pain she was experiencing was not due heart problems, Tammy found the largest of five lesions in her left breast – entirely on her own.
“If I had been screened for Breast cancer at 30 there is a very real chance that we could have caught it in its early stages, resulting in less invasive surgeries, and less extensive treatments.”
– Tammy (diagnosed at 33)
From the moment she was diagnosed, Tammy wanted to do everything possible to turn her frightening and life-changing situation into something positive. Experienced in advertising, design and photography, she began to document and share her journey. In just 19 months, Tammy has turned her personal blog into a source of inspiration, offering a uniquely honest and raw look into the daily struggles that come with a breast cancer diagnosis.
Tammy’s creative background also led her to start the Forgotten Fighters campaign. Its goal is to start a conversation that puts breast cancer on the radar of young women, empowering them to take charge and be their own breast advocate.
Still dealing with post-treatment and surgical fatigue, Tammy has restricted movement in her left arm as well as ongoing pain. She still faces two surgeries and infusions to treat the after-effects of chemotherapy. Still, Tammy admits that she wouldn’t take the experiences of the past 19 months away because of all the positive changes it has made in her life.
Take a deeper look into Tammy’s personal journey with breast cancer on her blog: mypersonalpinktime.org.
“You could say we bonded over a biopsy table. Tammy (Myers) was not like most patients. I think we all knew there was something special about her from the moment we met her. She is the perfect person to get this message out there and to fight for young women like herself, who are being diagnosed young every day.”
– Dr. Tammy Kreuzer
Dr. Kreuzer is a specialist in Breast Imaging and Intervention and is currently the Director of the Betty Ford Breast Care Services and Medical Director of Breast MRI for Advanced Radiology Services at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She also serves as Medical Director for Imaging at Michigan Medical P.C., is a member of the Society of Breast Imaging and the American College of Radiology and the Radiological Society of North America.
Wife, Mother, Occupational Therapist, Avid Runner
Over the past 13 years, Amy has been treated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, as well as had six surgeries, including a bilateral mastectomy and an axillary lymph node dissection. To treat her recurrence, she had chemotherapy while pregnant with her son.
With a background in occupational therapy and a love for running, Amy realized there was a gap in the rehabilitation process for women in her area who were recovering from breast cancer. She fought for a program that would focus on post-mastectomy cording and lymphedema therapy. By doing so, she has helped countless women who faced breast cancer move forward and regain as much of their pre-cancer lifestyle as possible.
Wife, Mother of Two Girls, Professor at Grand Valley State University, World Traveler
From Walker, Michigan, Ingrid has called Poland, Bangladesh, and Malta “home.” Immediately following her diagnosis in 2012, she underwent a bilateral mastectomy and started chemotherapy treatments. However, the next year she discovered another lump that was found to be cancer, leading her to face a second round of chemotherapy and radiation.
Today, Ingrid lives a life that’s focused on giving back. She uses her struggles with cancer to fuel a passion for supporting the breast cancer community. This includes her involvement with the Young Survivors of West Michigan support group as well as the Revive and Thrive program – which prepares and delivers healthy and nutritious meals to cancer patients at no charge during their treatments and surgeries.
Wife, Mother, Health Coach
Just last year, Sara found a lump and, with concern over dense breast tissue, pushed for an ultrasound at her annual appointment. It was only the ultrasound that discovered her breast cancer. As a professional health and fitness coach, the diagnoses turned her world upside-down.
Sara’s treatment started in June 2015. She also had a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction in November 2015 with a final reconstruction surgery in January 2016.
While she still experiences insomnia, muscle aches and nerve pains, Sara is thankful that her side effects were tolerable without any major complications. She stresses the importance of being one’s own advocate. Had she not pushed for an ultrasound, it frightens her to think how far her cancer would have spread by the time she would have had another mammogram – an entire year later.
Mother of Three, Certified Nursing Assistant
Bio Coming Soon
While the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force now recommends that breast cancer screenings begin at age 50, women much younger than this are being diagnosed every day. And unfortunately, far too late for a majority of them. Be a part of the change that will help give younger women a fighting chance against breast cancer.
