Today, I want to share something very personal.
A few weeks ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.
This isn't news I ever imagined I would be sharing, but I've decided to be open about my journey. Not because I want sympathy, but because I hope that by sharing my experience, I can help someone else recognize the signs, prepare for what lies ahead, or simply feel less alone.
Ironically, my journey began with something I almost ignored.
One day, I felt a lump in my right breast. My first thought wasn't cancer. We have a large dog who loves to jump up on me, and I honestly thought I had an internal bruise from one of his enthusiastic greetings. I figured it would heal on its own.
But days turned into weeks, and the lump didn't go away.
I told a dear friend and colleague and she urged me to get it checked.
I contacted my doctor and asked for a referral for an MRI. The MRI showed that the lump was highly suspicious. A mammogram and ultrasound were ordered, and both confirmed the presence of the lump and that its shape and density were concerning.
The very next day, I underwent an ultrasound-guided biopsy.
A few days later came the phone call I had been dreading.
The biopsy showed invasive ductal carcinoma that is estrogen receptor-positive and progesterone receptor-positive.
Even though I have spent years treating women recovering from breast cancer as a physical therapist, hearing those words about myself was surreal. In that moment, I wasn't the therapist anymore—I was the patient.
My breast surgeon explained my treatment options. Because my tumor measures about 4 x 4 cm, a lumpectomy would require removing a large portion of my breast and would be followed by radiation treatments five days a week for 3–5 weeks. Radiation is an excellent option for many women, but after discussing everything with my surgeon and considering my own situation, I chose to have a double mastectomy with implant reconstruction.
I also learned that I have dense breast tissue, which can make breast cancer more difficult to detect and is associated with an increased risk of developing breast cancer. That was another important factor in making my decision.
I met with the plastic surgeon who works closely with my breast surgeon to discuss reconstruction, implant options, and what recovery will look like.
This Tuesday, I'll undergo my double mastectomy and begin the next chapter of this journey.
As many of you know, I am a physical therapist who has treated women after breast cancer surgery for years. I help patients regain shoulder mobility, reduce scar tissue tightness, improve posture, and get back to living their lives.
Never did I imagine that I would become one of those patients.
Because I have the unique perspective of being both a healthcare professional and now a breast cancer patient, I decided to start a separate Facebook page called "Brigitte's Breast Cancer Journey”.
There, I'll be sharing my story honestly—the highs, the lows, what surgery and recovery are really like, practical tips to prepare, and the things I wish I had known from the beginning.
My hope is that it will become a source of information, encouragement, and hope for anyone facing breast cancer or supporting someone who is.
If you'd like to follow along, learn with me, or support the journey, I'd be honored if you joined me there.
And finally, if there is one thing I hope you take away from this post, it's this:
Please listen to your body. If something doesn't feel right, don't ignore it or explain it away like I almost did. Advocate for yourself. Early detection truly matters.
Thank you to everyone who has already surrounded me with prayers, messages, meals, encouragement, and love. I feel incredibly blessed to have such an amazing community behind me.
One day at a time. One step at a time.
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