“… Once you’re deemed cancer free, it’s like you’re just cut off. To have the implant would feel so great to know there’s something still fighting this with me.”

Alysa is a 34-year-old woman, living in the Toronto area and working in the mental health field. She was diagnosed with Stage I Triple Negative Breast Cancer in August 2023, at the age of 32 years old. She underwent four months of IV chemotherapy, trialed oral chemo, and the day before her 33rd birthday, had a double mastectomy with delayed reconstruction. She has had three surgeries, with a couple more to go. She credits her wonderful care to her family doctor and the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and she was supported through this time by her family, husband, close friends, and tabby cat, Mowgli. Since being deemed "cancer-free" post-mastectomy, Alysa has been able to return to work and activities like pilates and soccer, and she and her partner have kept life busy buying their first home, getting married, and adopting a puppy.

“It’s a feeling of being scared in your own body and not trusting your own body. [But] I’m gonna tough it out, I’m gonna get through this. Let me see what else is out there that can complement my treatment.”

In June 2022, Seana was diagnosed with Stage 2 Triple Negative Breast Cancer, the day before her 27th birthday. Since then, she’s completed 16 rounds of chemotherapy, 11 rounds of immunotherapy, a double mastectomy with delayed reconstruction, and a year-long oral chemo regimen. An avid writer, she has written extensively about her story so far and continues to share in real-time on social media about the realities of life after a cancer diagnosis and the importance of patient advocacy.

https://elephantsandtea.org/survivorship/alive-and-scarred/

https://rethinkbreastcancer.com/articles/just-for-now-not-forever

https://elephantsandtea.org/survivorship/welcome-to-the-worst-club-ever/

IG: @seaanaa and @dips4nips

“I think my son was absolutely critical in giving me the extra strength and motivation to see the treatment through to the end. Even though the fear is there, I wake up every day determined.”

Vladana, is, above all, the proud mom of a joyful 2.5-year-old boy named Nikola. In 2023, her world shifted when she was diagnosed with stage 3 estrogen-positive, progesterone-negative breast cancer, a battle she never imagined facing so soon. By opening her heart and sharing this journey, she hopes to inspire hope, strength, and progress towards better treatments for every parent who dreams of more time with their child.

IG: @vladana.trbic