Roxanne's Story: How I Stayed Active and Positive Throughout Treatment

My name is Roxanne and I am from Anchorage, Alaska. I got diagnosed with stage IIb IDC breast cancer in April 2024. I did all the things: chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation, in which I just finished my treatments on April 28, 2025. I have learned so much during my cancer journey and have grown to become an even stronger and beautiful woman as well.

How I got diagnosed was kind of a funny story. It happened when I first began dating my boyfriend, Nathon, in summer 2023. He caressed my right side of my breast and pushed on it to what it seemed felt like a "bump." I had no idea how it got there and didn't even notice it. So I decided to get checked and saw my PCP in September of 2023. We did a breast exam and she asked me questions about whether breast cancer runs in my family, and I said no. So she gave me the option if I wanted to do further tests or just wait it out as I was considered "low risk" and didn't show obvious reasons. So I made the decision to wait.

So as the year went; and the holidays passed, starting March 2024, I felt something "off" in my right breast. It is hard to explain how it felt, but it was just not normal. So I panicked and quickly contacted my PCP. Thankfully, I was able to get a hold of her and made an appointment to get my first mammogram and ultrasound done.

So we did the tests and I remember that day, on April 12, 2024 when I did the mammogram and we went over the results, the words "irregular spiculated mass in the R breast is highly suggestive of malignancy" freaked me out and I just froze. I was happy I had someone with me, and that was my boyfriend, as my mother was in the Philippines enjoying her retirement. I barely could have kept it together, and my boyfriend, who is such a strong person that does not show emotion, I can tell he was sad for me. And what scared me the most is that this day was our 1 year anniversary of dating one another.

So we did the biopsy the week after that and it confirmed it, 100%. 3.4cm from the nipple was where the mass was located. Labeled it as grade 3 IDC. So from then on, things moved quickly from getting appointments to figuring out what breast surgeon and what oncologist to see. The first month of finding out was so tough for me. I didn't know how to handle my feelings or to share with my family and especially my mom. Good thing it did not run in the family and we did a genetic test to confirm that.

Knowing that I was 36 years old and wanting to have a family at that time broke me as I didn't think I would be diagnosed with breast cancer. Also, being a Filipino Asian-American being diagnosed with breast cancer is not very common. I didn't know anyone around my age who had it or in my family and to think it's possible scared me because I was just not educated about it. It was frustrating. I had the guilty feeling of blaming myself, and honestly scared because I did not know what to expect. However, I was able to talk with my providers and able to freeze some eggs before starting my treatments, and that alone was a journey. Learning and navigating all that will be another story to share for another time....

As the months passed by, I found it helpful for me to seek therapy and just be open and share my journey with others. I am very thankful for my work family and my friends and for supporting me and checking up on me. Bringing me food, talking, sharing laughs, and especially with those that have donated to my Go Fund Me. I am one to not ask for help, but when I just opened up my vulnerability, I was amazed and shocked to see that people out there wanted to help me and I am so grateful for that.

Also, what kept me going is that I am known to be a very caring, compassionate and nice person with a positive attitude. I love reading daily affirmations and I kept living my life going to work full time as a nurse, even during my chemo and radiation treatments! I just took time off after my surgery. I even worked out, did weight training, rumble boxing, cycling and even did a half marathon during my treatments! Now I can definitely say that I am a badass and a true strong warrior and fighter.

Looking back, I have to say, "Wow, I went through all that and I came on top and survived!" I don't give myself too much credit and now I need to. And I'm just glad I can start to get my life back and hopefully inspire others who have been diagnosed to just keep going and to never give up.