Natasha Carlson

If I could turn back time and speak to my newly diagnosed self, here's what I'd say!

My experience with multiple surgical procedures for breast cancer showed me just how important it was to have the total support of my husband.

No one talks about the “rabbit hole” that patients with cancer experience, even as time passes.

I learned that finding the right kind of support during and after a cancer diagnosis is truly invaluable.

People are functioning as if the threat of COVID-19 is gone, but that’s not the case for many people with cancer.

After hearing others' cancer stories, I found myself feeling "less than" because I didn't undergo radiation and chemotherapy.

I’ve met too many people who were told that they were too young for cancer before being diagnosed.

After experiencing intense scanxiety after my single mastectomy, I decided to go back and have a prophylactic mastectomy.

Cancer brought me a forced transformation and gave me better a perspective on life.

Losing my breasts was hard, but losing one of my best friends was even harder, and something I’ve had to come to terms with.

Here are a few tips I’ve found that helped me regain a sense of control after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

I was told I had the “good” type of breast cancer, but does such a thing even exist? I think not.

After being diagnosed with breast cancer, I wrote thank you letters to my oncology care team which, to my surprise, helped put me at ease.