Unite for HER Founder: 'We Deserve to Heal,' Not Just Survive

For Sue Weldon, finishing chemotherapy wasn't the end of her cancer experience. It was the start of a longer healing process.

"We deserve more than just to survive, right? We deserve to heal, and that happens emotionally and physically," Weldon, CEO and founder of Unite for HER and a 22-year breast cancer survivor, told CURE in a recent interview.

Weldon completed 12 rounds of chemotherapy. Looking back, she said, she realized the end of treatment was only part of the beginning. Her body, which had worked so hard to get through chemotherapy, still needed to be restored, and that required resources and therapies.

What side effects did Weldon experience during treatment?

During chemotherapy, Weldon said she could barely get herself moving. She experienced cancer-related fatigue, bone pain, neuropathy and headaches, and she was forced into medical menopause.

To manage those symptoms, she turned to acupuncture, yoga and nutrition, bringing them in alongside her standard of care both during and after treatment.

"That's where the healing began. That's where I got confidence again, control again in a disease I had no control over," she said.

Over time, her sleep improved and her hormones became more balanced. But she noted that consistency was essential. Recovery took about a year, and even now, she said she is still learning what her body needs as she ages.

"Wellness isn't a fad. It's an action that people have to invest in," Weldon said.

What are the most common side effects people with breast cancer face?

According to Weldon, fatigue is the symptom Unite for HER hears about most often. She described it as far more severe than everyday tiredness, the kind that can keep people from getting out of bed or going to work.

"It's not fatigue that you and I may feel at 4 o'clock because we had a long day," she said.

Digestive issues are the other major concern. Weldon pointed to mouth sores, a metallic taste and severe constipation or diarrhea from medications. Unite for Her works with people to build nutrition plans based on whole foods, with a focus on what they can add to their diet rather than what they need to remove. The organization has four registered dietitians on staff who are available to participants for life.

How does Unite for HER help people with cancer?

Unite for HER funds and delivers integrative services, including movement, meditation, acupuncture, massage therapy and nutrition support, to people with breast and ovarian cancer. Because insurance often doesn't cover these services, Weldon said the organization aims to fill that gap.

"We feel that if you are diagnosed with cancer, you are in need," she said.

Weldon said 56% of the people the organization serves are from underserved or undersupported communities, and Unite for HER partners with hospitals in areas where these services are needed.

People can apply to be fully funded for one of two programs, the Passport program or the Empowered Living program.

What is 'Heal, Empower, Restore'?

Weldon's book, "Heal, Empower, Restore," was released in September. She described it as the Unite for Her experience in print, a roadmap to support the body and mind during cancer care. Each chapter covers side effects and symptoms and ends with a "Moving Forward" section to help readers put what they learned into practice.

"We are there to welcome you and give you the resources that you need," Weldon said.

Visit Unite For HER here.

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