I work in healthcare comms specializing in PR/Media Relations for hospitals, biotech, pharmaceutical/life sciences and healthcare companies.

I was diagnosed with bca a month after my mom passed away from metastatic breast cancer in 1999. I felt a lump and saw an internist who said it was nothing. My gynecologist who sent me to a breast surgeon.

First, I had a lumpectomy and when they didn't get clean margins, I had a mastectomy with a surgical procedure called TRAM flap and sentinel node biopsy.. which I heard is done differently now..not as invasive. I was diagnosed with stage 2 B-and had 3 positive lymph nodes.
I was treated with chemotherapy ACT.

Fast forward to 2013, I had a routine blood test during a checkup visit and received the news days later that my white blood cell count was high. I was told I needed to go for further testing and should see a hematologist oncologist. I was then diagnosed with CML. I started on Sprycel but after developing pleural effusion was switched to Tasigna which I am still taking.

I live and work in NYC where I reside with my husband. I have two sons age 18 and 27.