Breast Cancer

I completed treatment for Stage 3 triple-negative breast cancer in June 2022. During my treatment, I developed tachycardia, a condition that caused my resting heart rate to be around 100 and could spike up 140.

In August 2022, my oncologist suggested we do a heart study.

I was receiving chemotherapy treatment for early-stage breast cancer in 2009 when I started having persistent chest pain. After several weeks of increasing pain, I called the oncology nurse practitioner, and she instructed me to get to the nearest emergency room.

In April 2016, when I was in my late 30’s, I heard those words that no one wants to hear.…”you have cancer”. My whole world was turned upside down, but I was determined to do everything I could to beat it. I had invasive ductal carcinoma stage 3 grade 3 with lymph nodes involved and I was triple positive.

I was diagnosed December 2021 at age 37 with low ER+ (or some consider TNBC) stage 1, grade 3. It was only found through an early screening mammogram I received due to a very slightly elevated risk. That mammogram literally saved my life and I'm passionate about advocating for early screenings.

It hasn’t even been a year, and I’ve gone through so much. It’s crazy to think about. I found my lump in the shower one day. I asked my husband to feel and confirm I was really feeling what I was. I had a gut feeling it wasn’t ok. I’m very proactive about doctor appointment and self-care, so I called the next day.

My world was rocked on December 2nd. The pain I felt, the shattering of my heart and spirit was like a wrecking ball through a stained-glass window. Shattering in a million little pieces. In three little words, my entire world turned upside down and an entirely new journey has shifted to survival mentally and physically.

Today is the start of the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, celebrating the achievements and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) in the United States.

“Time there seemed to pass differently when you are shut off from the world, every day is exactly the same as the one before.

My name is Linda Wong. I was diagnosed with breast cancer for more than 20 years. When my doctor first told me, I was very surprised, sad, and scared. I also felt there was no one I could talk to. My doctor referred me to join a cancer patient support group and I found out there were many patients who had the same disease and some of them were even more serious than me.

This month, we are pleased to introduce you to one of SHARE’s amazing volunteers: Nancy Touhill, the peer facilitator of the breast cancer series “Let’s Talk About It” (LTAI). This popular series brings patients and experts together for educational presentations, sharing and discussion.