My kids like to say they saved my life. And, honestly, they likely did.

I was lying in bed one morning in the Summer of 2020. Pandemic, lock downs, too much screen time… my two daughters, then six and four, ran into my room to wake me up. They started jumping on the bed and I immediately grabbed my breasts to protect myself from the little monkeys.

How my story begins: In June, I started experiencing irregular bleeding, and I automatically became suspicious because my period had never been irregular. I've always had regular periods, every 28 days like clockwork, which is how I always knew when I was pregnant.

My name is Tiffany Nardella. I’m a wife, a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a dog mom, and I am living with metastatic breast cancer, a terminal disease. I do not know how long I have left. The average prognosis is five years, but the data is changing, and we all have a unique diagnosis with various rates of response.

We are Diverse. We are Inspiring. We are Victorious. We are Amazing. We are Survivors! We are D.I.V.A.S!  It was August 13, 2018, when I heard those “cold” and gut-wrenching words from my doctor “you have breast cancer”.  I dropped to my knees and began to weep.

Pink & Teal Breast and Gynecologic Cancer Educational Seminar is a no-cost service we offer to businesses and organizations. The Pink & Teal Program provides life-saving information about the signs and symptoms of breast and gynecologic cancers for your employees or colleagues.

In December 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 global pandemic, I was diagnosed with breast cancer, after a routine mammogram showed abnormalities. Like so many, my diagnosis came as a complete shock, as I truly believed I was at my healthiest. I was only 43.

While breast cancer certainly left me with physical trauma and scars, it was the emotional and mental pains that impacted me most.

A year and a half ago, I went in for a routine colonoscopy. I had absolutely no symptoms and had delayed the test by two years because of COVID. My nightmare started in the recovery room when my surgeon told me she was pretty sure I had rectal cancer, but we would wait to see what the biopsy showed.

My name is Cassie and I’ve been living with metastatic breast cancer since November 2020.

In January 2020, I went in for a routine mammogram. I felt great and had not been experiencing any symptoms that would lead me to be concerned. There is a history of breast cancer in my family, so I was being proactive and had been getting these tests since I was 38 years old.

Women's History Month highlights the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society. We can think of no better way to honor this month than to highlight several representatives of the SHARE community who dedicate their time, brain power, and hearts to supporting the women we serve.