“It’s feelin’ like me season right now!” – Issa Rae
Ah, 2023—perfectly poised to be the year of me doing me. By January, I’d left my TV marketing job at a major entertainment studio after 12 years, ready to live my best full-time entrepreneur life.
I’m the co-founder of the intimate skincare brand conditionHER, which grew from an idea I had in 2013 with my bestie of over 20 years. We’ve both worked as “employed entrepreneurs” most of our careers, and I was finally getting a chance to focus on our brand to help us grow.
But life’s gonna be life, and I wasn’t prepared for the detour ahead of me.
Back in November 2022, I’d scheduled my annual mammogram and breast ultrasound appointments. I have dense breasts, so the ultrasound helps improve the detection of breast cancer. At that time, I was 46 (and still fine as wine). The routine appointment was my way of taking a proactive stance against breast cancer, a disease that impacts approximately 1 in 8 women in the U.S. annually and 2.3 million women worldwide.
Since my first exam at age 40, I’ve always shared my mammogram experiences on social media to encourage others to get theirs done. I’d post pictures of me in my gown and capture a little video of me walking into the mammogram room with the machine to demonstrate how simple the process is.
This time was different though. During the appointment, the ultrasound technician mentioned a spot on my left breast that warranted monitoring. She assured me it likely wasn’t a significant concern and could just be a cyst. But they wanted to keep an eye on it and asked me to come back for a follow-up in six months.
My biopsies were done on Monday, May 8th. On Thursday, May 11th, my gynecologist and dear friend Dr. Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz called to break the news. The result was cancerous. I was diagnosed with Stage 1 invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), meaning the cancer had spread beyond the milk duct and moved into surrounding tissue, but not to my lymph nodes.
The left side they were initially monitoring was fine, but the new area on the right was cancerous. Luckily, it didn’t stem from a genetic predisposition, which was a big relief. Dr. Suzanne swiftly connected me with a remarkable surgical oncologist, Dr. Marissa Boyle at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles. On May 15th, I had a series of tests and consultations to outline the treatment path ahead.
But how was this even happening?
I was supposed to go on my first trip to Paris in just 11 days to see Queen Bey. Dr. Boyle assured me that I could take the flight, insisting I live my best life with my girls.
That trip was so good for my soul at the beginning of my breast cancer journey, which would involve constant appointments. There’d be more mammograms, ultrasounds, biopsies, breast MRIs, and genetic testing, each a crucial piece of the puzzle.
My treatment plan consisted of a lumpectomy followed by 20 radiation treatments. During the lumpectomy, Dr. Boyle removed the tumor and surrounding tissue to ensure all cancerous cells were gone. On June 20th, I had the lumpectomy at Cedars, and I completed my radiation treatments on September 29th under the care of my radiation oncologist Dr. Stephen Shiao.
Yes, y’all, I rang the bell surrounded by my son and family.
This is my first time sharing publicly, and I’m still healing, awaiting next steps, and processing the entire experience.
I learned that many of my closest friends and family had never even had a mammogram. That’s why I’m sharing my story, to stress the importance of early detection. Do the self-exams, dig into family history, and consider genetic testing.
If you’re 39 and about to turn 40, schedule a mammogram. If you’re in your 40s or older, make the appointment. Early detection saves lives.
I wouldn’t wish this on anyone, so I implore you to take this info seriously. If sharing my story makes just one person schedule that appointment, then it’s worth it.
PS. My conditionHER Moisturizing Cream has no estrogen or other hormones. You can use it to hydrate your breasts safely while performing your breast exam.
Up next, be the first to know our weekly content and sign up for our Poosh newsletter.