After living most of my life at high risk, my formal education in cancer studies began in 2012 when I entered the world of oncology massage therapy. I was called to working with women during and after breast cancer because I knew that I could be the one on the table one day. I loved the idea that in such a challenging time there were supportive methods of care that contributed to the client‘s physical healing and their emotional well being. Through dedicated classes and hands on experience I learned to help women improve the look and feel of their scars, to regain flexibility and range of motion, and most importantly, to reconnect with their bodies and find self-acceptance in their new form. I learned about breast cancer itself - the types, the surgeries, the treatment options. I learned how to teach women to understand their risks around lymphedema and steps they could take to manage and even mitigate those risks.
All of this became extremely critical in my own life when I was diagnosed with stage 1 grade 3 IDC in 2017. I underwent a double mastectomy with immediate implant reconstruction, 8 rounds of bi-weekly chemotherapy, and the removal of my ovaries and fallopian tubes sending me into surgical menopause, all at the age of 41. Through every stage of my cancer experience I was able to draw on the professional training I had received and the anecdotal learning provided by my clients, allowing me the unique opportunity to make informed decisions and confident choices. This knowledge continues to help in my healing journey and my intention is to put these same skills in the hands of women everywhere.
Sipping chartreuse and green tea while looking at the most perfect white subway tile and hand painted signs. Driving through the mountains to Portland reminiscing about the best memories back home. Cozy sweaters, vintage demin, and Pabst while telling one of a kind love stories. The trials and tribulations of love, joy, and happiness. Lastly, champagne brunch and avocado toast while surrounded by the finest exposed brick, dreamcatchers, and maps to our souls. Dreamcatchers, macrame and 100 Days of Summer. Anthropologie trips and walks on the beach, love letters and secret admirers. Fall breeze, flannels, and hot cocoa. Whales and dinosaurs and handmade crafts. Salvage denim, antique leather bags, and the first time we watched Moonrise Kingdom.