Brooklyn S. is a lifestyle blogger, millennial breast cancer survivor and cancer advocate. On her Instagram page, Brooklyn shares everything from fashion videos to funny cancer-related memes.
How was your cancer diagnosis discovered?
My cancer diagnosis was discovered through routine testing after finding out I was BRCA2 positive. I was getting annual breast MRIs and last year it came up with suspicious activity that a biopsy was able to determine was cancer.
What is the biggest piece of advice that you have for new diagnosed patients?
The journey will be tough, but you are tougher. It’s ok to cry it out sometimes, but lean on your cancer community for support. They are everywhere and hands down the reason I didn’t feel so isolated and alone through all of it because many don’t relate.
What is the most important thing you learned from your cancer experience?
I learned to not be so hard on myself and really value time better. I used to be so hard on myself in physical appearance and then I lost my hair and had to find out how to relieve that part of me. My body changed in so many ways and I had to fall back in love with myself. I also found how important it is to cherish time and really be as intentional with it when I’m with loved ones.
What was the most difficult aspect of organizing your care/community?
Finding young breast cancer survivors my age and also breast cancer survivors who were women of color was difficult at first. My oncology team gave me pamphlets of support groups in person that were mostly older, non-minority women and it was hard to relate outside of us both being diagnosed with cancer. After I searched the internet and social media, I later found a plethora of millennial breast cancer survivors and they have already become some of my closest friends.
Brooklyn describes her cancer experience as:
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