MEET JENNIFER
From Diagnosis to Author: Lauren's Journey
February 19, 2024, marked the end of my “before” and the start of my “after.” A few weeks prior, I found a small lump in my left breast — it felt like a piece of partially cooked rice. Despite my age (36), no family history, and the lump being an unusual shape that didn’t fit the typical hard-marble description, I knew something was wrong. My physician was confident it was benign, but sometimes, you just know.
The pathology report delivered three unforgettable words: Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. The early-stage lump was breast cancer. It was also aggressive—Grade 3, HER2 positive — meaning it was growing fast and the risk of spread was high.
The next day, my husband Justin and I, both teachers, tried to process the diagnosis. As we began scheduling appointments, we found both comfort and an abundance of kindness in our community. We were connected to every medical provider through current or former students. These connections, along with others to a wide range of resources, immediately put us at ease in the most difficult situation we had ever faced.
My treatment plan involved a single mastectomy followed by 12 rounds of chemotherapy, coupled with a full year of immunotherapy. I chose to use the DigniCap cold cap during chemo to try and prevent hair loss. While this added hours to treatment, it gave me a sense of control and normalcy in a life that had quickly been turned upside down.
Throughout the process, my mindset was simple: “What do I have to do next?” While cancer is a scary word, I never felt anger or fear that it was a death sentence. My husband and I focused on letting hopefulness outweigh the devastation. We allowed ourselves to “feel the feels,” but didn’t stay stuck there.
My diagnosis was a wake-up call to focus on health. Though I had a ‘bad luck’ cancer, ensuring it stays away involves me doing my part. After a full year of treatment, including completing my final round of immunotherapy on May 16, 2025, I am focused on a healthier future.
Justin and I often say, “It’s been a year!” And it truly has been. This year — the beginning of our “after” — has been defined by a word I encountered on a trip to Rwanda in 2023. We’ve been overwhelmed with ubumuntu — a Kinyarwanda word meaning humanity, kindness, and greatness of heart — from our village of students, families, and friends. We have truly experienced ubumuntu in our community in more ways than we could have ever imagined.
Ubumuntu — A Kinyarwanda word meaning humanity, kindness, and greatness of heart