Cancer has a way of changing your perspective on life. What begins as a diagnosis can become a journey of finding strength, redefining priorities, and discovering what truly matters.

In this honest reflection, Ann-Marie, Ashland YMCA member and a breast cancer survivor and health coach, shares what it was like to face cancer, move through treatment, and discover that life after cancer can look very different than life before it. Her story is one of resilience, small steps, healthy choices, and ultimately, hope.

And you’ll have an opportunity to hear more from Ann-Marie in person at our next Wellness Wednesday on Wednesday, October 7, from 12:00–1:00p at the Ashland Family YMCA. She’ll share her personal journey through cancer, the life-changing lessons she learned along the way, and how she now uses her experience to help others create healthier, more purposeful lives.

Read Ann-Marie’s story below, see her journey through photos, and then see the Wellness Wednesday registration information below.

As we approach Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I’m reminded of just how many lives are touched by this disease. Whether personally or through someone we love, breast cancer impacts millions of families every year.

But there is hope. I know because I’ve lived it.

In 2018, I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. My treatment journey included chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and ongoing immunotherapy. Like many cancer patients, I faced not only the physical challenges of treatment but also the emotional and mental toll that came with it.

Despite having a loving and supportive community around me, the experience was often lonely. Cancer changed me in ways I never expected. During treatment, my focus was simply survival, making it through the appointments, scans, lab work, and side effects one day at a time.

When treatment ended, I assumed life would return to normal. Instead, I realized there was no going back to the person I had been before cancer.

The experience had transformed me.

I often describe it as a metamorphosis. I emerged from that chapter of my life with a new perspective, greater strength, and a deeper appreciation for my health. Like a butterfly leaving its cocoon, I had new wings but wasn’t quite sure how to use them.

What surprised me most was that once I faced cancer, much of my fear surrounding it began to fade. Although I continued to deal with fatigue and lingering side effects, I knew that my path forward required change. I began taking a closer look at how I was eating, moving, thinking, managing stress, and using my energy.

Rather than trying to change everything at once, I focused on small, sustainable steps. One healthy choice led to another, and over time those choices became the foundation for a healthier, more intentional life.

Today, I live with a level of purpose and vitality I may never have discovered had I not gone through this journey. Cancer changed me, but it did not define me. It made me stronger in ways that I had never imagined. I developed a resilience that has helped me through life’s challenges while also creating a zest and vitality for life that was not there before.

The most encouraging part is that many of the lifestyle changes that helped me rebuild my health after cancer are the same habits that can help reduce cancer risk and support long-term wellness. Whether you’re navigating a diagnosis, celebrating survivorship, or simply looking to invest in your health, small changes can make a meaningful difference.

If I can do it, so can you.

 

Join Ann-Marie in person at our next Wellness Wednesday on Wednesday, October 7, from 12:00–1:00p at the Ashland Family YMCA.

Everyone is welcome! Whether you’re navigating cancer, supporting someone who is, or simply want to learn more, this is an opportunity to gain insight, feel inspired, and discover ways to support yourself or someone you love.

Wellness Wednesday | Wednesday, October 7 | 12:00–1:00p
💗 FREE for Y-Members | $5 Community
📍 Ashland Family YMCA
Pre-registration is recommended as space is limited.

Register @ https://ashlandymca.org/