Courtney's Journey with Triple positive stage/grade 3 breast cancer

04/01/2026

There are certain phrases people say during cancer that stay with you… long after the treatments are over.
And one of the most common?
“You’re so strong.”
I know it’s said with love. I know it comes from a good place. But I want to share what that can feel like on the receiving end…
Because I remember sitting there scared, overwhelmed, exhausted in every possible way and hearing those words. And thinking…
What choice do I have?
Strength wasn’t something I woke up and chose.
It wasn’t empowering or inspiring in the moment.
It was survival.
It was showing up to appointments I didn’t want to go to.
It was making life-altering decisions in a state of fear.
It was learning to live in a body that didn’t feel like mine anymore.
Being called “strong” sometimes felt like there wasn’t space for me to fall apart. Like I had to hold it together… even when I was breaking inside.
Because the truth is there were days I didn’t feel strong at all.
There were days I felt angry, scared, grieving, and completely exhausted.
And what I needed most in those moments wasn’t to be reminded to be strong…
I needed permission to be human.
To cry.
To be messy.
To say, “this is really hard” without someone trying to wrap it in something positive.
If you know someone going through cancer, maybe instead of saying “you’re so strong,” try saying…
“I’m here with you.”
“This is really hard, and you don’t have to go through it alone.”
Because sometimes, being seen in the struggle is more powerful than being labeled as strong.
I share this not to dismiss the love behind those words but to give a deeper understanding of how they can land.
I am now 3.5 years cancer free, and I share my story in hopes of helping others feel less alone and to bring awareness to what this journey truly feels like

08/04/2025

Listen up!! This is what I have been saying!! My mammogram barely shows my tumor! The ultrasound saw everything Clear As Day!!

07/30/2025

This is a must read!!!

07/22/2025

When I went to get my ultrasound I was so shocked they gave me a mammogram- it wasn’t what was scheduled.

It was an awful experience and it didn’t help see my tumor for what it really was. The ultrasound was a better tool to see my tumor… why, because I was young and had dense breasts… I believe we are giving young women an unnecessary test when the mammogram isn’t going to clearly show what the tumor is.. it may show a shadow.

They also asked me if I had the Covid vaccine- which I haven’t… why did they ask? Because they have to note it- as the covid vaccine was causing new growths or shadows on women’s bodies that mammogram is picking up.

There are new technologies out there like thermography, or QT imaging.

07/22/2025

07/22/2025

I’ve shared these to my personal page stories, but they are more fitting here.

Most women get breast disease… but doctors call it cancer. Don’t be scared of breast disease.

12/04/2024

I have talked on this page about recurrence of cancer and the driving reason for me to be seeking out holistic treatments.

Another reason is related to this question and answer from a support group.

I’ve never been told that I’m “cancer free”. After I finished my 18 months of chemo I asked my oncologist what does it look like for follow up scans? I was use to my sister’s plan and she went every 3 months, then 6 months, ect.

I was told there isn’t a standard follow up plan for scans for breast cancer. I thought this was very weird but did I question her? No, she is the cancer expert! I was at my functional medicine doctor’s clinic and was asked by her other doctor what my follow up treatment plan is and I replied with I don’t have one. He was puzzled and thought it was odd. I went back to my oncologist and asked again, same answer.

It’s baffling to me, well at that’s fine as it doesn’t surprise me anymore, that insurance will cover a doctor with no plan but WONT cover a doctor with a targeted, specifically designed for me and my body.

12/03/2024

I got home tonight around 9 and was met with lots of excitement and hugs from the kids!!! It was definitely a long and tiring day driving 7 hours.

I was told my RGCC test results are in and that Dr. Blake will be giving over them to come up with a more targeted treatment plan after the last weekly sessions next week.

Here is the website with information on the RGCC test.

Cancer screening for detection, analysis and monitoring of cancer: Using blood tests for early diagnosis and personalized therapy. ➤ Get to know RGCC tests.

12/02/2024

Time for infusion therapy!!!

12/02/2024

Day trip to Portland to complete treatment number 3. The view out my window for bio-therapy.

12/02/2024

This podcast episode hits deep, especially post cancer diagnosis. The sense of betrayal or a one sided definition of family planning as they talk about in this episode causes deep loss of what could have been, regret from choices made, or decisions that should have been made but not. and being opportunities taken away, plus the “fear” of what harm am I causing myself if I do open up this door again?

Listen to this podcast on larger families.

Podcast Episode · Culture Apothecary with Alex Clark · 11/26/2024 · 1h 17m

11/29/2024

I woke up today on the wrong side of the bed. I didn’t sleep well and got very little sleep. You would think I would have had the best night sleep since it was my first night back in my own bed, but nope, it was a big adjustment.

Another reason I wasn’t sleeping is my body was suffering the side effects of poor choices with eating that day. Both physically and mentally I was uncomfortable and battling myself mentally with making those choices.

The mental battle carried into today, followed by adding more negativity with my husband’s disappointment in me for not wanting to go to the grocery store today nor make the dish for his firehouse dinner. So I grabbed the girls, and we went therapy shopping for the ingredients for the dish and matching sister outfits.

I was in a very bahumbug mood, and vocalizing my mood with “forced holidays”. I’ve always felt this way with Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Then it hit me….I’m alive.

I’m alive…

And that is something to be VERY thankful for.