At 35, Amanda was a healthy and active mom of a toddler and newborn, deep in the beautiful chaos of life. A successful real estate agent, she juggled listings and showings with nap schedules and appointments. She was often tired, like all parents – as far as she knew.

In late 2022, Amanda’s siblings experienced similar health challenges with no family history to suggest the possibility. Amanda, a proud middle child with a competitive streak, half-joked that maybe she was due for her own medical emergency. If pressed, she might have admitted that something truly didn’t feel right.

Her fatigue persisting, Amanda went to the emergency department to ask about a possible clot, in keeping with her family’s trend. Blood work and scans revealed no cardiovascular problems, but a full-body CT flagged something in her breast. Amanda’s primary care doctor could only find an opening for a mammogram weeks later. He called a colleague at University Hospitals, where Amanda quickly got an appointment.

With no family history, no genetic predisposition, and too young to be regularly screened, Amanda suddenly faced a diagnosis of Stage 2, triple-positive breast cancer on her left side that had spread to her lymph nodes.

Amanda’s calendar got even fuller, with 6 chemotherapy treatments, followed by a double mastectomy, then 27 radiation treatments, and finally, reconstructive surgery in spring of 2024.

Pressing On

Throughout, Amanda never paused her role as mom. Her husband, Chris, and her parents and in-laws stepped up more than they already had. “The outcome was better because I wasn’t alone,” Amanda said. “And because I’m stubborn,” she added with laughter.

Amanda didn’t ignore her emotions but knew how and when to handle them. She cried when she needed to; more often, however, she pressed on.

“I saw it as just one more thing to get through,” Amanda said. “I’m a big task person. I just started checking boxes. Like, what do I have to do next to take care of this thing?”

Her care team at UH helped keep her grounded, especially breast surgeon Ashley Simpson, DO. “Dr. Simpson was amazing,” said Amanda. “I’m not one to search everything online, but seeing words like ‘metastatic’ and coming across bad life expectancies can throw you. Dr. Simpson helped convince me that my situation was treatable. She talked me down when I needed it.”

“A breast cancer diagnosis can be life-altering, but thanks to ongoing research and medical innovation, it is now often a treatable- and in many cases, curable condition,” said Dr. Simpson.

The FDA approved Paxman scalp cooling system which helps reduce chemotherapy hair loss and speed up hair regrowth by cooling the scalp during chemotherapy sessions helped Amanda keep most of her hair. The physical changes were still challenging, but her gratitude for something so simple, so taken for granted in less trying times, buoyed her through weeks of rough side effects.

Just Keep Going

Amanda’s cancer responded completely to her treatment plan and she’s enjoying life again with Chris and her two kids, Reagan, now 6 years old, and Spencer, now 4.

She hasn’t forgotten the path here. “I never thought it could be me,” said Amanda. “But when you know something isn’t right, you have to listen. Ask questions. Go to the doctor. I told all my girlfriends to see theirs when I got my news. Everyone should go, with so many of us getting cancer younger now.”

Today, Amanda urges us all advocate for our health, reminding both women and men that breast cancer doesn’t wait for the right moment, or care how busy, young or healthy you are.

“You’re all allowed to have tough days,” she said, “but you’ve got to keep going.”

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