112. Ria Despi (Breast Cancer Survivor & Thriver)

On today’s episode, I am speaking with Ria Despi. Ria was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer in 2018. She underwent chemotherapy, anti HER2 therapy, mastectomy with an implant that became infected and was ultimately removed, and remains on endocrine therapy. We have a candid discussion about survivorship and life beyond cancer. Ria shares the impact of her cancer diagnosis on her body image (she chose not to get reconstruction again once implant was removed) and how she has learned to love her body at every stage she is in. She shares how she manages stress and mental health, her decision to share her story publicly, dealing with fears of recurrence and the importance of putting yourself first.