Facing Recurrence — Advocacy After a Mastectomy

Fourteen years after my mastectomy, I discovered something no survivor wants to face — a local breast cancer recurrence.In this deeply personal episode, I share how a small lump found during a routine OB/GYN visit led to same-day imaging, a biopsy, and ultimately a diagnosis of early local recurrence. I walk you through the difference between local and distant recurrence, why my original low Oncotype DX score didn’t predict this, and how advocacy — once again — changed everything.We’ll talk about:• Trusting your instincts• Navigating delays in today’s healthcare system• The importance of multiple medical perspectives• Early detection after mastectomy• Treatment decisions, including targeted therapy and surgeryThis episode is a reminder that vigilance doesn’t end after treatment — and that self-advocacy can make all the difference in outcomes.If you’re a survivor, newly diagnosed, or supporting someone through breast cancer, this conversation is for you.Knowledge is power. Advocacy is everything.