I want to help Susan G. Komen save lives and end breast cancer forever. 1 in 8 women in the U.S. will be impacted by breast cancer in their lifetime, which is why I’m fundraising to help support Komen’s vision of a world without breast cancer.

As the world’s largest and most impactful breast cancer organization, Susan G. Komen supports more breast cancer research than any other nonprofit outside the U.S. government, while providing real-time help to those facing the disease.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer on June 16, 2017. IDC stage 1 grade 1 ER+ PR+Her2-

This whole journey started for me as I regularly went for a mammogram since my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 50. My mammos would come back all the time as dense and “see you next year.” Well, in 2017 I went for my yearly mammo and my gynecologist at the time insisted I take the BRACA test with my sister to see if we tested positive for any mutations.  Although I did not test positive for BRACA, I tested high positive for both the CHEK2 mutation and the MUYTH mutation (breast and colorectal cancer)

That finally made insurance approve a mammogram in the tube. I call it the Superman mammo as you have to lay down and endure that. That is when they found something, decided to do an ultrasound, and then ultimately a biopsy.

When I was given the news of “you have breastcancer I literally went numb in the doctor’s office. I was 38 and I looked over to my husband who was visibly upset. It was like an out-of-body experience, like I was watching what was going on but not fully comprehending it.  At that moment, I snapped back into real time and decided to fight and be as POSITIVE as possible! The doctor was phenomenal and broke it down to me. She said I needed to have a double mastectomy and if I wanted reconstruction, there were a bunch of doctors she worked with. 

June 16, 2017 started my journey… a journey I am still navigating. I have had many, many surgeries. I had a double mastectomy with latissimus flap reconstruction.  I went through 3 sets of implants and issues with encapsulation, scar tissue issues, loss of feeling in 8 of my fingers, fat grafting issues…the list goes on.  I ultimately decided last year that enough is enough…I had EVERYTHING removed!  I am now a “flattie,” I had a full flat closure and could not be happier.

2017 is when I decided, with some nudging from my sister Valerie, to start a team and start fundraising for SGK North Jersey. 

The Suzanne’s Breast Friends Team was formed, and we completed our 1st walk at Liberty State Park in 2018.  My team has consistently dominated the Top Family teams bracket and I take pride in knowing that we ARE making a difference.

Suzanne’s Breast Friends has raised over $69,000 in 7 years and as the Team Captain I have raised over $48,0000 of that total!  

To be asked to be a Komen New Jersey Board Member this year solidified the work and hustle that I have been doing for these Walks. And to be able to BRING THE WALK BACK TO North New Jersey is the best gift yet!