Catch it early, pay it forward
Hello! I’m Becky. It’s really great to be here.
About me
I’m a sailor, adventure cyclist, doting aunt & dog-mom, and aspiring (read: very much flailing) DIYer in a 130-year-old fixer-upper on the NY-Canadian border. Professionally, I’ve been a scrappy full-stack marketer since the mid-oughts, working with tech startups and small businesses in the travel, education, and creative industries.
Learning My Lemons
Toward the end of October of 2020, I spotted an odd-looking patch of skin, what looked like an odd allergic reaction, below my collarbone. I chalked it up to a new sweater, and put it out of my mind. When it persisted, I did what any elder millenial would do, and described it to Google. (I believe my query was quite sophisticated “boob skin weird.”) In a sea of intimidating medical diagrams, up popped a chipper-looking egg carton of twelve bright yellow lemons on a peppy magenta background. How fun! And then, of course, it registered. I recognized my symptom, which I didn’t even know was a symptom. I booked an appointment with my primary care physician. Off to the races, right?
– BUT WAIT, there’s more.
When I saw my primary doc for a physical exam, she tried and failed to calm my concerns and send me packing. “No lump, you’re fine!” Ok, so then what were her theories as to the cause of this curious skin texture, which happens to be a lesser-known symptom of breast cancer? “But you’re under 40!” Are people under 40 immune to cancer now?? After more pushback, I went so far as to offer to Venmo her for the cost of the mammogram, as she must be footing the bill to be so heavily invested in my not getting one. ...I got the referral I needed for a scan. And although my tumors were under a centimeter, the cancer had already made its way to several lymph nodes – breast cancers in younger women tend to be more aggressive, I've since learned.
I had no idea that there are not one, not two, but twelve breast cancer symptoms. ONLY because of Know Your Lemons did it even occur to me to make that initial appointment. ONLY because of Know Your Lemons did I have the knowledge-fueled hutzpah to push back against a doctor and advocate for myself. Because of Know Your Lemons, throughout a year that included surgery, four months of chemo and six weeks of radiation, my oncological team at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute would remind me: “You caught it early.” Words I clung to, and words I know more people will hear because of Know Your Lemons.
Branching Out, Planting Seeds
Once my treatment was well underway, I messaged Corrine on LinkedIn to say thank you. I met the brilliant women behind Know Your Lemons, slept for a year or so, reconnected, and now we’re off to the races. Two weeks in, I’m so impressed with this team, the network of volunteers, and supporters. I can’t wait to see what we can do in 2024 and beyond.
Love this story? Let’s make sure more women get to tell stories just like it. ⤵️
