Tina Conrad, aka DJ Breast Cancer!

My name is Tina Conrad, aka DJ Breast Cancer! I recently started a Podcast called DJ Breast Cancer about my breast cancer journey, in the hopes that it helps one person! Prior to my diagnosis, I was a newlywed and had my dream job as a Divisional Merchandise Manager with a large retailing company. I was the daughter of a 2 time breast cancer survivor. I was fortunate enough to have had 2 mammograms as a baseline given my mom's diagnosis (at age 46 and again at 49). I realized a change in my breast (my nipple had pulled in) that at first I didn't really understand or acknowledge, since my mom's cancer had been a lump both times. I did go speak with my OB/GYN and went on a whirlwind tour of mammograms, ultrasounds and ultimately a diagnosis of breast cancer at the age of 37. Surprisingly, my cancer was different than my mom's (I had lobular and ductal breast cancer, and mine was estrogen positive). I went on to receive 16 rounds of chemotherapy (A/C, Taxol) and then 25 rounds of radiation. I opted for a double mastectomy along with reconstruction.

Breast Cancer has taught me that life is precious, that every day is worth living, and life can change in a blink of an eye. For me personally, it taught me that I need to DO the things I dream of doing, since time is finite. Each year, I thoughtfully create resolutions for my mind, spirit and health and then I go out and achieve them. Life as a breast cancer survivor is a little sweeter, I do cherish the small things... I smile more, I tell everyone I love them, I focus more on the now. It also is harder, rediscovering that my priorities with work are now different (at a different job with less stress and more free time) and I do have worries about recurrence.

Advice I would give to a newly diagnosed person with breast cancer is take the

help... rely on your resources and if you aren't sure about a doctor, you have to be your own advocate. Take a person with you to all your initial appointments since it's all so overwhelming.

Advice I would give a person after treatments is LIVE!!!! Enjoy your life, take time to tell others you LOVE them, go for a walk in the rain, take the trip you always dreamt of. And of course, I would love others to listen to my story... www.djbreastcancer.org is a podcast devoted to my breast cancer journey, from diagnosis to life after cancer. I was fortunate enough to have my mom and her experiences, but so many others are diagnosed with no family history and it's all so completely overwhelming.

Thank you so much and it's amazing all that you do to shine a light on breast cancer!!!

All my best,

Tina Conrad

#spreadingawareness #mystory #survivor #breastcancer