By Katie, Gilda’s Club Member
Getting a cancer diagnosis is the absolute pits. When I was diagnosed with breast cancer at 40—my son not yet three and my ducks wholly not in a row to handle the additional workload of treatment—I broke.
Early on, drowning in turmoil, I knew I would benefit from support outside of the cancer center. I needed a place to process what was happening, connect with people who understood, and find resources to help me navigate this brutal, uncertain road. I’m so grateful I quickly found Gilda’s Club Madison.
Because here’s the thing: cancer is a beast, and there’s no manual. There’s the emotional upheaval—Would I see my son grow up? The practical questions—How do I tell my boss I have cancer? And then there are the medical decisions, endless and crushing—Would I keep my breasts? (No.) Would I need chemo? (Yes.) Would my son cry at my bald head? (No—he could not have cared less.)
Instability reigned in those early days. I craved firm footing, yet each day brought another rock crumbling beneath me. The first program I attended with Gilda’s was the Breast Cancer support group – and, logging in the first time, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I found myself in a virtual room with other survivors who really got it. And more, there were folks who’d already been through the gamut and they’d survived. I could get through this, just like them.
The support group was immediately impactful for me. Through it, I learned that Gilda’s Club had so much more. I was able to take my family to the halloween party Noogie Fest, just before I would have a double mastectomy. I desperately wanted my son to have a normal life while I went through hell—but the idea of going to an event in public was absolutely out of the question. Events at Gilda’s Club, though, I could handle.
Gilda’s Club showed me I wasn’t alone. I met people and families in all phases of their cancer experiences—some newly diagnosed, others years into survivorship—and we shared our fears and victories. Cancer changes everything, but thanks to Gilda’s Club, I gained something unexpected: a network of support that continues to lift me up.
If you or someone you love is facing cancer, I encourage you to step through those red doors. You’ll find more than just information—you’ll find people who truly care.
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Are you (or someone you love) facing a cancer diagnosis? Click here to learn more about starting your free membership today.