Believe… 
in being an advocate for yourself
Kris Berggren
In January 2019, I had constant pain in my right breast, and although I couldn’t feel anything unusual, I felt uneasy. My mammogram came back clear, and I wondered why I had breast pain. It was October when an ultrasound and biopsy finally detected multiple tumors in my breast and lymph nodes.
I kept chiding myself that I should have pushed harder to get to the bottom of things even though my mammogram was clear. I didn’t know that an ultrasound might have detected my cancer earlier. That is one of the difficulties for women with dense breast tissue. By the time my cancer was discovered, it was almost metastatic. But crying over spilled milk is no use, so after chemotherapy, a bilateral mastectomy, radiation, and reconstructive surgery, I am a SURVIVOR!
Now I don’t hesitate to help people understand how they can advocate for themselves. I was blessed with the love and support of family and friends who cried and laughed with me through it all.
As a patient navigator at Michelle’s Place Cancer Resource Center, I now help cancer patients find resources and empowerment throughout their cancer experience. I am blessed as people walk in with heads down and leave with hearts full of hope.
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