Clea Shearer, co-founder of organization brand The Home Edit, shares how communication and self-advocacy have become tools in her fight against breast cancer recurrence.
As a breast cancer survivor, how has your healthcare routine or schedule changed?
I am a breast cancer survivor, but I’m still a breast cancer patient with a long road of treatment ahead of me. My cancer diagnosis was early-stage, hormone-positive, HER-2-negative breast cancer with a high risk of recurrence. Because I’m hormone positive, I recently had my ovaries removed to alleviate the need for hormone suppressant shots.
What unexpected challenges have you encountered after breast cancer treatment?
Mental and physical fatigue are very present for me every day. I simply don’t have the same stamina and energy that I used to have, and that can be frustrating. However, I’ve learned to give myself some grace and not allow that to be a blockade. The mental piece is also taxing because I wake up every day with the mindset of fighting to keep cancer from coming back. It can be overwhelming at times, but mostly I feel empowered to proactively do everything I can to prevent recurrence.
What has helped you cope with the emotional and physical difficulties of going through breast cancer?
I am a big communicator, so simply talking to people helps me tremendously. Whether it’s with my family and friends, or even strangers I meet, talking honestly and openly helps me process my emotions. One of the reasons I decided to document my cancer journey publicly was to give people a forum to openly discuss with me and with each other. I hoped that by creating a little community, we would all feel less alone, less afraid, and more supported.
What well-being advice would you give someone going through a similar situation?
My biggest advice is to always advocate for your health. Whether that means scheduling mammograms, speaking up about the care you’re receiving, or going to your doctor with questions and concerns. No one is going to do that hard work for you. One of the most important facets of my current treatment plan came from a discussion I had with my doctor about my options. I always encourage people in a similar situation to advocate for themselves every single time.
