October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Everyone’s experience with cancer is unique and that is why Buzzy Rocket co-founder, Victoria, decided to share her journey in a four part series.

Last week Hurricane Helene plowed through the west coast of Florida, North Carolina and Tennessee bringing deadly rain and storm surge that devastated communities. One of those communities was mine.

Why am I talking about the hurricane instead of my cancer diagnosis? Because the storm’s aftermath brought back feelings that I first experienced in February 2023 when I was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer.

It felt like it came from nowhere, was overwhelming, intense and draining. I was left angry, sad, and felt helpless. At the time it felt like things would never be the same again.

My breast cancer treatment would take over a year with 16 rounds of chemo and radiation and surgery. During that time, I learned how to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. During the next few weeks, I’ll share my breast cancer experience to build more awareness.

Community was the biggest thing that helped me get through my diagnosis and treatment. I felt a lot of shame when I was diagnosed, like I had done something wrong. Why me? I struggled to share the news with those close to me. I was greeted with an overwhelming amount of love that was crucial for me to physically and mentally beat cancer.

Now our communities are coming together to take care of each other after the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. The parallels aren’t lost on me. Now more than ever we need to be kind and patient with each other as you never really know what anyone is going through.