Lindsay's Breast Cancer Journey Continues: The Diagnosis No One Expects After a Double Mastectomy

On October 3rd, 2025 I learned that my journey with breast cancer would continue with what my doctors have called a rare and unusual recurrence of Stage 2 triple negative breast cancer diagnosis, an aggressive form of cancer –

even after my bilateral mastectomy earlier this year treating my Stage 0 DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ).

(Yes, turns out you can still get breast cancer after a bilateral mastectomy!)

Being a BRCA1 gene mutation carrier significantly increases my risk for breast and ovarian cancer. Triple negative breast cancer accounts for 10-15% of breast cancers and is most likely to show up with BRCA carriers. (Like me!)

At a follow-up appointment with my breast surgeon in late September, she found a concerning lump on my left side, right next to my tissue expander (the inflatable device used as part of my breast reconstruction). I had assumed it was a tab on the expander and had not been concerned.

She immediately got me in for an ultrasound and biopsy.

The days and weeks following have been a flurry of scheduling, coordination and traveling for medical appointments and procedures in Seattle.

In the past month, I underwent two more surgeries to remove two tumors near my left armpit –

Fortunately the pathology reports and PET scans show no signs of further cancer.

I’ve just undergone another surgery to swap my tissue expanders for my new breast implants as part of my breast reconstruction.

Now, after a year of 9 surgeries and multiple hospital stays and complications from my breast reconstruction, I am facing what feels like the hardest and challenging part of my cancer journey:

5 months of weekly chemotherapy , followed by one month of daily radiation – all in Seattle at Fred Hutch Cancer Center.

Managing all the medical appointments is already requiring a tremendous amount of time and energy to track and plan around. Each weekly chemo infusion will require significant time off from work for healing. It will be another year of healing.

And while I LOVE my work with my clients as a psychotherapist and somatic coach, I anticipate needing more and more time off work to recover –

yet being a small business means no paid medical leave even while medical bills, chemo equipment expenses and integrative health service expenses like acupuncture, bodywork, herbalism and supplements are all adding up financially.

My GoFundMe is intended to support me with monthly expenses for the next 6- 8 months, with a small additional buffer for medical expenses.

I am already so grateful to the support I’ve received this year. Anything you can contribute is warmly welcomed and greatly appreciated.

WhileI am already exhausted and overwhelmed, I am tenacious in spirit – and see myself on the other side with radiant health and vitality.

With love and deep gratitude,

Linds