Being Afraid and Brave at the Same Time

Raquel Giorgio explains the power of moving forward.

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, it happened in the most jarring way imaginable.

I was at work in the middle of a Zoom call when my doctor phoned to deliver the news. There was no compassion, no guidance, and no sense of care. He simply told me I had breast cancer while my camera was on and a colleague watched my face as I tried to process what I was hearing. My heart raced, my stomach dropped, and I felt completely alone. The weight of that moment is something I will never forget.

Very quickly, I learned that navigating cancer care in this country often depends on who you know. Every specialist I called had months-long waitlists. I was terrified, newly diagnosed, and unable to get help. It was only through personal connections that I was able to see a surgeon immediately. I was lucky—but luck should never determine someone’s chance of survival.

Once I finally had a team, the plan became clear. I had ER-positive, HER2-positive breast cancer. It was caught early, but the treatment would be long: a lumpectomy, three months of chemotherapy, 21 sessions of radiation, and a full year of infusions every three weeks. I had imagined a quick sprint. Instead, it became a 14-month-long marathon.

Before chemotherapy even began, a friend created a GoFundMe and the response was overwhelming. The money raised helped cover the many medical expenses that were not covered by insurance and allowed me to move through treatment without the fear of my diagnosis disrupting my everyday financial life. People I had not spoken to in years donated, but so did people I saw every day. Coworkers, acquaintances, neighbors, family, friends from every chapter of my life, and even ex-boyfriends showed up. It felt like the entire circle of people I had ever known reached out with generosity and love.

During chemotherapy, 12 of my closest friends continued that support and sat with me through full treatment days. They stayed with me the entire time and then made sure I got home safely afterward. Their presence gave me strength on days when I felt my most vulnerable.

Over time, I began sharing advice with other women who were newly diagnosed. I want to share that same guidance here because if you are reading this and you are scared, I want you to feel less alone.

I realized something I had never fully understood. I had spent years moving through life working hard, caring for others, and trying to make a difference without ever knowing the impact I had made. This experience revealed it to me. I learned how deeply I was loved and how many people were quietly cheering for me. I learned the true meaning of friendship and sisterhood. I learned that the kindness we put into the world finds its way back to us when we need it most.

You can be scared and brave at the same time.

Every woman I have met who faced chemo felt the same fear. Every single one. You are normal. Your feelings are normal.

You may notice shedding a few weeks into chemo. If you’ve chosen to use a scalp cooling cap, you may not. Everyone is different. Try not to track it. Instead, feel gratitude for what is still on your head. Ask your hairdresser for guidance. They have seen this before and can help you preserve what you have.

After your first round of chemo, you may feel less scared. It becomes manageable. The first time could be the scariest.

Sleep matters. If your mind spirals at night, talk to your doctor about options. You deserve rest.

You may still have energy some days. Maybe not immediately after treatment, but you may have days where you can run errands, live your life, and feel a bit like yourself.

You can control how you care for yourself. You cannot control the unknown. Focus on what is in your hands.

Give yourself a week of joy before treatment begins. Soft pajamas. Foods you love. A massage. A facial. A date night. A girls’ night. A brunch. It does not have to cost money; just fill your days with things that make you feel good.

Promise yourself another week of joy when it is all over.

Reach out to a therapist. You deserve support. I needed mine.

Build your village. Share your news with the people closest to you. You will need them. Even with them, you may feel lonely sometimes. That is normal.

Cry when you need to. Then choose one small thing to do that will make you happy. A movie, a drive to the beach, ice cream, or a moment of presence.

Do not stop living your life when you feel good. Keep going. Keep doing. Keep being you.

Stay hopeful. This is a season and hopefully not forever. It can go by faster than you think.

You will come out of this so proud of yourself.

Positivity matters. Patients who approach chemo with hope often have better outcomes. Hope is not naive. Hope is powerful.

I silently refused to let cancer take anything from me. I did not want to stop my life for it. And I didn’t. And you don’t have to, either.

You can be scared and brave at the same time. You can cry and still move forward. You can feel overwhelmed and still be strong. You can do this.

Throughout my journey, I used a phrase that became my anchor. I called it #OodlesOfOptimism. It reminded me that even in the darkest moments, there is light. Sometimes it is small, sometimes it is quiet, but it is always there. I hope you carry that with you, too.

You are stronger than you think. You are braver than you feel. And you will come out of this proud of yourself in ways you cannot yet imagine.

Life after treatment feels like stepping into a brand new world. I celebrate every second of every day now—not in some grand dramatic way, but in the quiet intentional moments that make up a life. And every clear scan? I celebrate it like it’s my birthday because in a very real way, it is. It’s another year granted, another chapter I get to write. I savor everything: the morning light, the taste of coffee, the laughter that catches me off guard, the simple privilege of being here. I live fully, fiercely, and gratefully because there is no time to waste. Tomorrow can change everything, and because I know that, I refuse to let today slip by unnoticed.

I shared my story publicly because I want people to know they are not alone.

Whether you are a patient, survivor, caregiver, or loved one touched by cancer, your story can have an enormous impact. You can provide hope and inspiration to someone recently diagnosed with cancer or a patient undergoing therapy.

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