Remaining Strong When Expectations Change

Roxanne Caletena recalls the day she got diagnosed and the changes she had to make to her life plan.

My name is Roxanne, and I am from Anchorage, Alaska. I got diagnosed with stage 2b invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) breast cancer in April 2024.  I was treated with chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation and I finished my treatments on April 28, 2025. I have learned so much during my cancer journey and have grown to become an even stronger and more beautiful woman, as well.

When I first started dating my boyfriend, Nathon, in the summer of 2023, he noticed a bump. I had no idea how it got there and hadn’t even noticed it myself. I decided to get checked and saw my PCP in September of 2023. We did a breast exam and she asked me if breast cancer ran in my family. I said no. So, she gave me the options of doing further tests or just waiting it out, as I was considered “low risk” and didn’t have obvious risk factors for breast cancer. I made the decision to wait.

The year went by and the holidays passed. Starting March 2024, I felt something “off” in my right breast. It is hard to explain how it felt but it was just not normal. I panicked and quickly contacted my PCP. Thankfully, I was able to get ahold of her and made an appointment to get my first mammogram and ultrasound. I had the mammogram on April 12, 2024, and we went over the results that day. The words “irregular spiculated mass in the R breast is highly suggestive of malignancy” freaked me out. I just froze.

I was happy I had my boyfriend with me, as my mother was in the Philippines enjoying her retirement. I barely could have kept it together and I could tell my boyfriend, who is such a strong person who does not show emotion, was sad for me. What scared me the most is that day was our one-year dating anniversary.

We did the biopsy the week after that, and my diagnosis was 100% confirmed. The mass was located 3.4 centimeters from my nipple and was labeled as grade 3 IDC. From then on, things moved quickly: from getting appointments to choosing my breast surgeon and oncologist. The first month after finding out was so tough for me. The diagnosis broke me.

I was 36 years old and wanted to have a family. I didn’t know anyone around my age or in my family who had breast cancer. I didn’t know how to handle my feelings or how to share the news with my family, especially my mom. Good thing it doesn’t run in the family—and we did a genetic test to confirm that. I also was just scared because I did not know much about breast cancer. It was frustrating. I felt guilty and blamed myself. And I was afraid because I did not know what to expect.

However, I spoke with my providers and was able to freeze some eggs before starting my treatments, and that alone was a journey.

As the months passed by, I found it helpful to seek therapy, be open, and share my journey with others. I am very thankful for my work, family, and friends for supporting me and checking up on me by bringing me food, talking, sharing laughs, and donating to my GoFundMe. When I opened up my vulnerability, I was amazed and shocked to see that people out there wanted to help me, and I am so grateful for that.

Also, what kept me going is that I am known to be a very caring, compassionate, and nice person with a positive attitude. I love reading daily affirmations and I kept living my life, going to work full time as a nurse even during my chemo and radiation treatments! I just took time off after my surgery. I worked out and did weight training, rumble boxing, cycling, and even a half marathon during my treatments! Now I can definitely say that I am tough and a true, strong warrior and fighter.

Looking back, I have to say wow, because I went through all that and came out on top and survived! I usually don’t give myself much credit, but now I need to! I’m just glad I can start to get my life back and hopefully inspire others who have been diagnosed to just keep going and never give up.

Thank you for letting me share my story and I hope it can enlighten others to do the same.

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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