'You are the poster child of early detection'

Amber Howland

In a discussion you never want to have, this was the silver lining my doctors provided. On Nov. 17, I went for my first ever mammogram. After a biopsy and further testing, on Nov. 24, I was formally diagnosed with Stage 1 Invasive Ductal Carcinoma in my right breast. This was when my life changed forever. I was on a fast track to a lumpectomy, genetic testing, and egg preservation, followed by four weeks of radiation.

Looking back at those couple of months, it was truly a whirlwind. Time passed too quickly to think twice about what was happening or even be scared. Recovery days all blended together, and side effects were passageways to my survival. You see, when you are 38 and diagnosed with breast cancer, you are forced to make life changing decisions in cold doctor’s offices. You instantly must plan for years ahead, and your treatment will depend on those decisions. This was emotionally and physically traumatic. Not only for me but for my biggest supporters: my soon-to-be husband, my family, and friends.

Control, by definition, is the power to influence or direct people's behavior or the course of events. As a woman who defines herself with a strong sense of control, I was spiraling. I could sense it moment to moment. I needed to be in control of decisions. I wanted to call the shots. I wanted to tell my story and so I did. I took to social media and provided updates with every single detail that was happening. I wanted to share because I was technically not of suggested screening age. I have no family history of breast cancer. However, if one person read my post and asked for a mammogram early, I had done my part. If one person who may have missed their mammogram appointment rescheduled, I had done my part. I had control of the narrative and was hell bent on my making this experience positive.

Instead of letting cancer control my mental and physical health, I got creative and founded Amber vs. Cancer. I wanted to put all my negative thoughts about cancer into positive outcomes that would help end cancer once and for all. I was told by a doctor early in my breast cancer journey that I was lucky to have the “popular” cancer. I was confused. How am I lucky?

There is no question that breast cancer is “popular.” There are countless 5K races, fundraisers, support groups, and a month on the calendar dedicated to breast cancer. There is no question about next steps in my diagnosis and treatment due to relentless funding. People with rare cancers have a much different experience. A rare cancer is any cancer that is not one of the “Big 4,” which include breast, colon, lung and prostate. People with rare cancers, especially children, sometimes do not have a clear diagnosis or treatment plan. All cancers should have the exposure, research and funding that breast cancer does.

I may have breast cancer, but I want to stand beside those whose cancer does not stand in the limelight. After some research in where I wanted to put my efforts, I found Cycle for Survival. Cycle for Survival is the movement to beat rare cancers through indoor cycling events to raise funds. 100% of every dollar raised goes directly to research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in NYC. On May 14th, I will ride as an extreme rider, at Hudson Yards NYC from 1 to 4 p.m. raising money for rare cancers. I have raised almost $7,000 to date. My goal is to present Cycle for Survival with a check for $10,000! If you want to learn more about Cycle for Survival, the fight for research and the ride in NYC, go to amberhowland.com and donate! Thank you!

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Andrea Reeves PHOTOGRAPHERS

Alice G. Patterson Nancy Miller David Tyler Sarah Ditterline Brenna Merritt Jessica Montgomery CONTRIBUTORS

Alyssa Dearborn Lindsey Gaworecki Amber Howland Jason Klaiber Becka Miller Lorna Oppedisano Eric Rose Ken Sturtz Jennifer Wing

Cover photo by Alice G. Patterson

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