“Will you take my picture? I want to show my family I’m trying new things!”

Nanda was posing like a warrior with two blades in her hands and a fierce sparkle in her eye. SNAP. FLASH. Then, a brilliant smile stretched across her face, she threw back her head and she laughed. The whole room laughed. It was her first time attending Team Survivor Northwest’s annual Fitness Retreat, and Nanda wanted to do it all – especially unfamiliar and lower-intensity options like Stick Fighting.

Many would not guess that just weeks before, Nanda had completed a rigorous chemotherapy treatment for DCIS and hadn’t regained full use of her left arm after the double mastectomy. Her doctor at Fred Hutch – formerly SCCA – however, could sense Nanda’s enduring optimism and knew she was ready to reclaim her life. A quick referral to Team Survivor Northwest and Nanda was off planning her carpool to the retreat.

The road here has been rich, and to Nanda, not coincidental. Originally from Brazil where she earned her PhD, Nanda has built an international career in Immunology. She moved to Seattle to work with an innovative start-up company that is pioneering complementary solutions to the next generation of cell therapies potentially reducing adverse events and prolonging remissions for patients. It was here, in Seattle, that Nanda began balancing her roles of long-time researcher and brand-new patient.

As a mother with deep family roots, it was natural for Nanda to offer support when her sister gave birth to a son. Nanda was teaching her sister how to breastfeed when she noticed abnormal discharge from her own nipple. Checking for signs of breast fluid is an important, but often overlooked, step that Nanda hopes more women will incorporate into their self-exams. In her case, a mammogram hadn’t revealed any tumors, and the specialized testing she knew she needed wasn’t available. She advocated for a biopsy which eventually confirmed her diagnosis, but there were no other signs. Nanda’s attunement to her body and steady collaboration with her care team were both critical in detecting the cancer before it progressed any further.

The retreat was one of many new things Nanda would try with Team Survivor Northwest, including becoming an avid Dragon Boater and even serving on the organization’s board. When she eventually moved from the Seattle area both she, and her team, remained stronger because she was here.