Bad Right Breast

When those words are told to you, that you are those words, after going through something that you truly had no choice, that every other person who is diagnosed is also forced to go through, all because the alternative is death.   Well, sometimes those words just sit there.   Difficult, sometimes impossible to digest.  Music by Becca AyersGraphic Art by Justin WestWebsite Design by Alec AddaliaFOLLOW US:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonWEBSITE:  www.BadRightBreast.com

If you were/are a young artist, actor specifically, with dreams of New York, you know what it's like when you finally make it there. At the ripe age of 24, Brianna had to not only navigate herself through the ins and outs of New York, but also the ins and outs of the health care system in New York.  Instagram: @theschoolofbettyFacebook:  bettyschoolwww.theschoolofbetty.comMusic by Becca AyersGraphic Art by Justin WestWebsite Design by Alec AddaliaFOLLOW US:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonWEBSITE:  www.BadRightBreast.com

One of the biggest concerns I had upon diagnosis was how this was going to affect my family and friends.  One of the biggest reasons why women I've talked to do NOT tell their families or kids that they have cancer is that they don't want their lives to be affected or changed.Music by Becca AyersGraphic Art by Justin WestWebsite Design by Alec AddaliaFOLLOW US:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonWEBSITE:  www.BadRightBreast.com

When it comes to those with cancer diagnosis – there is a definite normal before knowing you had cancer and a normal after knowing you had cancer.  Your world, and those in it, are forever changed.   How you think about yourself, how you think about others.  How others treat you.  How the world appears.  How you react to what life brings.   Your perspective, your goals.  Life is not the same, and your normal is not the same.  Music by Becca AyersGraphic Art by Justin WestWebsite Design by Alec AddaliaFOLLOW US:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonWEBSITE:  www.BadRightBreast.com

Imagine…  You're young, late 20's, just married, and now you're pregnant.  You're ready to do all of the things that a new, awaiting mom should be doing.  But you know that something's not right. And because you know your body, even though something foreign is growing inside, you know not to listen to everyone else, but to trust your instincts.  That was Amanda.  And that something?  Was Hodgkin's Lymphoma.  And that baby?  Well, spoiler alert, he's now 16 years old, and doing just fine.Instagram: asquaredvowww.asquaredvo.comMusic by Becca AyersGraphic Art by Justin WestWebsite Design by Alec AddaliaFOLLOW US:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonWEBSITE:  www.BadRightBreast.com

Artists are constantly grappled with concepts, story lines, content.  So when something happens to an artist, that stops them in their tracks, makes them take a double take on their own existence, and then the existence of everything they know…their art is never quite the same.Music by Becca AyersGraphic Art by Justin WestWebsite Design by Alec AddaliaFOLLOW US:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonWEBSITE:  www.BadRightBreast.com

The epitome of the working actor, pounding the pavement, going from gig to gig.  It was the moment in between gigs that forced her to listen to her body and trust her instincts.  But Rebecca's story goes even deeper.  When you hear how some cancer stories tear apart relationships, her cancer saved not just one, but two, and as we often hear put an entirely new perspective on one's life.Instagram: rebrobbinswww.RebeccaRobbins.comPODCAST:  Historically Speaking Podcast Music by Becca AyersGraphic Art by Justin WestWebsite Design by Alec AddaliaFOLLOW US:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonWEBSITE:  www.BadRightBreast.com

When people are told that they beat cancer, and are cheered on by so many others that they are warriors and survivors, there's that little voice in the back of our heads that sits there, and constantly comes to the forefront and brings forth a bit of fear.  Here's a few of our artists, sharing their answers to the questions – do you ever have a fear of it returning?Music by Becca AyersGraphic Art by Justin WestWebsite Design by Alec AddaliaFOLLOW US:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonWEBSITE:  www.BadRightBreast.com

When you're done with treatment, whether you're told or not told that you're cancer free, your follow-up will be very specific to you and your cancer.   For the most part it may be once a month soon afterwards, and then turn into every three months, and then every six months, and if you're lucky once a year and if you've gotten the golden ticket – never again!Music by Becca AyersGraphic Art by Justin WestWebsite Design by Alec AddaliaFOLLOW US:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonWEBSITE:  www.BadRightBreast.com

If you're told that YOU'RE CANCER FREE, do you actually believe it?  Do you believe that you are FREE of this horrible, sneaky, scary, disease?  And if you are ‘free' of it, are ever really free?Music by Becca AyersGraphic Art by Justin WestWebsite Design by Alec AddaliaFOLLOW US:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonWEBSITE:  www.BadRightBreast.com

Three years ago, Katie knew something wasn't right with her bowel movements, and was fortunate enough to have surrounded herself around doctors that listened to her.  Once they did, they discovered she had Colon Rectal Cancer.  So warning, not only are there butt jokes in this episode, but Katie is very much like me, in that, well, we both talk like sailors. Instagram:  @recyclethestars  @katiefarrowe   @katiechapmanfarrowewww.recyclethestars.comMusic by Becca AyersGraphic Art by Justin WestWebsite Design by Alec AddaliaFOLLOW US:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonWEBSITE:  www.BadRightBreast.com

Treatment for cancer, even if it's the same type of cancer, varies far and wide.  Not only because of the uniqueness of all of our bodies, cancer, diagnosis but hospitals, doctors, location.  I mean, treatment and how they do things in New York are vastly different than how things are done in Illinois, Florida, Iowa.  To add on top of that… ‘the show must go on.'Music by Becca AyersGraphic Art by Justin WestWebsite Design by Alec AddaliaFOLLOW US:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonWEBSITE:  www.BadRightBreast.com

When going through cancer isn't the worst or even scariest health drama you've had to deal with, well, it definitely makes it easier getting to the other side.  I had always admired Joanna before any of the shit that she's had to deal with.  And now, I admire her perspective on life, the industry, health care and so much more.Instagram & Twitter:  jtparsonwww.joannaparson.comMusic by Becca AyersGraphic Art by Justin WestWebsite Design by Alec AddaliaFOLLOW US:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonWEBSITE:  www.BadRightBreast.com

There's many different reasons why you choose your doctors.  Sometimes it's because of your insurance.  Sometimes it's because of their location.  Sometimes it's a gut feeling.  And sometimes personalities just don't match.  In the end, it's your body and your choice.  Music by Becca AyersGraphic Art by Justin WestWebsite Design by Alec AddaliaFOLLOW US:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonWEBSITE:  www.BadRightBreast.com

Unfortunately, some people are forced to learn at a young age the consequences of having or not having insurance.  No matter what insurance coverage you have, it's a near full-time job navigating co-pays, out-of-pocket, in-network, referrals, approvals, and more.  Hell, it has its own language.  So not only do you need to learn Cancer language, but you have to add Insurance to your homework. Music by Becca AyersGraphic Art by Justin WestWebsite Design by Alec AddaliaFOLLOW US:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonWEBSITE:  www.BadRightBreast.com

My best friend of 25+ years, Becca Ayers, shares her story of going through Colon Rectal cancer treatment and diagnosis in the middle of a little known pre-Broadway show.  So trigger warning:  we talk frank, graphicly, and sometimes finish each other's sentences.  Instagram: @becca.ayers.artist.accountFacebook:  BeccaAyersNowwww.BeccaAyers.comMusic by Becca AyersGraphic Art by Justin WestWebsite Design by Alec AddaliaFOLLOW US:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonWEBSITE:  www.BadRightBreast.com

We all have confessions – thoughts that keep us up at night, that weigh on our shoulders.  Confessions that sometimes when said out loud, we realize aren't that crazy.  This one is deep, and the start of the Confession Series.  Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter and respond to our Confession Series posts.  We'll be sharing confessions, kept anonymous of course.  You can comment, DM, email at badrightbreast@gmail.com or call us in your own voice at 646-494-4962.Music by Becca AyersAdditional Music by Baby Goes Bang (Becca Ayers & Russ Rowland)Graphic Art by Justin WestWebsite Design by Alec AddaliaFOLLOW US:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonWEBSITE:  www.BadRightBreast.com

It's always a tad uncomfortable when you have to ask for help, especially when you look normal on the outside, but treatment is going to make you very not normal.  But what happens when you really need the most help and it's not there – like when you're done with treatment and are in the deepest depression you've ever experienced.  Or when your cancer becomes more like a chronic disease and there is no end to the help that's needed.Music by Becca AyersGraphic Art by Justin WestWebsite Design by Alec AddaliaFOLLOW US:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonWEBSITE:  www.BadRightBreast.com

It's one thing to tell your family and loved ones that you have cancer, but then there are others.  For some women, they choose a point person or persons to spread the news, for others it's a group text or email, for some they, like myself, post on social media, and for a few they just go ahead and create their own youtube channel.  There's no right or wrong way to tell your story. Music by Becca AyersGraphic Art by Justin WestWebsite Design by Alec AddaliaFOLLOW US:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonWEBSITE:  www.BadRightBreast.com

Just as there's no right or wrong way to react to be being told you have cancer, there's really no right or wrong way to tell your family, friends and loved ones that you have cancer. Music by Becca AyersGraphic Art by Justin WestWebsite Design by Alec AddaliaFOLLOW US:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonWEBSITE:  www.BadRightBreast.com

There's never a good moment to be told that you have cancer.  And there's no right and wrong way to react to being told you have cancer.  In a moment's notice, your life and world are turned upside down, and then you're forced into stopping whatever you're doing to dive into treatment.  Music by Becca AyersGraphic Art by Justin WestWebsite Design by Alec AddaliaFOLLOW US:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonWEBSITE:  www.BadRightBreast.com

It's known among artists, specifically theater, to plow through the rehearsals, tech rehearsals and performances despite any health mishap.  There's something to be said of the stigma in the industry about being ‘sick.'   So what happens when you're in the middle of a gig, or career path, and you have a cancer diagnosis?  Music by Becca AyersGraphic Art by Justin WestWebsite Design by Alec AddaliaFOLLOW US:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonWEBSITE:  www.BadRightBreast.com

I interviewed 11 women in the arts who went thru and are going through cancer treatment.  They range from theatre educators, screenwriters, playwrights, actors, musicians, visual artists, marketing, stage managers and stagehands.  And we didn't stick to breast cancer.  We heard from colon rectal, ovarian, lung, thyroid, lymphoma, melanoma, and the rare Desmoid Fibromatosis. Cancer affects so many people in so many different ways. So here's the women of the Artist Series, and how they found out they had cancer.Music by Becca AyersGraphic Art by Justin WestWebsite Design by Alec AddaliaFOLLOW US:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonWEBSITE:  www.BadRightBreast.com

Laura, a fellow Stephens Susie, talks about going through diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer as an IATSE stagehand, over 14 years ago.Music by Becca AyersGraphic Art by Justin WestWebsite Design by Alec AddaliaFOLLOW US:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonWEBSITE:  www.BadRightBreast.com

For Sarah, she was just starting to begin a new as an artist, but when cancer came into her life, not once but twice, she was forced to take a step back.  And only then, was she able to move forward.www.SarahCosgrove.artNORTH WIND - by Sarah CosgroveMusic by Becca AyersGraphic Art by Justin WestWebsite Design by Alec AddaliaFOLLOW US:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonWEBSITE:  www.BadRightBreast.com

Erin is a visual artist, who actually dealt with 2 bouts of melanoma diagnosis and treatment before being diagnosed with breast cancer.  It was then that she brought breast cancer into her artwork.  Erin's Websites: www.ArtistAMERICAN.comwww.piratecrewpaperdolls.com Etsy:  ArtistAMERICANcom Facebook:  Erin McGee Ferrell Instagram: @ArtistAMericanTwitter:  @ferrell_mcgeeMusic by Becca AyersGraphic Art by Justin WestWebsite Design by Alec AddaliaFOLLOW US:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonWEBSITE:  www.BadRightBreast.com

Brianna was 24 when she was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma.  She was getting her start in LA as a screenwriter, making stories about other people.  She always lived her live with a pen in one hand and a camera in the other.  But when diagnosed, she turned the camera onto herself, and then the real magic began.www.BriannaBarrett.comPodcast – True Love and Other Noncommunicable DiseasesMusic by Becca AyersGraphic Art by Justin WestWebsite Design by Alec AddaliaFOLLOW US:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonWEBSITE:  www.BadRightBreast.com

Christina is a theater educator, but has had to educate herself on one of the most rare cancers – Desmoid Fibromatosis.  But you would never know from her smile, her laugh, and her energy that she has been affected by cancer.Music by Becca AyersGraphic Art by Justin WestWebsite Design by Alec AddaliaFOLLOW US:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonWEBSITE:  www.BadRightBreast.com

Laurie shares the story of what it was like to suffer from an Arterial Thrombosis, aka a stroke, back in August, and how the incident and recovery once again as tested her physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.  So fortunate in so many ways, but also left with the forever guilt.  Music by Becca AyersAdditional Music by Baby Goes Bang (Becca Ayers & Russ Rowland)Graphic Art by Justin WestWebsite Design by Alec AddaliaFOLLOW US:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonWEBSITE:  www.BadRightBreast.com

After several months off, we are coming back next week with all new episodes, starting with what happened to me back in August – all thanks to cancer.  We're then going to dive into Artists with Cancer – women in the arts – who found out they had cancer, and not just breast cancer.  How they worked through their diagnosis, treatment and recovery.  Then we'll hear Motherless Daughters - women who lost their mothers at a young age, due to breast cancer.We're still on the lookout for women living with metastatic breast cancer who want to tell their stories, hoping to add these to the next series to share with you.So join us next week!  Until then – listen to your body and take care of yourself.  Music by Becca AyersGraphic Art by Justin WestWebsite Design by Alec AddaliaFOLLOW US:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonWEBSITE:  www.BadRightBreast.com

Shanice is a vibrant young woman, who first felt her lump at the age of 23.  After overcoming everything involved with Stage 3 Breast Cancer, she did something that most ‘average' people don't have the courage to even attempt.  And then years later out of the blue, she started feeling pain, but no one would listen to her.  So she had to make them.  Listen to Shanice on her podcast – Love, Her Will:  The New Voice of Willpower with Shanice J.  and follow her on Instagram.  Music by Becca AyersGraphic Art by Justin WestWebsite Design by Alec AddaliaFOLLOW US:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonWEBSITE:  www.BadRightBreast.com

It's been one year since the start of Bad Right Breast, and we're going to take a summer hiatus after next week's episode.  We're preparing to return in the fall with three new series:  Motherless Daughters, Artists' Stories & Meta Stories.  If you feel you have a story to tell in any of these categories, please reach out to us as we'd love to share it.  Next week, will be our first episode in the Meta Stories series.Music by Becca AyersGraphic Art by Justin WestWebsite Design by Alec AddaliaFOLLOW US:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonWEBSITE:  www.BadRightBreast.com

This is the LAST episode of the original THEIR STORIES series.  When you're diagnosed with breast cancer, there's not some magic switch that turns on and you all of a sudden become a supreme being.  You're still the same person as you were before, just dealt with a horrible diagnosis, and forced to go through some really tough shit.  I asked each of our first 15 volunteers what they thought of the words – survivor, warrior, hero - when it came to them and their cancer.Music by Becca AyersAdditional Music by Baby Goes Bang (Becca Ayers & Russ Rowland)Graphic Art by Justin WestWebsite Design by Alec AddaliaFOLLOW US:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonWEBSITE:  www.BadRightBreast.com

Adina is the reason there are inconsistencies in the number of first volunteers for the THEIR STORIES series.  There are a couple of places in which I say there were 14 interviews, and then Adina got back to me and became the 15th.  I didn't care about the inconsistencies, as with a secondary diagnosis my new perspective sometimes is – oh well.  I knew Adina was well worth it. You'll hear why for yourself.Music by Becca AyersGraphic Art by Justin WestWebsite Design by Alec AddaliaFOLLOW US:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonWEBSITE:  www.BadRightBreast.com

Living in that fear of your cancer returning can be debilitating.  Living in that fear can cause some real trauma, more than living with cancer itself.  The mind games, they come back to play and they will play tough.  So you need to find a balance and figure how to win the mind game of that fear of the return. Music by Becca AyersGraphic Art by Justin WestWebsite Design by Alec AddaliaFOLLOW US:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonWEBSITE:  www.BadRightBreast.com

I knew that I was one of the lucky ones, that not every woman can leave her journey knowing that she was in fact cancer free.  But I never knew just how different that experience was, until I asked our volunteers – were you ever told you were cancer free?  Listen to how they answered.Music by Becca AyersGraphic Art by Justin WestWebsite Design by Alec AddaliaFOLLOW US:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonWEBSITE:  www.BadRightBreast.com

Last week Tiffany dove into how she discovered her cancer while in grad school and chose to have a double mastectomy at the age of 29.  Finish hearing about her reconstruction, treatment and recovery, and how having cancer at such a young age has changed the trajectory of her life.

Imagine being a student in grad school, and finding out that you have breast cancer.  That’s Tiffany’s story.  As the youngest of those to be interviewed thus far, she tells a story about finding her tumor, going through the university health care system, the decision to have a double mastectomy, treatment and more.  As a woman who researches for a living, she thought she knew exactly what she was in for.  But sadly, cancer treatment and recovery isn’t the same for everyone.  And sometimes your story hasn’t been written for others to research.  Music by Becca AyersGraphic Art by Justin WestWebsite Design by Alec AddaliaFOLLOW US:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonWEBSITE:  www.BadRightBreast.com

As with all things cancer, our treatment in radiation and its side effects are very different for everyone.References:Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book, the Fifth EditionMusic by Becca AyersGraphic Art by Justin WestWebsite Design by Alec AddaliaFOLLOW US:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonWEBSITE:  www.BadRightBreast.com

Of the 15 women interviewed for the THEIR STORIES series, 9 of them had chemotherapy.  As with all types of diseases, and their treatments, what works and doesn’t work for you during chemotherapy will NOT be exactly the same for others.  Music by Becca AyersGraphic Art by Justin WestWebsite Design by Alec AddaliaFOLLOW US:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonWEBSITE:  www.BadRightBreast.com

You know those moments, when you think it can’t get any worse, but then it does?  Well, that’s Shana’s story.  It’s a story that is a huge reminder that NONE of our cancer journeys, like our cancer, are the same.  And if you didn’t believe it before, Shana will definitely make you a believer now.  But who would have thought that having breast cancer would be the LEAST of your worries…Music by Becca AyersGraphic Art by Justin WestWebsite Design by Alec AddaliaFOLLOW US:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonWEBSITE:  www.BadRightBreast.com

We all need that one thing that does a bit of a reboot to our soul.  For some, it’s work.  For others, it’s a hobby, or their religion.  Whatever it is, know that it’s good to try to find it sooner than later.  Because when that moment hits you – and it will – you’ll need that zen to be there to help get you through.  Music by Becca AyersAdditional Music by Baby Goes Bang (Becca Ayers & Russ Rowland)Graphic Art by Justin WestWebsite Design by Alec AddaliaFOLLOW US:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonWEBSITE:  www.BadRightBreast.com

We start where we left off last week, Heather and her wicked sense of humor.  We all go there, some for longer than others.  Be ready for some more dirty truths about treatment and recovery from HER2+ breast cancer.  Music by Becca AyersGraphic Art by Justin WestWebsite Design by Alec AddaliaFOLLOW US:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonWEBSITE:  www.BadRightBreast.com

Heather is a straight forward, hard core working mom of three kids, the youngest as 14 months at the time of her diagnosis.  Trigger Warning:  Heather has a dark sense of humor.  Heather speaks with a rawness that you may need to be in a safe place, if you will, when you listen.  Oh, and you most definitely will laugh your ass off too.  Music by Becca AyersGraphic Art by Justin WestWebsite Design by Alec AddaliaFOLLOW US:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonWEBSITE:  www.BadRightBreast.com

There is something about knowing that your cancer is going to affect others.  AFTER you and your loved ones get through all of the diagnosis & treatment, which alone affects just simply how you have to live and survive day to day – as those days, months, sometimes years are not NORMAL.  After all of THAT, you’re all on the other side.  And are all affected, as cancer affects everyone.Music by Becca AyersGraphic Art by Justin WestWebsite Design by Alec AddaliaFOLLOW US:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonWEBSITE:  www.BadRightBreast.com

Whenever you go through a drastic event in your life, you are changed.  Whether it’s something good or bad – when you get to the other side you’re changed somehow.  It affected you.  Cancer no doubt changes you.  It affects not only your daily outlook on life, but it changes how you react to things, how you care for things, how you plan for things.  Here from our fearless ladies answer how cancer affected them as a woman, a mother, a daughter, a spouse.Music by Becca AyersGraphic Art by Justin WestWebsite Design by Alec AddaliaFOLLOW US:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonWEBSITE:  www.BadRightBreast.com

Talking about cancer isn’t easy. But it’s definitely one of those things, at least it is for me, that the more you talk about it, the easier it is. And the more people you talk about it with, the more you learn. So I’m so incredibly grateful to the infamous 15 – who so willingly talked about their cancer with me. Music by Becca AyersGraphic Art by Justin WestWebsite Design by Alec AddaliaFOLLOW US:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonWEBSITE: www.BadRightBreast.com

A mom, and now grandma, who did regular self-exams, and found her cancer by feeling something that was just not quite right. And took control of her situation like taking the bull by the horns. Had multiple ups and downs, as we all do, but as Sheila tells it, it’s how you handle those ups and downs that truly tells who you are. Music by Becca AyersGraphic Art by Justin WestWebsite Design by Alec AddaliaFOLLOW US:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonWEBSITE: www.BadRightBreast.com

Before Allyson found her cancer, she was actually getting regular mammograms for four years. However her cancer was found because she felt a pain in her breast, right where her underwire bra fit, and knew that it wasn’t right. Her doctor swore it was nothing, most likely due to the fact that she was getting those regular mammograms. But she was diagnosed with DCIS. She was that RARE form of DCIS. While DCIS is now found far more frequently because of mammograms, hers wasn’t found by mammogram, but found by that pain. Correction – it was found by her listening to her body, and trusting her instincts. Check out Allyson's article on Medium . You can check her out at www.AllysonRyan.com or follow her on Twitter @AllysonRyan13References:Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book, the Fifth EditionMusic by Becca AyersGraphic Art by Justin WestWebsite Design by Alec AddaliaFOLLOW US:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonWEBSITE: www.BadRightBreast.com