Love for Runway Speaker: Julie Clemente

Hello my name is Julie Clemente. I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma (breast cancer) this past July 2024. I am proud to say that I am 9 months post lumpectomy, 5 months post chemo, and 3 months post radiation.

I wanted to share some cancer dos and don’ts with you tonight:

• Don’t: feel something different in or on your body and do nothing about it…

I suspected I had breast cancer since Winter 2024. that is when I felt something in my chest wall. I thought it was anything but breast cancer. it was not a lump. a bump and it was not in my breast.

• Do: Get regular mammograms!

I am very lucky. I was diagnosed with stage one breast cancer.

• Do: get second opinions.

Getting multiple opinions regarding my plan of care and even the composition of my cancer cells generated two strikingly different approaches. Your medical team is vital. Your medical facility is vital. I had anaphylactic reactions 3 out of my 4 chemo treatments.

• Do: consider any and all treatment options:

Cold capping, I had surgery at Mass General Hospital in August 2024. and went through chemo from September 2024 to December 2024. I was a candidate for cold capping. Through the generosity of family and friends I was able to attempt that treatment option as it is not covered by insurance at this point. I personally had mixed results with cold capping but did use it throughout my chemotherapy treatments. I do believe that it helped with my hair regrowth. I am happy to speak one-on-one with anyone who might have questions regarding my personal experience with cold capping. As many of you know chemotherapy sucks turns out I was allergic to one of the toxic chemotherapy drugs. Unfortunately not only itchy allergic but also anaphylactic allergic. I experienced anaphylaxis reactions three out of my four chemo treatments at varying levels each time. I am very grateful for being in a safe and controlled environment for each of those incidences.

On a lighter note I was extremely blessed to have friends and family with me at each of my chemo infusions. each of my infusions was more like an afternoon out with next Netflix binges charcuterie boards, all my favorite snacks, and good conversation to distract me from what was actually going on at that moment. Having friends and family with me during those Long Hospital days made all the difference.

• Do: give yourself and others grace.

Give yourself permission. Let friends and family help and process however they need to.

• Do: involve friends and family at every turn.

So I suppose my second point is to allow people to do what they are able to do. I had friends, family and colleagues organize meals, send out email updates, help me with research, occupy the kids, help with my yard work and gardening… Some of it felt overwhelming. but as much as it was about me it was also about the people around me who felt helpless. I think that that's likely why many of us are here tonight: is to figure out how to help when you feel helpless. Just by being here - you are helping.

Bring friends and family to appointments; let friends and family do what they can to show love and support. Let friends set-up meal trains, garden clean up days, and help make infusions a party! Binge Netflix, bring cookies for nursing staff, send a text if you are far away…Be part of events like this.

 

I want to thank my friends, family, co-workers, the Triton Community, the Newburyport community, my parents, my friends husbands, my kids friends, everyone who likes my new pixie haircut,

THANK YOU TO RUNWAY FOR RECOVERY for this opportunity to give back.