Kentucky Woman Thought She Was Breast-Cancer-Free After Single Mastectomy Then She Got Cancer in Her Other Breast: ‘I Am More Than This’

"As soon as the doctor saw me he said, ‘oh, yes, we need to send you for tests, this is not normal,’" she said in a profile from the Susan G. Komen foundation.

After a sonogram, a mammogram and an incomplete biopsy, Santana underwent surgery (which ended up being a single mastectomy, or removal of a single breast) so doctors could send the lump for pathology reports to see what was wrong.

"I always want to expect the best," she said. "But when I woke up, my left breast was gone. I cried. And then the pathology report came back and confirmed it was breast cancer."

Santana was consequently diagnosed with stage 2 invasive ductal carcinoma in her left breast at age 34. Following the surgery, Santana was told she did not need further treatment.

Breast Cancer Strikes Again

A few months later, Mayra Santana had to find another doctor because her family had moved to Kentucky. Her new doctor “did all the usual tests and a bone scan” before inquiring why Santana had never undergone chemotherapy after her mastectomy.

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That’s when the physician decided to order an ultrasound and a mammogram for Santana of her other breast. What resulted was the discovery of a tiny spot in her right breast. After a biopsy, Santana found out it was the same type of cancer, but at stage 1.

Cancer Research Legend Urges Patients to Get Multiple Opinions

For treatment, she underwent another single mastectomy followed by reconstruction. She was also ordered to have hormone therapy for at least the next five years and daily medication along with a monthly shot.

It hasn’t been easy for Santana, but she’s trying her best to stay positive.

"There are no exceptions when it comes to breast cancer. It can happen to anyone," she said. "I have to be healthy for my kids, and that helps me on tough days. I am more than this. I know more peace. I'm alive, I'm here, I'm still living.

"When something like this happens, of course you start questioning, asking why, but a lot of people survive breast cancer… You need to embrace what is happening to you, and I found that finding others in the same situation is important so you don't feel alone."

Cancer and Its Impact on the Mind and Body

A cancer journey can leave a physical and a mental impact. So, it’s important to take care of both your body and mind after treatment.

"I've had about 12 surgeries, and it does change you," celebrity stylist and breast cancer survivor Ann Caruso told SurvivorNet. "You're not the same carefree person that you once were, and it was very hard for me to look at myself every day.

"It was like I was a totally different person and didn't fit into any of my clothes for so long."

Celebrity Stylist Ann Caruso on Beauty and Femininity after Cancer

With a fresh perspective on life after surviving the disease, Caruso has managed to redefine femininity. She advises other women struggling with body image after fighting the disease to find clothes that make them "feel good" for an extra confidence boost.

"Femininity is a state of mind," she said. "And I think that's something that we have to remind ourselves."

Follow That Fire: Life after Cancer Will Be Different, That Doesn't Have to Be a Bad Thing

Hodgkin lymphoma survivor CC Webster says she “experienced an entirely new level of anxiety” after overcoming cancer. Thankfully, she was able to take the steps she needed to move forward in a positive way.

"I had to learn how to manage myself in that, and how to allow myself to process the trauma that I had just been through," she said. "The thing that helped me the most in managing myself is to allow yourself to process the worry.

"If you're brave enough to look fear, or worry, or anxiety in the face, it goes away."

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