Returning to Life and Career After Treatment Megan, a breast cancer survivor

Life was everything Megan could have hoped for in 2023. She lived in Atlanta and had a “dream job” at a leading tech company. She and her husband, Geoff, often went out with friends and were talking about starting a family. Then, in December, Megan received a shocking diagnosis of breast cancer.

“All of a sudden, I went from this great life to dealing with treatment and side effects and a long, unplanned absence from work,” says Megan, who is 38. “And I wasn’t even old enough to have had my first screening mammogram.”

Megan’s experience with breast cancer began during a primary care appointment when her doctor discovered a small lump in one of her breasts. Scans indicated the cancer hadn’t spread. Megan decided to receive cancer treatment at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University and made an appointment with breast surgical oncologist Suniah Ayub, MD.

“Dr. Ayub was amazing—she had already researched my case, and she answered all my questions—I had 52 written down!” Megan says. “After talking with her, I decided to have a double mastectomy, even though the cancer was only in one breast. Dr. Ayub said it didn’t seem like I would need chemotherapy or radiation therapy, although we wouldn’t know for sure until after surgery.”

After her double mastectomy on February 22, 2024, Megan woke up to devastating news. Biopsy results showed that the cancer was in six lymph nodes. Her treatment course was just beginning.

Megan met with her Winship medical oncologist before her first chemotherapy infusion. Her doctor explained that Megan would receive three drugs, including doxorubicin, sometimes called the “red devil.” The nickname comes from the drug’s red color and potential for severe side effects.

I was so freaked out about chemotherapy, and my oncologist knew it,” Megan says. “She called me the night after my appointment to talk me down from the ledge.”

The chemotherapy side effects were intense. Sometimes, all Megan could do was lie on a heating pad and wait for the symptoms, such as nausea and bone pain, to subside. Medications to manage the side effects helped but caused additional problems, like night sweats and insomnia.

One bright spot for Megan was the opportunity to do “scalp cooling.” Scalp cooling involves wearing a specially designed cap during chemotherapy infusions. The cap connects to a cooling machine and keeps the scalp cool to protect the hair follicles.

“I kept all my hair, which was super exciting,” Megan says. “It made such a huge difference to look like myself throughout chemo.”

Megan may have looked like herself in those early months of treatment, but she didn’t feel like herself. She loved being in the center of the action at work and in her friend group. Chemotherapy changed all that. She spent a lot of time at home, coping with isolation, illness and fears about the future. It’s been challenging not to worry whether she’ll get back to the life she had before.

Friends and family have been supportive, checking in frequently and spending time with Megan when she feels up to it. Megan also participates in an online support group through Winship for patients under 40 with cancer. And she’s discovered new ways to pass the time, from reading more to doing craft projects.

Megan credits her care team at Winship with keeping her spirits up. “My care team is fantastic—I am obsessed with every one of them,” says Megan. “The doctors and nurses have made such a difference in my cancer journey. They told me, ‘Our goal is that you do not die a cancer death or have a recurrence. Give us a year to help you so you can live your life.’ They really understand what I’m going through.”

Megan completed chemotherapy in July 2024 and expects to finish radiation treatment by the end of 2024. She’s excited to return to her career, spend more time with friends and, if all goes well, start a family with Geoff. 

“Before my double mastectomy, the care team explained that chemo and radiation could affect my ability to get pregnant,” Megan says. “They recommended fertility treatment to preserve some fertilized eggs for future use, and I’m so glad we did that. It helps on the hard days to remind myself—we have a lot to look forward to.”