Letter from Jessica Yamas

In the depths of Covid, September 2020, I was diagnosed with triple positive breast cancer. I was shaken to my core to learn that I had two tumors “aggressively” growing inside me. I thought, wow, I’m really sick! All my survivor instincts went into overdrive, and I suddenly wanted to eat a bag of kale and go for a run.

Through it all, the only time I cried was when I learned I was going to need chemotherapy. I found myself resisting the chemo in every way. I even broke out in hives the first couple of infusions, until one tough-love nurse said with the heartfelt care that only nurses can, “you do know we are trying to help you, right?” It dawned on me that fighting the chemo was not helping me fight the cancer, the true villain.

Prior to my first round of chemo, there was much talk of a full mastectomy, but after the first round, although I would need another round of chemo to complete my treatment, the tumors had shrunk enough that I now had the option of a partial mastectomy. I was incredibly relieved. I had clung to my mantra, #Thinkshrink, and now I was there. I understood more than ever that contrary to those commonly repeated unhelpful mantras, “chemo is a poison,” and “it’s toxic,” I knew in my heart the truth – that chemo is a medicine, and it is our ally.

So, I shifted my attitude to embrace the process and help the chemo in any way I could. I would instead focus on smoothing out the journey by doing what I could to ease the side effects, including minimizing my stress.

Shortly after I finished my treatment and started to enjoy a cancer-free life again, my aunt developed cancerous tumors for the second time in her life at age 73, and, for the second time in her life, she refused to do chemo despite the doctors’ fervent recommendations. I tried hard to assure her that she could get through it, and although she opted against it, my conversations with her are in part, the story of ChemoCareKits.

ChemoCareKits was born out of my experience and now my desire to help others learn how to get into the mindset of chemo and embrace the process, and to pass the message along that it’s okay to undergo chemo. I hope those that are having a hard time finding which way is up, or those that are resisting the idea of chemo as I did can find something in this gift box to help get them through.