Heather Gatchell
I had my first bout with breast cancer 14 years ago with a diagnosis of non-invasive DCIS in my left breast. After a lumpectomy and radiation, our young family (our sons were 8 and 12 at the time) jumped right back into a full throttle life. Fast forward to fall of 2025. After a normal mammogram in July, my doctor expressed concern during a regular check-up in October about some visible changes to the breast that previously had cancer and scheduled an MRI.
On Dec 15, 2025, I was diagnosed with stage 3 triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). My initial treatment with chemotherapy/immunotherapy was not effective, and on May 4, I had a double mastectomy with lymph nodes removed under both arms, as cancer was detected there as well. TNBC accounts for approximately 10%-20% of all breast cancer diagnoses, and about 10%-15% of TNBCs are resistant to chemo.
After surgery, scans found several new spots on my spine and pelvis. The good news is it’s just in the bone, and not in a major organ or the brain. Our doctor was genuinely encouraged by this and said this is the best-case scenario as we look ahead at treatment options. This changes my diagnosis to stage 4 metastatic TNBC. In full transparency, it is still hard for me to type that (and believe it), but that’s where we are. Also in the good news category, the new pathology shows the cancer is not as aggressive as we thought. And, the manna moment for the day, literally 2 weeks after my surgery, a new drug was approved by the FDA that is a great match for someone with my diagnosis (metastatic TNBC that is chemo resistant/doesn’t respond to immunotherapy) that shows a much higher response rate and efficacy than the drug that would have been prescribed for me. Our doctor is working to get it here as I write, and my first infusion is scheduled in the next couple of weeks. My treatment plan will be to get infusions once every three weeks for the next two years, with scans every three months to monitor progress. My life plan is to make every single one of those days count by being present and fully alive.
There have always been things in my life that were out of my control (even though I often pretended my control was real). But with cancer, I can’t even pretend to have control anymore. And maybe that’s the gift. If I release my desire to control outcomes I can’t control anyway and trust that God is equipping me to handle whatever is ahead, a sense of peace can sweep (or creep) into the spaces that otherwise get filled with worry, frustration, disappointment, or fear. Release = Peace.
This experience would be impossible without the amazing support of family and friends. I feel incredibly lucky to know and work alongside C3 warrior and cyclist Mary Kay Campbell. Her encouragement has been invaluable in my journey. She even led the effort to create Release=Peace bracelets that remind me each day to focus on what’s important and make space for what can give us hope. Many thanks to everyone working/donating/riding to support those of us in the fight.
Heather was nominated by Mary Kay Campbell.
