Climbing the mountain

At a gathering of breast cancer survivors – a summer camp of sorts – Stephanie Knowles spotted a wooden trail post sign with the words: “Tell the story of the mountain you climbed. Your words could become a page in someone else’s survival guide.”

For 37-year-old Knowles, that motivational sign has pointed the way to Breast Reconstruction Awareness (BRA) Day on Oct. 24 at St. Joseph’s Health Care London (St. Joseph’s), where she will talk about the mountain for those just starting the climb.

“Those words resonated deeply,” says Knowles. “A sense of community changed everything for me. It allowed me to see the light at the end of the tunnel, that I can do this. It was a real light bulb moment.”

Knowles will be a ‘model’ in the ‘show and tell’ lounge at BRA Day, where women generously volunteer to share their experience – and outcomes – with breast reconstruction following mastectomy. The sisterhood that emanates within the lounge is one of the most powerful components of the annual BRA Day, where those who attend learn about the various breast reconstruction options from St. Joseph’s surgeons. The lounge allows attendees to see real results and talk to women like Knowles.

In May 2023, after finding a lump in her breast, imaging and a biopsy at St. Joseph’s Hospital would uncover early stage, triple-negative breast cancer – an aggressive form of breast cancer known to grow rapidly and be more likely to spread. It would be the beginning of a journey for Knowles that began with a lumpectomy to remove the cancer and oncoplastic surgery to sculp the remaining tissue to restore a natural appearance. Her opposite breast was modified to create symmetry.

But Knowles was dealt another blow when genetic testing revealed she carries the mutated BRCA2 gene, which puts individuals at significantly increased risk of developing breast cancer. Since Knowles had already been diagnosed, the risk of the cancer recurring was high. Two months after her lumpectomy, she began eight rounds of chemotherapy over 16 weeks, followed in February 2024 with a double mastectomy to reduce her risk. She would go on to have breast reconstruction, with the final step completed in June.

Knowles was unable to attend a BRA Day event in person last year but doing so, she says, would have been invaluable. She missed out on hearing about her options from surgeons who would be performing her reconstruction, talking to women like herself and seeing their actual results.

In particular, Knowles knows now the comfort she would have found in the show and tell lounge. Even with a special connection to a breast cancer expert – her sister Dr. Sarah Knowles, a surgeon at St. Joseph’s – nothing compares to hearing from those with lived experience, she says.

“One thing that would have helped is knowing how it feels and what to expect. I was also so scared of what I would look like. The surgeons are great but it’s other women who can truly give you peace of mind, something positive to look toward, and the confidence that you can do it.”

Her advice to others facing mastectomy is to attend St. Joseph’s BRA Day – for the sense of community they may discover, a safe place to learn, and to find the courage they need to climb the mountain.

Is breast reconstruction after mastectomy the right choice for you?

Those who have had or are facing a mastectomy are invited to Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day to talk to surgeons and patients, learn about their options, have questions answered, and view real results first-hand.

When: Oct. 24, from 6 - 9 pm
Where: St. Joseph’s Hospital, 268 Grosvenor St. London, ON. 
The event will be held in the Shuttleworth Auditorium, Zone D, Level 0. Find turn by turn directions to the Shuttleworth Auditorium.

What to expect:

• Exhibits/Informational displays
• Breast reconstruction presentation by surgeons
• Q&A period

• Show and Tell Lounge

  This event is free but registration is required.