{"id":3231,"date":"2026-07-28T00:15:44","date_gmt":"2026-07-28T00:15:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drsoniafawad.com\/?p=3231"},"modified":"2026-07-28T00:15:44","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T00:15:44","slug":"what-its-like-to-navigate-breast-cancer-as-a-caregiver","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drsoniafawad.com\/?p=3231","title":{"rendered":"What It’s Like to Navigate Breast Cancer as a Caregiver"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\n\tThey say when it rains, it pours. For Jessica Fioretti, it poured, then it typhooned. Less than two years after she lost her father to lung cancer<\/a>, and with two little kids in tow, Jessica was diagnosed with early-stage, hormone-positive, HER2-negative invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC).<\/p>\n

\n\tIDC is the most common type of breast cancer<\/a> and accounts for approximately 80 percent of all breast cancer cases<\/a> in females. \u00a0When caught early, it is highly likely to respond well to treatment<\/a>, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.<\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Mother<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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<\/p>\n

\tRelated story
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tHow a Stage 4 Breast Cancer Diagnosis Brought Me & My Son Closer Than Ever\t\t<\/p>\n

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\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<\/article>\n

\t
\n<\/section>\n<\/p>\n

\n\tBut less than four years after Fioretti underwent all three treatments, her cancer returned. As Fioretti worried about cognitive changes she\u2019d begun to notice in her mother, she felt a lump in her armpit. An ultrasound and biopsy later, doctors found that her cancer had returned. A PET scan then showed metastasis to her liver, part of her chest, and some surrounding lymph nodes. Shortly after that, she learned it had also metastasized to her entire spine, her skull, her clavicle, ribcage, pelvis, and sacrum.<\/p>\n

\n\tFioretti, already part of the \u2018sandwich generation<\/a>\u2019\u2014middle-aged adults simultaneously caring for aging parents and growing children\u2014suddenly found herself not just a caregiver, but a person who also needed care.<\/p>\n

\n\t\tTwo Diagnoses\t<\/h2>\n

\n\tAs Fioretti managed her own diagnosis and cared for her two daughters, she also took on the role of caregiver for her mother. \u201cWhen I was diagnosed with [metastatic breast cancer], that is kind of around the time when we were noticing changes around my mom,\u201d Fioretti tells SheKnows<\/em>. \u201cShe was getting progressively worse\u2026. She was needing more assistance, and not realizing her own limitations. She wanted me to be there at the drop of a hat, and that was hard for me to do.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\tNot only because Fioretti had her own appointments to attend and medications to manage, but because she also had two children depending on her. \u201cI remember being in the parking lot of my daughter\u2019s dance studio waiting for her, and I got a call from my mom that she\u2019d fallen.\u201d Because Fioretti\u2019s mom lives 30 minutes away, she couldn\u2019t pick up her daughter and help her mom at the same time, so she had to call the local police department.<\/p>\n

\n\tAbout a year after Fioretti\u2019s diagnosis, her mom\u2019s condition got even worse, and the doctor determined that she was \u201cexhibiting a specific type of dementia and Alzheimer\u2019s type features<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tFor Fioretti, there was some relief in finally getting a name and explanation for what was happening.<\/p>\n

\n\t\tTime For Caregiving And Time For Self-Care\t<\/h2>\n

\n\tBetween her mother\u2019s diagnosis and her own appointments, medications, and hospital visits, Fioretti realized she needed support. \u201cMy mental health really took a toll<\/a> in the beginning,\u201d Fioretti admits.<\/p>\n

\n\tFortunately, thanks to the long-term care insurance policy her parents had purchased years prior, Fioretti was able to hire aides and companions to help her mom throughout the day. \u201cInitially, I felt such guilt,\u201d she notes. \u201cAs much as I want to do things for her and be there for her, I have to remember I have to take care of myself and remind her that I do have this diagnosis and it\u2019s something that\u2019s not just physically demanding but mentally demanding.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tFor Fioretti, part of navigating her own diagnosis while caregiving for her mom meant letting go of the reins. \u201cAnd part of being okay with that is how I learned to have self-care for myself.\u201d She realized if she can allow people to help with her mom, maybe it was okay to allow people to help her, especially when her body is telling her to rest.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cI\u2019ve been more okay with sitting with [the idea that] \u2018well today, I can\u2019t do it and everyone\u2019s going to have to figure it out\u2019.\u201d She notes that, \u201c[F]or me, now going through my own diagnosis and really realizing you have to take a step back, you have to focus on yourself. I have to give myself time to focus on my own healing if I\u2019m going to survive living through stage four cancer.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t\tAdvocating For Herself; Advocating for Her Mom and Family\t<\/h2>\n

\n\tFocusing on her own healing means advocacy<\/a>\u2014asking questions when she has them, demanding answers rather than allowing herself to be rushed out the door, and ensuring her concerns are heard. \u201cI want to be an active participant in the treatment and decision-making,\u201d Fioretti says.<\/p>\n

\n\tThat self-advocacy has translated into Fioretti\u2019s caregiving as well, for both her mother and her children. \u201cLearning to advocate for myself did help me in turn advocate for my mom,\u201d she says. \u201cIt gave me empowerment to advocate for my mom, and for my kids as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tFioretti remembered visiting a doctor when her mom needed hip surgery. The doctor was well-regarded, but Fioretti felt rushed and dismissed throughout the visit. \u201cNormally, I wouldn\u2019t have spoken up,\u201d Fioretti says, \u201cbut I took more of a stance.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tShe spoke up and made sure the doctor answered her questions, and made sure her mom received the time and attention she deserved. Ultimately, it\u2019s not about the doctor\u2019s time or ego, Fioretti realized. \u201cThis is your health and your loved one\u2019s health.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t\tFocusing On Healing \u2014 And Community\t<\/h2>\n

\n\tWhen it rains, and it pours, and it typhoons, the hardest thing to focus on is often yourself\u2014especially when, like Fioretti, you\u2019re the mom, and the daughter, and the one who\u2019s always \u201ccreated the calm to the chaos.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cBut we don\u2019t have to take on that responsibility all the time,\u201d she says. She urges others like her, especially those in the \u201csandwich\u201d generation, to prioritize their health and lean on support.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cFinding community has been some of the best healing and therapeutic intervention that I\u2019ve had,\u201d Fioretti notes. \u201cEven when you have family and close friends, talking to people, even strangers who are going through what you\u2019re going through, is just so comforting. It helps me be a better parent, be a better daughter, be better for myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tAnd ultimately, to be a caregiver for someone else while navigating caregiving for yourself, you need to prioritize yourself. Because, \u201cif you\u2019re going to be able to help others,\u201d Fioretti says, \u201cyou have to work on being the best version of you that you can be.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tContent was independently created by SHE Media with funding from Novartis Pharmaceuticals.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n\tFor US audiences only.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n


\n
Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

They say when it rains, it pours. For Jessica Fioretti, it poured, then it typhooned. Less than two years after she lost her father to lung cancer, and with two little kids in tow, Jessica was diagnosed with early-stage, hormone-positive, HER2-negative invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). IDC is the most common type of breast cancer and accounts for approximately 80 percent of all breast cancer cases in females. \u00a0When caught early, it is highly likely to respond well to treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Related story How a Stage 4 Breast Cancer Diagnosis Brought Me & My Son Closer Than Ever But less than four years after Fioretti underwent all three treatments, her cancer returned. As Fioretti worried about cognitive changes she\u2019d begun to notice in her mother, she felt a lump in her armpit. An ultrasound and biopsy later, doctors found that her cancer had returned. A PET scan then showed metastasis to her liver, part of her chest, and some surrounding lymph nodes. Shortly after that, she learned it had also metastasized to her entire spine, her skull, her clavicle, ribcage, pelvis, and sacrum. Fioretti, already part of the \u2018sandwich generation\u2019\u2014middle-aged adults simultaneously caring for aging parents and growing children\u2014suddenly found herself not just a caregiver, but a person who also needed care. Two Diagnoses As Fioretti managed her own diagnosis and cared for her two daughters, she also took on the role of caregiver for her mother. \u201cWhen I was diagnosed with [metastatic breast cancer], that is kind of around the time when we were noticing changes around my mom,\u201d Fioretti tells SheKnows. \u201cShe was getting progressively worse\u2026. She was needing more assistance, and not realizing her own limitations. She wanted me to be there at the drop of a hat, and that was hard for me to do.\u201d \u00a0 Not only because Fioretti had her own appointments to attend and medications to manage, but because she also had two children depending on her. \u201cI remember being in the parking lot of my daughter\u2019s dance studio waiting for her, and I got a call from my mom that she\u2019d fallen.\u201d Because Fioretti\u2019s mom lives 30 minutes away, she couldn\u2019t pick up her daughter and help her mom at the same time, so she had to call the local police department. About a year after Fioretti\u2019s diagnosis, her mom\u2019s condition got even worse, and the doctor determined that she was \u201cexhibiting a specific type of dementia and Alzheimer\u2019s type features.\u201d For Fioretti, there was some relief in finally getting a name and explanation for what was happening. Time For Caregiving And Time For Self-Care Between her mother\u2019s diagnosis and her own appointments, medications, and hospital visits, Fioretti realized she needed support. \u201cMy mental health really took a toll in the beginning,\u201d Fioretti admits. Fortunately, thanks to the long-term care insurance policy her parents had purchased years prior, Fioretti was able to hire aides and companions to help her mom throughout the day. \u201cInitially, I felt such guilt,\u201d she notes. \u201cAs much as I want to do things for her and be there for her, I have to remember I have to take care of myself and remind her that I do have this diagnosis and it\u2019s something that\u2019s not just physically demanding but mentally demanding.\u201d For Fioretti, part of navigating her own diagnosis while caregiving for her mom meant letting go of the reins. \u201cAnd part of being okay with that is how I learned to have self-care for myself.\u201d She realized if she can allow people to help with her mom, maybe it was okay to allow people to help her, especially when her body is telling her to rest. \u201cI\u2019ve been more okay with sitting with [the idea that] \u2018well today, I can\u2019t do it and everyone\u2019s going to have to figure it out\u2019.\u201d She notes that, \u201c[F]or me, now going through my own diagnosis and really realizing you have to take a step back, you have to focus on yourself. I have to give myself time to focus on my own healing if I\u2019m going to survive living through stage four cancer.\u201d Advocating For Herself; Advocating for Her Mom and Family Focusing on her own healing means advocacy\u2014asking questions when she has them, demanding answers rather than allowing herself to be rushed out the door, and ensuring her concerns are heard. \u201cI want to be an active participant in the treatment and decision-making,\u201d Fioretti says. That self-advocacy has translated into Fioretti\u2019s caregiving as well, for both her mother and her children. \u201cLearning to advocate for myself did help me in turn advocate for my mom,\u201d she says. \u201cIt gave me empowerment to advocate for my mom, and for my kids as well.\u201d Fioretti remembered visiting a doctor when her mom needed hip surgery. The doctor was well-regarded, but Fioretti felt rushed and dismissed throughout the visit. \u201cNormally, I wouldn\u2019t have spoken up,\u201d Fioretti says, \u201cbut I took more of a stance.\u201d She spoke up and made sure the doctor answered her questions, and made sure her mom received the time and attention she deserved. Ultimately, it\u2019s not about the doctor\u2019s time or ego, Fioretti realized. \u201cThis is your health and your loved one\u2019s health.\u201d Focusing On Healing \u2014 And Community When it rains, and it pours, and it typhoons, the hardest thing to focus on is often yourself\u2014especially when, like Fioretti, you\u2019re the mom, and the daughter, and the one who\u2019s always \u201ccreated the calm to the chaos.\u201d \u201cBut we don\u2019t have to take on that responsibility all the time,\u201d she says. She urges others like her, especially those in the \u201csandwich\u201d generation, to prioritize their health and lean on support. \u201cFinding community has been some of the best healing and therapeutic intervention that I\u2019ve had,\u201d Fioretti notes. \u201cEven when you have family and close friends, talking to people, even strangers who are going through what you\u2019re going through, is just so comforting. It helps me be a better parent, be a better daughter,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3232,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3231","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-female-health-issues"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/drsoniafawad.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3231","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/drsoniafawad.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/drsoniafawad.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drsoniafawad.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drsoniafawad.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3231"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/drsoniafawad.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3231\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drsoniafawad.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3232"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/drsoniafawad.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3231"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drsoniafawad.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3231"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drsoniafawad.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3231"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}