NATALIE BROGAN
MOTHER. RUNNER. HEALTH ENTHUSIAST. NATURE LOVER.
MEET NATALIE BROGAN
An avid health enthusiast, mother of three, lover of nature, and runner, Natalie Brogan could typically found pickling beets, or creating nature trails with her children in their backyard. Then, in 2020, while breastfeeding her 6-month-old son, Natalie found a mass in her right breast. Advised by her ObGyn to monitor it, Natalie continued with her busy life, continuing to run and look after her children. A year later, concerned that the lump was still present, Natalie stopped breastfeeding and consulted her general practitioner who felt the mass and immediately scheduled a mammogram. Two weeks later, in August in 2021, Natalie was diagnosed with Stage II ER/PR+, HER2+ breast cancer. Shocked by the diagnosis, but determined to live her active life, Natalie continued to run right up to the day of her first chemotherapy treatment.
Natalie began chemotherapy and hormone-blocking treatments in September 2021 before undergoing a double mastectomy on January 25, 2022. Biopsy results revealed residual disease, and she will now receive infusions every three weeks of the targeted hormonal therapy drug, Kadcyla. Through it all, in spite of treatment side effects, Natalie continued to care for her children and maintained her active lifestyle. She is determined to run the 13 miles with her sister later this year.
Natalie joined the iRise Above Wellness Training Program this January after her mum learned about the iRise Above Foundation on The Today Show. Reading about iRise Above CEO and founder Gillian Lichota, Natalie knew she had found a group of women that she could relate to, and who would contribute to her healing physically mentally and spiritually. She looks forward to attending an iRise Above retreat following active treatment.
Natalie currently lives in Virginia Beach, Virginia with her partner, Bobby, and children Rayner (5), Nina (3) and Beau (2), dog and cat.
WHAT IS THE SECRET TO MAINTAINING A POSITIVE OUTLOOK?
The secret to maintaining a positive outlook is acknowledging the feelings in the moment, and making the conscious decision to focus on bettering oneself recognizing that every situation is temporary is a reminder to take advantage of the moment. In a dark sky, one can choose to focus on the darkness or take the time to see the stars twinkle.
TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF!
I was born in Annapolis, MD, grew up in Virginia Beach, VA, and have since lived in Germany, New Zealand, Honduras and Florida. I currently live in Virginia Beach with my wonderful, supportive partner, Bobby, and three children Rayner (5 ½), Nina (3 ½) and Beau (2). My parents and sister, along with her family, live in the Hampton Roads area, and my brother is living in New Zealand. My husband’s family also live in the Hampton Roads area. Though I am currently a stay-at-home parent, I have a professional background in Public Health and a passion for women’s health and disease prevention.
WHAT IS THE MOST DIFFICULT DECISION YOU’VE HAD TO MAKE TO PURSUE YOUR DESTINY?
The most difficult decision I can make to pursue my destiny (and future) is letting go. If I look back on the paths I have taken in life, each path and decision have a different destiny. I often find the hardest decisions to make are the ones where I am trying to control the outcome. By letting go, I allow for destiny to happen naturally.
WHAT IS THE BEST LIFE LESSON THAT TOOK YOU THE LONGEST TO LEARN?
It is intuitive for me to take blame, but over the years, I have learned that I do not need to claim fault. When I was first diagnosed with breast cancer, my inner critic fired off the questions: How could I have prevented this? Where did I go wrong? It was not in my family’s health history. I eat well, I was running 10-13 miles a week, and I had breastfed three children. After I acknowledged the blame I was placing on myself, I reassured myself that there was not another carrot I could have eaten, or a mile I could have run to prevent the diagnosis. Sometimes, things happen that are just a part of being human.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE AND WHY?
My current favorite quote is quoted from the poem The Shallows by Amanda Gorman: “Shall this leave us bitter? Or better? Grieve. Then Choose.”
This quote exemplifies our ability to make a conscious choice, but also allows for grief. I have the choice to recognize my feelings of frustration, anger and sadness, and either hold on to them or know parts of this journey are temporary and let go.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE?
Challenging ourselves to be better. We can always do more, be more, want more. But life isn’t about the tangible things that we acquire; it’s about exploring your mind and your heart and going wherever life takes you. And that can be different and unique to each individual.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE EMPOWERED?
Being empowered is the recognition of raw beauty within suffering and acknowledging the effort and faith required to make a change.
WHOM DO YOU ADMIRE MOST AND WHY?
“Culture does not make people. People make culture. If it is true that the full humanity of women is not our culture, then we can and must make it our culture.” - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
I admire the Nigerian Writer, Feminist and Fashion Icon Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie because of her passion for equality, her beautiful writing, and her authenticity to herself. Her passion and intention to change the understanding of feminism are evident in her books, interviews and podcasts, and she fuels the conversation of feminism as holding men and women equal. Additionally, she emphasizes the opportunity we have as people to make a choice to change and create a new culture of feminism. Her stories and interviews are honest and raw, and I always feel I just had a beautiful conversation with a good friend. Moreover, her unapologetic love for fashion, heels and lip gloss fulfills my secret love for the same.
BREAST CANCER RELATED
HOW OLD WERE YOU WHEN YOU WERE DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER? WHAT WERE THE CIRCUMSTANCES?
On August 6, 2021, I was diagnosed with Stage II HR/PR + and HER2+ Breast Cancer; I was 36 at the time.
A year prior to my diagnosis, I had suspected something was wrong while breastfeeding my six-month-old son. My right breast felt hard, as if the milk was not draining, and had the same pain as if the milk was not draining. I brought it up to my OB/GYN; she told me mammograms could give false readings during breastfeeding and said to keep an eye on it. I continued my life as usual, breastfeeding, running, eating healthy, and chasing my children around. I monitored the area and it never seemed to “drain.” I also noticed a difference in appearance, as though something was pulling my nipple in. I even asked my partner, Bobby, multiple times, “Does my right breast look different to you?”
After a year of observation, and as my OB/GYN had stated mammograms can give false readings during breastfeeding, I stopped breastfeeding and scheduled a routine exam with my General Practitioner (GP) six weeks out. During my visit, I was calmed yet worried by the fact that my GP also felt the mass. She immediately ordered a mammogram, which was scheduled for the following Wednesday. I knew something was wrong when the technician called me back for multiple images on my right breast. Within two weeks I had received two biopsies and was diagnosed.
WHAT DID YOUR TREATMENT INVOLVE?
On September 7, 2021, I started a regimen of six rounds every three weeks of chemotherapy and hormone blocking medicines, TCHP: two chemotherapy drugs Taxotere and Carboplatin, and two hormone blocking medicines: Herceptin and Perjeta. On January 25, 2022, I had a double mastectomy. Following the double mastectomy, I will receive infusions every three weeks of a hormone antibody drug with a chemotherapy component, Kadcyla.
Beginning February 22, and every subsequent three weeks, I will receive Kadcyla infusions. At some point I will also take Tamoxifen.
WHAT IS THE MOST POSITIVE THING TO COME OUT OF YOUR BREAST CANCER JOURNEY?
There are two beautiful outcomes of my breast cancer journey: grounding of relationships and a rebirth of self. I found myself surrounded by a partner who knew when to listen and when to make me laugh (insert boob jokes here), a mum that held my hands to and from tests, a father who picked me up from procedures, a sister who hugged me as I cried, and friends who Zoom called me to listen, cry with me, and tell me stories. I have friends who visit and take care of the kids, friends who pop by to drop off chocolate, flowers, soup and to say hello. I had part of my care team walking with me every few weeks, some of whom I would see bike riding around the neighborhood. These acts of kindness reminded me of the community I have behind me, supporting me in every step of my journey and each relationship became profound.
My rebirth came through the challenging weeks of chemotherapy. I allowed each round to be an opportunity to rebuild my health. I fasted 24 hours before and after each infusion, visualizing the chemotherapy ridding my body of the cancer cells, and allowing space for the new, healthy cells. I found an amazing cancer cookbook (The Cancer Fighting Kitchen by Rebecca Katz and Mat Edelson) that provided recipes for different chemotherapy side effects, and I imagined the food I ate as replenishing the healthy cells. I found myself strengthening aspects of myself, such as positivity and health, while discovering other healing modalities, including meditation and mindfulness, to manage my emotions.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOURSELF WHEN YOU WERE FIRST DIAGNOSED?
Keep running and keep listening to your “gut.” Find ways of healing that suit each moment of the journey, whether that’s food, spirituality, meditation, music, or exercise. Start acupuncture after your first round of chemotherapy. When you get tired, ask for help; find a group of people who will support you in the way you need support. Cry when you need to cry, and laugh when you need to laugh. Angry? Stomp on one of those amazon boxes that are left over from the many online orders you will place.
BIG PICTURE
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF HUMAN EXPERIENCE?
The quote from the character David Dio in the novel At Night All Blood Is Black really resonated with me:
“The greatest secret [he] taught us was that it isn’t the man who controls events but events that control the man…Nothing that might happen to us here, as terrible or as felicitous as it might seem, is new. But what we experience is always new because every man is unique, the way every leaf and every tree is unique.”
Unfortunately, I am not the first 36-year-old with three young children to be diagnosed with breast cancer, nor will I be the last. However, this experience is new for me, and I am learning how to navigate it. I cannot control the event, but I can choose my response to it. I choose to manage my illness, rather than letting my illness manage my life. I choose to learn what I can to improve my health and well-being. I also choose to contribute to other women who are also navigating this experience. I believe the purpose of the human experience is to use the knowledge we gain to give back whether that is through random acts of kindness, contributing to scientific research, a willingness to share one’s story, or planting a tree.