Jenn Venn: My Breast Cancer Journey

I have been many things over the years, a mom, a wife, a business owner, a friend — I could name many more. What I wasn't expecting to become was a woman with cancer.

It was March 27, 2023, and I had recently celebrated my 38th birthday. I was driving home from Boston, and I felt a lump on the side of my breast. It was large enough that I knew it shouldn’t be there.

I did self-breast exams and grew up with a mom who encouraged doing them. So, as a young girl, I had always known how important it was and I had been doing self-exams a couple of times a year. But I didn’t feel the urgency. I’m young with no family history, I eat healthy, I have a passion for fitness, work out regularly, and I've always been very proactive about my health. By doing my self-exams, I knew my body, and when I felt that lump, I knew that it definitely wasn't there a few months ago.

I didn't hesitate. While I was driving, on my Bluetooth I called my primary care physician’s office right away. They got me an appointment quickly for the next week. My doctor examined me and said she was making an appointment at the Baystate Breast and Wellness Center. She said they could move quickly to address the situation if it ended up being “something” and that is exactly what happened.

I feel very fortunate that I was connected to Baystate’s team. I went in and had a mammogram followed by an ultrasound. It didn’t feel scary at all with the supportive staff and calming environment. Things moved quickly —I went from my appointment with my primary care physician to the mammogram and ultrasound within 7 days. Two days later, I underwent the biopsy.A phone call four days after that confirmed I had early-stage cancer.

The Breast Cancer Journey Begins

My initial thoughts when I got my diagnosis were calm. I was sad, but I remained calm. You can't control what happens to you in life, so you have to face it head-on. And that’s what I did, I allowed myself to feel whatever it was I needed to feel and prepared to fight.

Anyone who meets me knows that I'm a doer. I don’t hesitate, I just get things done. In life, you have to do things that you don't like. That's just part of life. And this was just another one of them for me. So, when I found the lump, the first thing I did was make a phone call. Other people said “Oh, I would have avoided it” or “I would have called at the end of summer because I had things going on.” If I had done that, I’m not sure where I would be today. We can all do hard things. All of us. Every day we can face things that may scare us, no matter how big or small. And if that means making the phone call to schedule your mammogram scares you, just know that you can conquer that fear and do it. It might be that your life is busy and you're working. Maybe you have four kids, or maybe you're afraid for your health, but you can do it. It’s so worth it.

My Life Journey

I've been married to my husband Seamus for eight years, but we've been together for much longer. Together, we're proud parents to our wonderful son, Merek, who is five years old. Our family also includes two incredibly sweet pit bull mixes named Chance and Lou, a barn cat named Terry Crews, and a crested gecko named Butters.

Professionally, I've owned and operated Studio 20, a cozy salon in Westfield, for the past nine years. When I'm not working, I enjoy indulging in my passion for reading and staying active through activities like kayaking, walking, and working out.

When I received my diagnosis, I chose to be open with my son. He was only four years old at the time, so I talked to him throughout the whole process in an age-appropriate way. I explained that I would be unwell for a while but assured him I would eventually get better. It was a frightening experience for him, especially on days when I struggled to get out of bed. However, I consistently reassured him, saying, "Mommy's okay. I just have medicine in me, and we're fighting off the cancer. The best thing mommy can do right now is rest." While he didn't like it, I believe being honest will help him understand our journey as he grows older.

The Breast Cancer Treatment Plan

To be honest, when I felt the lump, I knew in my gut that it wasn't nothing. When I got the phone call about the diagnosis, they asked me to come in the following morning, and from there, it was treatment and care every week. So, when they say they move quickly, they move quickly, which can be overwhelming. But at the same time, when you're dealing with something as serious as cancer, it is really comforting to know that not only was it being taken seriously, but they were going to take charge alongside me and do something about it.

I had a supportive multidisciplinary team at Baystate Health who provided excellent care, including Dr. Holly Mason, Baystate’s fertility team, my oncologist Dr. Bryan Lee, my radiation oncologist Dr. Seth Kaufman, the team at the infusion suite, and my homeopathic doctor to give me any additional support. I felt really confident in my team and in the plan.

Before starting treatment, my husband and I underwent fertility preservation. Following these initial procedures, I underwent approximately four and a half months of chemotherapy, receiving one round every three weeks from June to around September 2023.

Afterwards, I underwent a lumpectomy, also known as breast preservation surgery, which involves removing cancerous or abnormal breast tissue while preserving the breast. This procedure also included lymph node dissection. Following the surgery, I completed 30 sessions of radiation therapy, finishing on January 2, 2024.

Due to being triple positive (estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 positive), I will continue hormone suppression therapy for five years to reduce the risk of recurrence.

I Didn’t Feel Sick Until I Lost My Hair

Prior to starting my treatment, my healthcare team informed me that there was a high likelihood—around 98 percent—that I would experience hair loss. Mentally preparing for this, I came to terms with it beforehand. True to their prediction, approximately two weeks after my first treatment, my hair began to fall out.

Hair is such a significant part of our identity and can often feel like a security blanket. For many, their hairstyle remains a constant throughout their lives. When you lose your hair, it can feel like losing a piece of yourself. Personally, I didn't fully grasp the impact of my illness until I experienced hair loss—it was a profound moment for me.

In my salon, I've had extensive experience with clients undergoing chemotherapy and cancer treatment. When they choose to shave their hair, I prioritize sensitivity and respect for their individual preferences. Some prefer privacy and schedule their appointments after hours, while others come accompanied by loved ones, turning it into a celebratory moment.

Personally, I embraced this transition wholeheartedly, facing it head-on like every step of this journey, and turned it into a celebration. Surrounded by family and friends, we gathered together, sipped champagne, and shared in the experience. My son was present too; I wanted him to witness and understand the process rather than wake up to find my hair gone the next day. My husband held him as he helped shave my head, creating a supportive and memorable moment for all of us.

I did get a wig initially, but ultimately, I found empowerment in embracing my bald head. It felt more natural and empowering for me. My healthcare providers informed me that my hair would begin to grow back between 8 to 17 weeks after my final chemotherapy treatment, and true to their word, it started growing back around the 12 week mark.

My personal journey with regrowing hair has inspired a new service at my salon called the “Survivor Cut.” This service is designed for clients transitioning off chemotherapy, offering specialized cuts that support the regrowth process and providing products to aid in hair growth.

Having experienced hair loss myself, I want to reassure others: it's temporary, just a season in your life, and it's perfectly okay to embrace every part of that journey.

Gratefulness

How can you not be super thankful to all of your oncology team? My surgical, medical, radiation oncologists, everyone — they all worked together to create my plan and execute it. The Infusion Suite nurses, Laura Curtis, RN, and Amelia Anderson, RN are the most special people I've ever met in my whole life. They helped me through the process and made me feel safe and comforted during such a difficult time.

Chemo took a significant toll on my body, especially after my third infusion. Physically, mentally, and emotionally, it became increasingly challenging. By the time my fourth infusion came around, I felt completely drained and unsure if I could continue.

During that critical moment, a nurse I had never met before approached me and sat down. She patiently talked me through my doubts and fears. Her presence and reassurances were transformative. She kept reminding me, "We're not in a rush. Take your time." Because of her compassion and support, I found the strength to complete my fourth treatment.

I am forever grateful to her and to all the incredible, kind-hearted people I encountered during my treatment. They made an immeasurable difference in my journey.

Present Day

Throughout my journey, the care team at Baystate has been an invaluable source of support and knowledge. They've patiently addressed all my questions and have been incredibly understanding of my emotions. I firmly believe that nobody fights cancer alone.

Currently, I'm on a five-year hormone suppression plan with regular scans every six months. There are technically no signs of disease now, thanks to a total response to my chemotherapy, which has been both amazing and reassuring. Right now, everything is focused on preventing recurrence.

I often try to push forward as if nothing happened, to pretend there are no limits. However, the reality is that it does affect me, and I've learned to remind myself to take it easy when fatigue sets in during my recovery. Since I had lymph nodes removed, I'm undergoing physical therapy with the Baystate Rehabilitation team to address mobility issues related to lymphedema. Once again, I find myself meeting new and wonderful people within the Baystate team, who give me optimism that my condition will improve.

As always, I'm grateful for the answers and unwavering support I receive from this remarkable team.

Overall, I would say I'm doing really well. I don't face many limitations, but occasionally I need to remind myself to give myself a little more grace as I continue to recover. I'm emerging from this experience, and now I live my life with gratitude—for my family, my friends, my caregivers, and for life itself.

Jenn’s Tips for Those Who Have Been Recently Diagnosed

Get a notebook or binder right away. Keep everything in one place because it will get overwhelming. This binder or notebook will also help any of your support partners to reference. It was very helpful to take notes at every appointment and during every phone call, as well as when treatment started to track my symptoms.

Bring someone with you to your appointments. Having an extra pair of eyes and ears is invaluable, especially in the beginning. And nobody should face cancer alone.

Reach out to others going through or that have gone through treatment. They are one of your greatest resources. To have a shared experience and give you a connection to what is about to happen and what you are going through. It was personally my lifeline to getting through this process, to normalize all the things that feel so strange and new.

Get unscented everything: hand soap, body wash, laundry detergent, etc. Smells can antagonize side effects.

Let people help in any way. Meal trains, house cleaning, visitors, GoFundMe or other financial contributions, gardening, running errands, anything. The best for us was the meal train, if not always for me because I had a hard time eating but for my family. I used to do most of the cooking and stopped when I got sick, so having others feed my family was priceless.

Be kind to yourself. This experience is hard. You will experience things you have never experienced and it’s a lot to process. Give yourself grace for every emotion.

Try to get some sort of movement in every day or whenever you are able, even if it's just extra steps or light stretching. Your body will thank you and it makes the long-term recovery process easier.

Therapy. I personally have utilized the social worker from the D'Amour Center for Cancer Care, and I love her. So, if you do not have a therapist, there are resources right at the cancer center waiting for you.

Utilize the resources available to you and there are a ton. There are grant programs, food programs, house cleaners, transportation, massage, acupuncture, yoga, art therapy, free wigs, and scarves. Take advantage of them.

Maintain a forward-focused mindset by identifying things to anticipate or setting small goals. Personally, I found joy in gradually increasing my walking distances as I regained strength or exploring new foods after completing treatment. Whether large or small, these anticipations can provide a sense of hope and positivity during recovery.