Behind the Bra

Miranda MacKay – look for gratitude in the little things

Miranda is a Michigan native, living just outside of Detroit, and while she always considered herself the outdoorsy type, it was a long time before she finally started to recognize herself as the badass ATHLETE she is. After being dedicated to her corporate job for most of her adult life, Miranda switched gears at 35 years old, quit her job, and began yoga teacher training. It was the next day that she found a lump in her breast.

Listen to this week’s podcast as Miranda openly discusses her breast cancer journey with us, and holds nothing back! From being in the best health of her life to hearing her doctor tell her she’ll have to wait a year after surgery to attempt a single push up, Miranda walks us through all her fears, decisions, and “what ifs” after her initial diagnosis. And listen and she reminds us all that athletic ability comes in many varieties.

“Don’t take the little things for granted.”

Stefanie spent most of her childhood in Michigan involved in athletics.  Her cheerleading talents took her from base to flyer in high school, and eventually she ended up coaching high school competitive cheer, where she met her husband, who she’s been with now for 22 years. Stefanie still refers to this as some of her favorite memories of her lifetime.

Like a lot of women, Stefanie always put others above herself. Working, while taking care of her husband and 3 daughters, Stefanie put her health and fitness on hold. That is until she found CrossFit. Finding the CrossFit community five years ago catapulted her into a time she describes as ‘never fitter in my life.’

And then she heard those words: “You have breast cancer.” Listen as Stefanie explains how she learned not to take the little things for granted and that breast cancer does not discriminate. And join us for this intimate conversation as she explains her decision to go flat.

Throw your fit, then put your big girl panties on.

Feel life when it’s hard, but don’t stay there.  

When Molly enlisted in the Navy, she was told she'd be a good fit as a Naval Secretary, but she knew she wanted more, and eventually, she served in the Navy as an Airman. Life was moving right along when, at only 19 years old, she lost her first child while she was 5 months pregnant. The heartache continued when, just a few months later, her mother passed away.

After spending some time in Arizona and giving birth to two amazing children, Molly moved back to the east coast with her kids, hoping to provide them with better education, and escaping an abusive marriage at the same time. Life started to come together while she built a career in health and human services, finished her college degree, and eventually remarried. Life was GOOD.

This was until her brother passed away at the age of 42. Her life turned upside down. Devastated, she did her best to "feel the pain, but not stay there and put her big girl panties on." And right as she began to heal, she heard those words,: You Have Breast Cancer.  

I have more passion to live.

7 years after losing her father to cancer, Alicia found herself sitting with her Oncologist talking through her treatment options for breast cancer.   She and her husband had just returned from their honeymoon and they were both in the best shape of their lives.  She admits the wedding had a lot to do with that.

It was the day before Thanksgiving in 2018, at the young age of 36,  when she heard the news that would change her life forever.  She and her husband were planning for a family at any minute.  Everything stopped.  That holiday weekend surrounded by family and food, they were both able to process the news and armor up for what would be a year of treatment and a few more years of waiting to even try to become parents.

Tune in to Alicia’s incredible story of living life day by day.  Let her remind you not to worry about the small stuff, and that it’s ok if people aren’t there for you.  Her breast cancer diagnosis brought many great things.  She found out who her real friends were, how to fight no matter what, and how to be the best version of yourself.

You are tougher than you think.

Maureen was a new mom with big dreams with her new born daughter.   She was struggling with her new role more than she was expecting.  Nothing was going as “planned” from birth to breastfeeding to the simple pleasure of enjoying motherhood.  Was something wrong?

9 months after giving birth, she found a lump on her breast.  She was sure it was nothing.  She was healthy, young only 34 years old, there is no way this was a concern.  She was an avid marathon runner, CrossFitter and had healthy habits.  So, the day she went in for her Mammogram she was sure to come out of it just fine.

3 appointments later, she heard the words, You have breast cancer.  Take a listen in on her incredible story of motherhood and breast cancer.  How to win at both and how both experience have given her the ultimate life lesson, that everything is temporary.  Enjoy the good and know the bad doesn’t last forever.

The GOOD that comes from being diagnosed with Breast Cancer?!

How does that even make sense? Isn’t it an oxymoron?

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Our Behind the Bra Podcast is entering its second season and this time it’s all about the GOOD things that a breast cancer diagnosis can lead to. It’s so easy to get overwhelmed by all the challenges and heartache that breast cancer brings, which is why, in season two, we are inviting back a few of our guests from season one to come talk about the GOOD they have found in the struggles they have gone through.

I’ll be kicking off this first episode by sharing my experiences with breast cancer. I was only 29 when my best friend Cecy was diagnosed. She was 26, and was initially denied screening because of her age. I took my fear, pain, and anger, and I channeled it towards something bigger. Something that would eventually become Barbells for Boobs. Years later, while I was helping women every day through this organization, my sister Jenny was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer and later passed away in April 2018. Finding the good in this seemed impossible at the time. But our amazing community let me know that good was possible.

That is the goal with this second season: The Good Series. The goal is for survivors and co-survivors to share their stories and bring a light of hope to women early in their breast cancer journey. We want you to know that you are not alone in your fear and in your pain. And we also want you to know that there will be good that comes out of this – even if you can’t see it right now.

Join us each week as survivors share their stories of how breast cancer positively impacted their lives. And help us bring hope to those who are just beginning their breast cancer journey.

“Don’t let fear hold you back” were six words Kelsey Hackem would have never thought she would be saying after being diagnosed with breast cancer at 30 years old. Her life in Columbus, Ohio was simple and beautiful. She belonged to an awesome CrossFit community, was practicing law at a non-profit, and was in a great relationship. She never imagined that going in for her annual check up would be the day that changed her life.

Kelsey considers herself lucky, that despite her young age, she was still insisted by her midwife to get a lump checked out that was felt during her clinical breast exam. She never considered anything would come of it.

Listen in on how Kelsey did not let her breast cancer diagnosis stop her from training through treatment, moving across the country and becoming an avid cyclist, and how she reminds us the importance of advocating for yourself. Her story will be sure to inspire you to “not let fear hold you back!”

Growing up in Puerto Rico, Margarita's extraordinary zest for life was evident from early on.  After traveling the world as her husband served our country in the Air Force, she, her husband, and their two daughters settled in Missouri.

Margarita never could have imagined that at 43 years old, while she was in the best shape of her life, that the lump she found on her chest would be breast cancer. 

Join us as Margarita shares with us how after finishing treatment just 4 months ago, she has learned that every moment matters, and how she has always been exactly where she needed to be.

At the young age of 32, Michelle McGree was about to take on the hardest endeavor of her life, a second Breast Cancer diagnosis.  Which meant 3 months of chemotherapy, surgery, radiation and hormonal therapy for years to come.  

Michelle walks us through her decision to study fishery biology, get a double mastectomy after her first diagnosis at age 28 and become an advocate for breast cancer research.  You will learn some cool things about fish and how to be the person you are meant to be.  

Breast cancer has it’s gifts and this was Michelles gift.