Breast cancer survivor shares journey, urges women to get screened early
MIAMI - Natasha Santamarina's journey with breast cancer started in 2014 when she had just turned 41.
When this wife and mother of three went in for her mammogram, she got the devastating news.
"While I was doing the mammogram they saw something so let's just do a biopsy. ... Two days later I was volunteering at the Hispanic Heritage Festival at school, and I got the call you have invasive carcinoma. I'm like what is that? I had no idea what you are saying in this festival so loud. Ma'am you have breast cancer," Natasha Santamarina said.
Two weeks later she was having a double mastectomy and days later chemotherapy.
"It was difficult because I had to be Mom, put that brave face on for my kids. They were freaking out. Everything's great. Nothing's wrong. It was hard when you're walking around bald. It was tough. We got through it, and I thought everything was going great," Santamarina said.
But three years later, the cancer came back.
"People ask how is that possible? You had a double mastectomy. How could you have breast cancer again when you do a double mastectomy. They only remove 95% of the tissue so some residual tissue is there. It happens again," Santamarina said.
Something she thought would never happen again.
"To find out that it was coming back, it is unusual," she said. I would like to mention that very low percentage of having that kind of occurrence, but it happens.
"What was going through your mind and will keep you strong through all this? I love and support from my family. My husband, my kids, my friends. So many showed up working out. I will go to the gym even though I didn't feel well," Santamarina said.
And it was her positivity and love for life and her family that kept her going.
"When I speak to all my girlfriends and they're like I haven't gone in for my mammogram and I say, 'what are you waiting for don't be afraid because catching it early,' is where you have the higher chance of being curable, Santamarina said.
"Thank you so much (they will say). I'm glad you're doing great and hopefully will get the message out to other women to get checked early absolutely saves lives," Santamarina said.