05/15/2019 By Sandra Zori
My name is Sandra Zori and I am a wife, mother of two girls, pharmacist, and a Crossfitter. I discovered Crossfit a few years ago and absolutely love it and love lifting heavy weights, but hated running.
However, in Feb 2018 I decided to do sprints on the treadmill and felt that my right breast was heavy. The next day I had sharp shooting pains and discovered a lump. Within two days I had a mammogram and ultrasound and was scheduled for a biopsy.
On February 28th my doctor called me with the dreadful words, “I’m sorry, but it’s cancer.”.
My whole life changed. I couldn’t understand how I got this terrible disease. I was 34 years old, with no risk factors. I never smoked, never worked anywhere with radiation or exposed chemicals, I had no family history, and when I got genetic testing done, I tested negative for 34 oncogenes.
Yet here I was, a young woman with stage 2b triple-negative breast cancer. In the following months, I had a total of seven surgeries, months of IV chemotherapy, weeks of radiation, and am currently on a maintenance oral chemo. I have returned to work as a pharmacist, and have continued to stay active doing mostly at-home workouts. Life throws its challenges at me, but I do my best to maintain a positive attitude and a mindset of gratitude. Every day I find something to be grateful for.
GRYT is facing each day, no matter how difficult, and telling yourself, “I can do this.”.
GRYT is doing whatever it takes to find something to be grateful for. “Gratitude is an attitude.”
GRYT is keeping on keeping on and taking it one day at a time.
GRYT is keeping up with Crossfit and modifying when needed.
Editor’s Note: Sandra Zori was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 34. She has completed treatment for triple-negative breast cancer, including chemotherapy (IV and oral), radiation, multiple surgeries (including a double mastectomy), and immunotherapy. She continues to exercise regularly and has incorporated other healthy-living activities into her life, such as kayaking, daily walks, and reading. Sandra has been a pharmacist since 2009 and is currently in school pursuing a Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering where she hopes to do breast cancer research. Sandra lives in Michigan with her husband, two daughters, and two dogs. People can find her on Instagram at @thefightingfox.
