Coping Through Crisis: Breast Cancer and the Coronavirus
Natalie R.
Photos by Rathkopf Photography
Many young adults who have been diagnosed with breast cancer are put on Tamoxifen, a long-term hormonal treatment. Because of the medication’s side-effects, young adults have to pause treatment if they are planning to get pregnant. This requires a lot of planning for all young adults but even more so for queer folk, like Natalie.
If we were not in the middle of a global pandemic, Natalie could have banked their eggs before starting Tamoxifen for later use during a pause in treatment in their late thirties. But unfortunately, IVF is not considered a medically essential service during this time.
“I’ve started my Tamoxifen and I’ve started grieving. And that’s what’s been probably the most rough about coronavirus and cancer intersecting for me personally. And no, this isn’t something where we could even try at home and then stop Tamoxifen because I’m queer. I’m a clear non-binary femme. I’m married to a butch non-binary person who’s assigned female at birth. So we had to go the artificial route from the get go, if it was ever going to happen and it’s not.”
Along with processing their grief, Natalie is choosing to look for some silver linings. They are hoping that the coronavirus forces housing prices down, allowing Natalie and their partner to move to a two-bedroom home. In the future, this could mean fostering queer kids in the system and becoming a found family for someone.
Natalie’s queer community has been integral to their mental health as they navigate cancer treatment and coronavirus. Social distancing has even been helpful because friends near and far are less busy and schedules are easier to coordinate.
A majority of Natalie and their partner’s income comes from art they create and sell at conventions, like comic con. With events getting canceled, they have had to pivot to online sales. Natalie is finding it difficult to be as productive with this as they aspire to be, in part because of the exhaustion from cancer and coronavirus.
“Spending time with my wife where we’re just talking about anything. She’s been working really hard to do little things, to make things easier for me to pick up my slack. And so having her here is a really big help.”
YSC and Rathkopf Photography have partnered for Mental Health Awareness Month to draw attention to the fear, anxiety, and isolation that COVID-19 triggers in young adults affected by breast cancer. Media often focuses on those in active treatment, but the consequences of cancer can last years after diagnosis. As the world grapples with its ‘new normal,’ these 5 survivors and thrivers navigate an already permanently altered life after cancer now compounded by COVID-19. Follow their stories all May.
Make a Donation
YSC relies on donations to carry out its mission, and these have almost completely stopped due to the coronavirus and economic shutdown. We’re asking that everyone who loves YSC donate $25 so that we can continue to support young adults like Natalie R.
Read more from Our Series
Coping Through Crisis: Breast Cancer and the Coronavirus
Where Are We Now? The Latest on COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters and Extra Doses
Where Are We Now? The Latest on COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters and Extra Doses With the newest regulations on COVID-19 vaccine booster shots and additional doses for immunocompromised individuals, we wanted to follow up on the most important questions for breast cancer...
Breast Cancer and the Coronavirus: Natalie R
For Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re drawing attention to the fear, anxiety, and isolation that COVID-19 triggers in young adults affected by breast cancer. This is part one of Natalie’s story.
Breast Cancer and the Coronavirus: Kelly D.
For Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re drawing attention to the fear, anxiety, and isolation that COVID-19 triggers in young adults affected by breast cancer. This is part two of Kelly’s Story.
Breast Cancer and the Coronavirus: Kelly D.
For Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re drawing attention to the fear, anxiety, and isolation that COVID-19 triggers in young adults affected by breast cancer. This is Kelly’s Story.
Breast Cancer and the Coronavirus: Yoko K.
For Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re drawing attention to the fear, anxiety, and isolation that COVID-19 triggers in young adults affected by breast cancer. This is Yoko’s Story.
Breast Cancer and the Coronavirus: Anna R.
For Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re drawing attention to the fear, anxiety, and isolation that COVID-19 triggers in young adults affected by breast cancer. This is part two of Anna’s Story.
Breast Cancer and the Coronavirus: Anna R.
For Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re drawing attention to the fear, anxiety, and isolation that COVID-19 triggers in young adults affected by breast cancer. This is part one of Anna’s Story.
Breast Cancer and the Coronavirus: Patricia F.
For Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re drawing attention to the fear, anxiety, and isolation that COVID-19 triggers in young adults affected by breast cancer. This is Patricia’s Story.
