Interview with Breast Cancer Survivor, Jessica Isomoto, As Told to Baddie Ambassador Keneene Lewis
Our Baddie x 2 series is an intimate moment in time grasping the interaction between two baddies as they discuss being diagnosed, survivorship, and everything that comes in between. We hope that you enjoy this series and that it sparks a dialogue amongst the breast cancer community.
A woman walked into the impressive Legacy Room at the inaugural ‘We Run This’ Sneaker Ball Gala hosted by For the Breast of Us. Seeing how these women were being honored left her speechless.
Beautiful pictures depicting diagnosed women in such a moving light. Celebrating those who have won their battles on the other side. Those who remain on the journey trying to carve out a space within a community that doesn’t always value their experience.
While walking through this museum-like entity, gazing into the eyes of giants, the woman turned a corner to see an unexpected sight. The sight that embodied the wall was that of a woman curated the way in which she elevated in life. A woman who saved her life years before her diagnosis.
Tears began to chase words unspoken. A hand placed on the woman’s back gave her comfort at a time that she was pleasantly unprepared to swallow. Once the tears stained her face and she could capture her breath, she turned to see the beautiful and welcoming face of an unknown sister. There were no words spoken just an embrace. An embrace that said nice to meet you and thank you all at once.
The woman was me. The sister was Jess. The woman on the wall was my paternal grandmother who passed away from metastatic breast cancer when I was an infant. This was our introduction. Very few words were spoken but a connection was made at that moment in the Legacy Room.
Jessica Isomoto
Jess is a woman who has been affected by breast cancer under the age of 45 years old. In February 2020 right before the pandemic, Jess was diagnosed with Stage 3 ER/PR+ (100%) HER2- IDC. The entire top half of her breast was filled with cancer (8-10 CM); her breast had been hardening for 2 years. When she brought it to the attention of a healthcare provider, she was told not to worry about it. It took a routine mammogram appointment where a tech flagged it and asked her to stay for an immediate biopsy. Jess was lucky to have a cancer team (the surgeon, radiation oncologist, and chemotherapy oncologist) that gave her every option possible and made sure that she was informed of all of her options.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Jess’s chemotherapy treatment was postponed. Los Angeles was shut down on March 15, 2020, and her chemotherapy was delayed until April 2, 2020.
The hospital where she chose to receive her care was a COVID treatment center. This added yet another worry and concern on top of the cancer diagnosis.
During this time of the world, it was really hard to find basic necessities: KN95 masks, toilet paper, and sanitizer. The pandemic made it really hard to prepare for chemo with the world in disarray.
Jess was unable to get her intravenous chemotherapy port until their six chemotherapy sessions due to COVID-19.
The surgery was not considered an emergency. The combination of chemotherapy drugs used to treat breast cancer- Adriamycin, Cyclophosphamide, and Taxol (AC-T) had zero effect.
The next step was to complete the unilateral mastectomy surgery with tissue expanders. The mastectomy resulted in clear margins. As they were prepping for radiation, more cancer was found. Jess completed 25 radiation sessions (sometimes 2 at a time) with the final session on Dec 24, 2020. During prep for DIEP flap reconstruction in March 2021, she got scans. She was informed that she had no evidence of disease (NED) but there was an infection in her expander.
In the second installment of our amazing new series, Baddie x 2: Growth Through Conversations, I was able to catch up with an awesome baddie ambassador, Jessica Isomoto.
Q & A with Jessica Isomoto
Hey Sis! Thank you for your time and willingness to share your experience. How did you hear about For the Breast Of Us (FTBOU)?
Social media, through FTBOU Baddie Ambassador, Ginny Shudlick. She was one of the first Asian women with breast cancer and I was looking for her. I followed her to Talking Back At Cancer on the Clubhouse social audio app. This is where I learned all about FTBOU.
How has FTBOU supported you?
FTBOU has connected me with a vast network of women that I needed. This network gave me what I was I was lacking. It was more than WOC, but a shared passion for our communities.
What is your favorite part about being an FTBOU Baddie?
My favorite part is us – the women who belong to the organization. I love us. Getting to know everyone and just being wowed by everyone. The fact is it is a rare experience. I felt immediate camaraderie that was warm and real.
Why do you feel it is important for us to reach out to the different women of color (WOC) communities?
We need more young people (men, women, nonbinary, etc.) representation of different communities AND older people from communities of color. It is a different conversation from adolescents and young adults of age 15-39 years (AYAs) needs – but showing examples of older Asian people who have survived & their history. Their stories can provide that hope that I can make it to be old.
We need young people saying, “are you taking care of your health” or “this is what you should be doing.” We need both of those represented communities to continue to amplify diversity within those communities. According to UCLA Health (2023), “Care for AYA Cancer is best when it’s separated from both children and older adult cancer care, as AYA patients share unique medical and psychological challenges.”
We as women of color have to survive/thrive on many different levels, sometimes to the point where we feel that we can’t slip up. What does it mean to be a survivor/thriver to you?
Before cancer, I would have considered myself a survivor. I have overcome enough in my life to give myself the confidence to know that I can do more. This is what carried me through my cancer fight. I am proud of all of my accomplishments prior to cancer, and I am 2000% proud after cancer. I came in with a doctorate in survivorship.
How does your culture see breast cancer?
My culture is Pan-Asian. My paternal aunt had breast cancer at the exact same age that I was diagnosed with. I was in college at this time, living in my own world as college students tend to do and it just didn’t make sense. She like many people in her generation did not talk about it – like many in Asian culture. My family didn’t speak about it or celebrate her journey as far as I know. There is still this lack of addressing medical history, passing general history, and education from generation to generation.
I feel that it is really important to be a loud and outspoken advocate in the Asian community because it is needed. We are still in the early awareness stage in some Asian communities when it comes to women’s health.
Since being in the breast cancer community, what have you realized about your breast cancer experience?
Being diagnosed during a pandemic made my whole experience stressful. However, I had an amazing team. They made sure I had the best care and was informed. I was in a clinical trial during chemotherapy which included extra blood work, scans, and attention and I did not have to worry about insurance approvals. My healthcare team had 3 out of 4 doctors who were a woman of color. I know that this is not the norm for most affected by breast cancer, especially women of color.
What is your current treatment plan?
Verzenio for 2 years which was paired with anastrozole. I ended up switching to exemestane (AI); I will be able to stop taking Verzenio in March 2023. I plan to celebrate the end of active treatment when my white blood cells are good.
What are three things that you would tell someone who was just told that they have breast cancer (BC)?
You are not alone.
It is not going to be easy, but you can do it.
I don’t know what it will look like at the end, whatever that goal is;
but when you get there, we will celebrate the shit out of it when you do!!
What is a typical day like for you now?
Life looks the same as it was before; back to work, the pandemic is somewhat over, etc. In a lot of ways, it is the same but simultaneously different. I think that is because I am different.
Have you made lifestyle changes that seem to work for you?
I am the same person that I was but I no longer beat myself up for it; nowadays, I no longer have the guilt.
What do you do that you feel assists you physically overall?
During active treatment, because of the pandemic, I couldn’t go places. I was at home, like everyone during the pandemic, so I started raising monarch butterflies. I went deep into this especially after learning that they were endangered and on the “red list”. It gave me something to care for, something to focus on, and got me outside. I kept it going for two years and I released over 100 butterflies.
Mentally, what do you do on those hard days to push through?
I am definitely one of those who celebrate everything, and little treats get me through the day. During the pandemic, I couldn’t get any of my favorite snacks…I am a snacker. As soon as things opened back up again, I could get my favorite snack. During radiation, I could get my Starbucks drinks. Top 3 favorite snacks: Taco Bell – has numerous snack options, Starbucks iced chai, and cookies/cake/junk food. I will snack with wild abandon.
Tell me about your support system.
When I moved back to California (from NY, Midwest), was to live near my sisters, Stephanie & Brenda. I purposely came out here to live near them. We are so close, and they were my complete support system. They took care of me, fed me, and were my bubble. They were being safe for me. Also, my father would take me to and from the hospital.
How has your diagnosis affected your family?
They were my quarantine bubble and cancer support group. All of the in-person support groups that were traditionally offered at my cancer center were canceled due to COVID-19. My family rallied around me, and I feel very special to have that time with them.
What are your favorite parts about the new Jess that the old Jess didn’t have?
Cancer has sharpened my humor and I am fucking funny now.
It is like cancer has given me a whole new language. It is not just darker but full of love and light behind the darkness. It is my tool. It is my weapon and my comfort. It is humor on a different level.
I just started a new account on IG for my cancer songs – the funny things that happen through cancer, & the life of cancer through music. Humor is multifaceted; coping, connecting, and uniting. This platform allows people to share things about their experiences that people understand. It is another way of advocating how to live with cancer. The new account is @cancersonic – JJMad; a play on the American female rap group, J. J. Fad. It is mostly 90s hip-hop. It is for cancer patients, caretakers, muggles, and those just learning.
How has dating been with MBC?
I am in a committed relationship. My partner and I had been together for 8 years when I was diagnosed. True life partners that have persevered being diagnosed and seeing it through to survivorship. We have been together for 11 years.
How can our readers connect with you?
Social media – IG: @jessmiso & @cancersonic | Twitter: @jmiso | TikTok: @jessmiso
This conversation provided the opportunity to learn all about Jess, her journey, and our shared experiences. We learned that we are kindred spirits in a lot of ways. I believe that it is a testament to FTBOU and the community that we have created. From the moment that we shared in the Legacy Room to this conversation; she is my sister and I am hers!
