I am 32 now and four years ago, I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. It was unexpected, I thought I was too young. And I was – I was too young to get chemo, to get my breasts removed and to end up in menopause.

However, it happened. It was scary, annoying, frustrating and every other feeling you can think of. But I was prepared. My mom, my grandmother, my aunt, my cousin – they all had it. So, I began my fight with a crazy amount of resources.

And yet, despite all the information and experience that prepared me for the fight, the surgeries, the chemo, I didn’t know what happens after. Yes, I knew that once all this ends, I will just have to take a pill every day and an injection every month and I will go into menopause for 5 years but that was great, I thought. I will not have my period, that’s the one perk of this whole experience.

So I started hormonal therapy. Few weeks into the treatment I stopped sleeping, I couldn’t catch my breath, I was waking up with a pulse above 100. Then the extensive sweating started combined with a burning sensation in my head… and afterwards it was depression. And this I didn’t realise it was from the pills. It took me a while to gain the power and motivation to fight all this.

But I will jump to the happy ending! I am in my 4th year of treatment and I feel amazing! My health is better than ever, my energy is almost back, I am mostly in a good mood, no heart palpitations, no sweats, no depression. I even became a yoga instructor and ran my first half marathon this year!

How did I do that? Well… two years into research, trying everything there is to try, measuring and tracking. Breathing exercises and cold exposure helped for the heart palpitations, shortness of breath and sweats. Finding a good gynaecologist helped with the low libido and dryness. Sport and yoga helped with low mood, overall wellness and sleeping. I also found teas and supplements that make things better.

It is all good now, but it took some time for me. What I hope is that Womeno would become a valuable source, a community, a support centre, a safe space. Yes, you would still have to try things, because we are all different, our bodies, our physiology, our mind. There is not one pill that can fix it all, yet. But I believe with the right information and support, everyone can find their way.