By Lucy Modzelewski
Photos by Tindall Stephens
When Sean Haley was 32 and 24 weeks pregnant with her daughter Ivy, she was busy chasing her toddler, Oliver, at her job with the Beauty Shop, and building a life with her now-husband Daniel. Her busy life came to a screeching halt when she was diagnosed with Stage 3 invasive ductal carcinoma, a type of breast cancer that has since metastasized in her liver and back.
Despite a bleak diagnosis, Sean is a breath of fresh air with which to chat. She radiates more energy and good humor than anyone could expect as she describes her journey of navigating motherhood, our broken healthcare system, and self-advocacy through an incurable diagnosis.
She explains that, while receiving a breast cancer diagnosis in and of itself was not shocking, the severity of the diagnosis and the rocky road to getting there were undoubtedly a shock to the system. Breast cancer runs in Sean’s tight-knit family, and she and her siblings all have the BRCA gene mutation that can increase the risk of developing breast cancer.
Around Thanksgiving of 2022, Sean noticed her armpit was slightly swollen, and by Christmas, it had progressed to a visible lump. However, after a mammogram and ultrasound at West Cancer Center, the doctor overseeing her care advised that the issue was likely hormonal and to come back in six months.
Six months later, Sean was pregnant and knew something wasn’t right. She noticed breast and skin changes: her skin was red and rash-like but also dry and flaky with an orange-peel texture, and despite being pregnant, she was losing weight rapidly. All common signs of breast cancer, she fought for the proper diagnosis.
After months of advocating for herself and many setbacks and dropped balls along the way, Sean was diagnosed with stage 3 invasive ductal carcinoma in September of 2023. Doctors discovered that she had a tumor the size of two golf balls — so large they were deemed inoperable. Sean immediately underwent 12 weeks of chemotherapy, gave birth to her daughter in December 2023, and underwent eight more weeks of chemo, followed by a double mastectomy and a regimen of weekly breast inflations and radiation treatments. The toll of these treatments on her body and mind has been profound, compounded by the onset of menopause induced by her therapies, which Sean admits has brought about an identity crisis.
Further complications arose post-delivery when pathology reports indicated the cancer had progressed to stage 4, metastasizing to Sean’s liver and back.
Throughout it all, Sean has faced this battle with a lightness and enduring sense of humor – remaining hopeful and determined to take charge of her health. “I am in charge of how I feel,” she affirms. “They’re treating me at West Cancer, but when it comes down to it, I’m responsible for how I feel every day.”
She emphasizes the importance of nutrition, prioritizing nutrient-dense meals like Chris Wark’s cancer-fighting salad and antioxidant-rich juices. Sean also undergoes holistic treatments like red light therapy at New Day Healing and Wellness to help improve her quality of life. Despite the physical and emotional toll of treatment, Sean finds solace in moments with her children and the unwavering support of her husband, her close-knit family, and her supportive community of friends.
As she prepares for the grueling weeks of radiation ahead, Sean reflects on the strength she has discovered within herself. “It takes mental gymnastics to get through each day, and some days it is hard to even get out of bed,” she admits. “But I have so much to fight for, and I am not giving up just yet — the only way out is through.”
