By: LaShae Rolle, 27, Multicentric Breast Cancer

When I began my journey in public health during my Master of Public Health (MPH) program, my passion was clear: I wanted to help reduce the prevalence and mortality of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in marginalized and minority populations. As a lifelong athlete, I was drawn to fitness and knew the power of lifestyle interventions, especially exercise, in preventing these diseases. The idea that something that could instill discipline and build community, like exercise, could save lives fueled my drive to make a difference.

My path led me to pursue a Ph.D. in Prevention Science and Community Health. I was eager to dive deeper into the world of NCD prevention, with a focus on serving diverse communities like the one I grew up in. Early in my doctoral studies, I was matched with a mentor whose work centered on cancer and lifestyle interventions. This unexpected match opened my eyes to the world of cancer lifestyle medicine, a field that resonated with my passion for using exercise as a method for improving health.

I quickly shifted my focus from NCDs broadly to cancer prevention, especially in the communities I belonged to; those often overlooked and underserved. I immersed myself in research and began to improve my writing and statistical skills, determined to find ways to improve the lives of those at risk of cancer through effective lifestyle interventions.

However, just as I was making strides in my training, life threw me a curveball. Smack in the middle of my Ph.D. program, at age 26, I received the news: ER-positive, stage 2B multicentric breast cancer in all four quadrants of my breast. Suddenly, I was not just a part of the research team and a soon-to-be lead investigator; I was a patient. The very disease I was studying, the one I was so passionately working to prevent, had found its way into my life.

Becoming one of the people I aimed to help was a surreal and humbling experience. It was a stark reminder that no one is immune, not even those of us who dedicate our lives to preventing these diseases and have no family history or common risk factors. My diagnosis has profoundly shaped my research and my commitment to cancer prevention. It’s no longer just about numbers and statistics, it’s personal.

Throughout my treatment including mastectomy, chemotherapy, and now radiation, I exercised and proved my belief that exercise is medicine. I walked the walk, powerlifting before and after my mastectomy, as well as during and after chemotherapy. I documented and continue to share my journey, showing the world that life after cancer is not only possible, but powerful.

Now, more than ever, I am driven to make a difference, not only for myself but for all those who find themselves in similar situations. I understand on a personal level the unique struggles that AYAs face when given a cancer diagnosis. The work I plan to do in cancer lifestyle medicine will not be just a career; it will be a mission. I am living proof that the work we do in public health is not just academic, it’s lifesaving. While my journey has taken an unexpected turn, I believe it will make me an even better researcher, as the AYA community is now a high-priority, underserved group I hope to help through my cancer disparity research career. I am more determined than ever to continue fighting for the health and well-being of marginalized and minority communities.