Breast Cancer Fight – Sharing the Good, the Bad and the Ugl

Angel Brooks has been telling her story on social media for years. With 40,000 followers across her social media platforms – Facebook, Instagram and Tik Tok – she felt it only right that she would share her breast cancer journey as well.

Breast Cancer Awareness Through Social Media

Angel, 29, was diagnosed last December and had no hesitation in chronicling that news.

“This is part of my journey now, so I decided I’m going to post about this too,” she said. “I want to make people aware that young people also get breast cancer and encourage people to get checked sooner rather than later.”

Since she began sharing this part of her story, she’s gained 500 new followers.

The Harlan County native is a social media influencer who now lives in Richmond, shares posts about such things as reviews for restaurants and small businesses, along with her life story. She works in the float pool for Saint Joseph Medical Group. 

Angel noticed a lump in her breast last May and was referred to the Saint Joseph Health Breast Center. When she went back to the breast center in December, another ultrasound and biopsy revealed the tumor to be cancerous.

“I wasn't expecting this at all,” she said. Her family has no  history of breast cancer, although family members have had other cancers.

Since her diagnosis, Angel has shared the preparation she did for the cold cap, which is used to help prevent hair loss. She also shared the installation of the port that will be used for chemotherapy treatment. At 29, she plans for the future, since she wants to have children someday, documented visits for  in vitro fertilization.

“I want to share the good, the bad and ugly of all of it,” she said. “I know it’s not going to be an easy journey.”

Nicola Jabbour, MD, a medical oncologist with Saint Joseph Health - Cancer Center in Lexington, has been caring for cancer patients for 15 years and is seeing more and more breast cancer in women in their 30s and 40s.

“Unfortunately, we are seeing more and more cancer in general among young people, especially when it comes to breast and colon cancer,” he said. “If someone has a family member with breast or colon cancer, they are at a much higher risk. That emphasizes the fact that being young doesn’t mean that a person can’t have breast cancer.”

Early Detection and Screening for Breast Cancer

Stories like Angel’s can help raise awareness of young women who may not consider the need for vigilance when it comes to breast cancer, Dr. Jabbour said, adding that breast self-exams are critical, as well as having a good relationship with a primary care provider. Mammograms are not usually recommended until women reach age 40.

But, he said, social media can be a double-edged sword. While Angel’s story is powerful and shows the human side of the disease, women may get incorrect, or even harmful, advice on social media platforms. One example is a growing negative attitude about screening mammograms.

“(Social media) should be a way to make people more aware of what’s going on and more aware that diseases can happen at any age,” he said. “But it should not be the main source of education. Talk to your doctor, look at legitimate medical sources. The American Cancer Society website has a lot of good articles and links with good information.”

“Stories like (Angel’s) should emphasize the importance of being aware of concerning signs or symptoms,” Dr. Jabbour said.

Follow Angel’s breast cancer journey through Days with Angel on Facebook, Instagram and Tik Tok. To schedule your mammogram or speak with a provider, call (859) 967-5613.