Emma's Story

Emma Vivian was diagnosed with early stage triple positive breast cancer in December 2018, aged 29.

Emma found a lump after she initiated self examinations following the cancer diagnosis of a close friend. Her treatment included fertility preservation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, bilateral mastectomy, breast reconstruction and targeted therapies.

One thing that she wishes she would have known when she was diagnosed is that cancer support groups aren’t scary places!

There really is a support group out there for everyone, and they can be a great place to connect with other people who understand the challenges of a cancer diagnosis. Emma’s favourite support groups at UCLA are ‘All Together: Connecting Beyond Cancer and COVID’ and the ‘UCLA AYA Monthly Support Group’.