When Chrissy Hoffman went for her annual mammogram, she didn’t expect for a callback. Even after she received a biopsy for a suspicious mass that was detected on her scan, she didn’t worry. However, after a pathology report revealed the marble-sized mass was indeed breast cancer, she was faced with a new reality.
“My mother and I both sat and looked at the test report in disbelief. How could this be?” She says remembering the moment 13 years ago.
“With the love and support of my friends and family I embarked on a nine-month journey that would change my life forever.”
Treatment was tough – especially its side effects – but Chrissy took each challenge in stride. After her first round of chemotherapy, she began losing her hair.
“I was washing my hair and suddenly had clumps of hair in my hands. They were falling out faster than I would have imagined,” she said.
At first, she cut her hair short, but soon decided to shave it entirely.
“After that an amazing thing happened. I didn’t care that I didn’t have hair! After all, what is hair? It will grow back,” she says.
Chemotherapy treatments drained her system. Some days it was impossible for her to get out of bed. One of the hardest points was a hospital visit for a fever that wouldn’t break.
Despite this, Chrissy continued to work throughout her treatment.
“It gave me a sense of purpose,” she says.
Her employer, Streamlight, was exceptionally supportive. Her boss and coworkers rallied around her during this difficult time. It’s a philosophy the company maintains throughout. As a BCRF corporate partner for nearly a decade, Streamlight has donated nearly $700,000 to advance lifesaving breast cancer research.
For Chrissy, who is now in remission, this commitment is especially meaningful.
“I never want to see my friends and family have to go through this horrible disease,” she says. “Research is the only way that we will find a cure and stop the needless suffering.”
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