Welcome

This is not my full story but a chapter.

Hey, I’m Stacy—mom, wife, senior exec, and now, a warrior in the fight against triple-negative breast cancer, thanks to an August 2024 diagnosis during my wedding planning (what a plot twist, right?). This cancer is aggressive, but with my amazing crew of family, friends, and coworkers, I’m tackling it head-on. Through my blog, "Life, Love, and Cancer," I’m sharing the real ups and downs of treatment, the power of love, and the resilience it takes to get through each day—with a little humor to keep things rolling, of course.

More About Me

Life, Love & Cancer

Plot Twist, Mindset Shift

Life threw me a major plot twist on August 8 2024, when I was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer—= three weeks before my wedding.

Sep 30, 20248 min read

Monarch butterfly resting on a pink zinnia flower in a summer garden

How Are You? (And Other Impossible Questions in Life After Cancer)

A simple question — ‘How are you?’ — unraveled a year’s worth of survival, identity, emotion, and the quiet work of learning how to live again.

Nov 214 min read

Mastectomy Recovery: My 3-Month Journey Through Surgery, Drains, and Healing

Three months out from a double mastectomy and direct-to-implant breast reconstruction, this is what I learned about pain, drains, scars, and finding my way back to looking and feeling like myself.

Sep 2210 min read

All Posts

Why 'Badass' Is More Than Just a Word

For us, "Badass" isn’t just about being tough—it’s our family’s signature vibe. Or, as my Gen Alpha kid might say, “ultimate hype squad.” What started as a funny acronym with mine and Andy’s initials has blown up into something bigger. "Badass" is all heart and that core energy that keeps us close-knit. It’s our go-to reminder to tackle life’s messes with grit, humor, and a good ol' family eye-roll. This quirky badge of honor pulls us together through the ups, downs, and everything in between. As the “Badass Battle Crew,” we’re taking on this fight with all the strength and spirit that makes us…well, us. And we need your support—join us and be a Badass!

There’s so much poetry in today, I don’t even know where to start.

Is it that I finished 13 months of active cancer treatment on October 31 - Halloween - after the scariest time of my life?

Or that I wrapped it up on the final day of Breast Cancer Awareness Month - after fighting for every day that comes next?

Either way, I’m done with treatment! That’s it. No more!!

I finished quietly, with my husband by my side in room 7, surrounded by the best oncology team I could ever ask for.

No bell ringing this time - last time I did, it broke. 🤣

And this afternoon, a black cat crossed my path. Good luck? Bad luck? Hard to say. But I’m calling it poetic justice.

A full eight months separate then and now, and we’ve reached a new milestone: enough hair to pin up and tuck behind my ears! Just when I get the hang of one hairstyle, it’s already outgrown and I’m starting over again. Needless to say, there’ve been plenty of bad hair days! But I’m encouraged by how fast it’s coming back. Maybe it’s the collagen. Maybe it’s the shampoo. Either way, head and brows are outpacing arms and legs. I’ll take that any day.

#tnbc #triplenegativebreastcancer #badassbattlecrew #breastcancer

It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month and if you’re planning to donate, consider giving to a foundation that puts most of its dollars into research, not marketing.

🩷 Link in bio to donate.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is one of the most aggressive and hardest to treat because it lacks the targets that make other therapies work. More research is the only path to a cure.

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) is the largest private funder of breast cancer research in the world, supporting more than 260 scientists across 16 countries and investing over $70 million in 2024–2025, including 86 projects focused on metastatic and triple-negative breast cancer.

Even with all that progress, there’s still no cure for TNBC - and for me, the next 2–3 years remain a high-stakes window. Every research dollar helps push that finish line closer.

🎗️Link in bio to donate.

Already donated somewhere else? Amazing. Every bit of support fuels the fight. 🙏

#triplenegativebreastcancer #bcrf #tnbc #badassbattlecrew

Not all finish lines look the same. No bell to ring this time. The last 6 of 22 cycles of chemo ended tonight quietly, with 4 capicetabine pills and a champagne flute of Pedialyte. Chemo is (finally) DONE. 🥂 #badassbattlecrew #triplenegativebreastcancer

Cycle 5 // Aug 4-24. Cycle five is in the rearview now, but its impact is anything but past tense. This round came with another plot twist and a tough decision.

Keytruda - a miracle immunotherapy drug that’s been training my immune system to attack cancer cells - is working so well it also turned on one of my healthy organs.

It “took out” my thyroid - likely for life - and I spent two days wondering if I should stop treatment.

The thyroid may be small but it quietly runs a lot of big jobs - energy, metabolism, body temperature. Kinda a big deal to lose. And it can’t be fixed.

In the end, I chose to keep moving forward, because fighting cancer is still the bigger battle. But who am I kidding, really? None of this has really been in my control. The only real “choice” is to keep going - we’re so close now!

August 8 // One Year Later.

One year ago, everything split into “before” and “after.”

Since then: a surgery, chemo, immuno, another surgery, more chemo, more immuno, physical therapy, a lot of “what the f*%k” moments, a lot of tears, a lot of laughter and an abundance of support from you, my friends and family and community.

It’s been brutal. It’s been relentless. But it’s also been life, and I’m still living it.

How did I spend the day?

The weight of it was more than I expected. So, I marked the occasion by vacillating between ignoring it and embracing it.

I got hair cut (the pixie is not my favorite hair stage), went in for a hit of immuno (seemed apropos), and spent the night with family.

The latter was exactly where I needed to be.

#badassbattlecrew #triplenegativebreastcancer #tnbc

Cycle 4 // July 14-Aug 3. Rewinding a bit to cycle four of Capecitabine + Keytruda… same old side effects - joint pain, super sensitive skin, and swelling so bad I couldn’t get my wedding ring on - but we kept life moving at summer speed. Thank god for neighborhood friends and bikes (my unofficial childcare plan). Lake days looked a little different - sand and heat don’t mix well with chemo and immuno - but I still found some sunshine and a little rosé on my off weeks. My hair, meanwhile, was busy staging its comeback tour.

#badassbattlecrew #triplenegativebreastcancer #tnbc

Six months ago, I couldn’t walk more than a city block without collapsing from chemo fatigue.

Four months ago, breast surgery left me unable to lift or reach.

Three months ago, immunotherapy brought muscle and bone pain that required someone to help me stand from a sitting position.

And for the last 8 weeks I’ve been fighting back with exercise - physical therapy, weighted walks, resistance training.

Fighting pain and fatigue with more activity sounded ridiculous, but it’s changed everything.

Now I’m reaching into cabinets, carrying my own luggage through the airport, lifting my own paddle board, and even sleeping through the night.

Turns out exercise is the ultimate “chemo hack” starving off side effects without more meds.

With 4 more weeks of chemo to go and 10 more of immuno, you’ll find greeting each day with resistance bands in my living room and clocking 7.5 miles a day in my neighborhood.

From barely moving to moving nonstop… I’ll take this victory lap as well. 🏅

Cycle 3 // June 23–July 14. Nineteen cycles. That’s how long it took for chemo to finally win a round and make me throw up. 🤢

Unfortunately, it happened in public, during vintage car weekend. The hydrangeas at the Shore Club got the worst of it, and my incredibly supportive kids formed a human barrier around me with their best “nothing to see here” energy.

Honestly, I think I deserve a medal for holding the line this long.

But once that milestone hit, the rest of Cycle 3 brought the full circus of side effects: burning feet, muscle soreness, joint pain, fatigue and dehydration.

Just another day in the glam life of chemo. ✨

#triplenegativebreastcancer #badassbattlecrew

C2W1-3 [June 2 - 22]: 112 pills later, or 8 per day for two weeks, and side effects aren’t too bad (yet!).

You can’t touch the pills with your bare hands. You have to store them just right. And every 12 hours, like clockwork, I swallow a handful of poison and hope it works.

I do feel better than I did during pre-surgery chemo. But let’s not confuse better with easy. This chemistry experiment is still working overtime - fighting, shifting, healing in its own brutal way.

The Good:
+ Less insomnia (finally sleeping better)
+ 7,000 steps/day (take that, fatigue)
+ Traveled on low WBC and stayed healthy.

The Rough:
- Chemo sun sensitivity = instant sunburn
- Hot flashes = me vs the thermostat
- Muscle, bone and joint soreness = 2 minutes and a pep talk to stand up
- 100oz of water + daily Pedialyte… and I still feel like a raisin

Cycle 3, let’s go.

Whether you’re slipping into a bikini, your favorite summer dress, or peeling off a sweaty sports bra… take a minute. Feel around. Check your boobs. Today.

This week, one year ago, I was at my wedding dress fitting, feeling those summer vibes and buzzing with big day energy.

While adjusting the sweetheart style dress, I felt something that hadn’t been there before. Or maybe it had, and I just never noticed. But it was something. Wasn’t it?

That afternoon, I asked Andy to check. (He more than obliged - hehe) He said, “Yeah… get it looked at so you don’t worry and wonder if it’s something sinister.” Those words hung in the air over me.

I called my doctor that same afternoon, and two days later, I was in her office. She referred me to the breast clinic at the hospital. Three biopsies over the next three weeks, and I got the results.

In this photo, I had no clue what was coming - just a moment, a touch that changed everything. I was already Stage 2.

Cancer wasn’t on my radar. There was no family history. I was the healthiest I’d been in my life. There were no warning signs. It was the fast-spreading kind.

Had I discovered it six months later or put off calling the doctor, I’d likely be telling a very different cancer journey story.

In honor of this moment a year ago - and everything that came after - I’m encouraging every woman (and man) I know to do a self-exam this week.

Check your boobs. Book that mammogram.
Early detection matters.

#tnbc #triplenegativebreastcancer #cancersurvivor #livingwithcancer #badassbattlecrew

[May 12-30] C1W1-3: With one foot in survivorship and the other still stuck in the chemo trenches, my brain’s been doing Olympic-level mental gymnastics. Lately, I’ve been arguing with myself over what the hell even counts as a milestone anymore. So for now, I’m calling it: we raise a glass (or ginger ale and turmeric) to the small wins—two weeks of daily chemo pill popping (8 pills a day!!) followed by an immuno drip. Here’s to another lap in the chemo relay—hopefully the last.

#triplenegativebreastcancer #tnbc #badassbattlecrew

We celebrated. We rang the bell. For a moment, it felt like the hard part was over. But as it turns out, healing isn’t linear.

RCB-1. Residual Cancer Burden (RCB) rating is given to patients like me who receive chemo before surgery - a way to measure how much cancer is left after treatment. The score is 0 - 2.

A few days ago I learned that while my tumor is gone (shrunk from 3.7 cm to 4 mm before surgery) I’m not technically “cancer free.” Cancer cells are still lingering.

As I’ve tried to process the news, the best way I can describe it is how I shared it with my kids:
Cancer is like a wildfire. Chemo and surgery put out the main flames, but smoldering embers remain. If left alone, they could spark another fire.

So today I started chemo again, a new drug called Capecitabine. It’s an oral chemo, taken twice a day for two weeks, every 21 days for six cycles - about 18 weeks of side effect roulette (plus a few new challenges in the mix.)

And the work doesn’t stop there. On my “off”weeks, I continue immunotherapy infusions.

It’s not the quiet ending I expected but it’s a second chance to finish stronger. 🩷

#triplenegativebreastcancer #tnbc #badassbattlecrew

After a few weeks of post-op recovery, a lot of healing is still in progress but I’m physically ready to get back to work. I’ll miss the slower mornings but it feels good to get back to pace right now. #triplenegativebreastcancer #badassbattlecrew

One week post double mastectomy + reconstruction. Cancer took the first swing, but I threw the knock-out punch. On April 4, both breasts were removed- and in return, I got five new scars, two implants, and a whole new level of gratitude. Recovery’s been a mix of pain meds, surgical drains, an iron bra that feels like medieval lingerie, and a deep appreciation for naps, sweatpants, and people who bring snacks. The best part? Pathology showed no signs of spread to the lymph nodes… and the post-chemo tumor is now GONE!! I’m pausing to let this milestone land. It’s not the end of the road (next up: immunotherapy) but it’s a damn good mile marker. I’m alive today. And I’m deeply grateful.

I’m grateful to the doctors at Northwestern Medicine for their breakthrough medicine and surgical brilliance, for the family who carried me when I couldn’t carry myself (quite literally at times), and for friends who showed up without being asked - thank you! You kept me laughing, hydrated, and so fiercely loved.

#badassbattlecrew #triplenegativebreastcancer

I didn’t get to the beach. I didn’t get to the spa. I tackled a mountain of laundry, did my taxes, and bought a post-op wedge pillow that looks like orthopedic origami. But somewhere in the lull of chemo and surgery I reminded myself of how I anticipated this very moment. How in the chaos between diagnosis and my wedding, I did something bold. Spontaneous. Secret. A way to say goodbye to the body I’ve known for so long and prepare to embrace a new one. It’s the best thing I ever did for myself. And I never told anyone. Until now.

New blog post is up: Before the Scars: The Thing I Did for Myself Before Breast Surgery

(Link in bio)

#badassbattlecrew #triplenegativebreastcancer

I’m looking forward to all the new hair styles in my future EXCEPT for one: The Mullet. It might only be week 5, but a trim was necessary.

#badassbattlecrew #triplenegativebreastcancer

From cue ball to chia pet - let the awkward hair regrowth games begin! Every sprout is a reminder - my body’s healing. It’s patchy. It’s weird. It’s progress.

#badassbattlecrew #triplenegativebreastcancer

I bought two wigs - one synthetic and one real human hair - and it turns out I didn’t need them. Emily donated her old costume wigs to the cause, and I much prefer the Mal or Evie look (Disney Descendants).

Five months ago I faced one of my biggest fears and shaved my head. But what happened after… that’s the part I didn’t see coming. Now, I’m at an unexpected crossroads. New blog post is live: What I found when chemo took my hair. Link in bio.

#badassbattlecrew #triplenegativebreastcancer

February 24: Somewhere in between these two moments, I spent 45 min in a very loud MRI machine, holding perfectly still while it scanned me for what’s left. If there was an Oscar award for Best Unintentional Method Acting, I’d like to thank my incredible ability to play the role of “person who is totally relaxed and not thinking about residual cancer at all.”

The results? NEAR COMPLETE RESPONSE. The tumor shrank by 75% - not completely, but enough to call it a win! Surgery is still happening in a few weeks and it’s all about sealing the deal.

Let’s do this. 🩷

February 19: Final chemo infusion complete.🔔 Five months ago, I walked into my first treatment, not fully understanding what lay ahead. Today, after 16 rounds of chemo, I get to walk out having done one of the hardest things I’ve ever faced. Chemo took a lot - it stole my vitality, drained my energy, and made me question if I could keep going. There were days I thought I couldn’t. Days when I’d cry or shake with anxiety on the drive to the cancer center. But I did it.

I’m ringing that bell with everything I’ve got, surrounded by my kids, my parents, my friends, the entire staff at Northwestern Medicine in Glenview, and Andy - the rock through every brutal moment. I still have a long road ahead, but the hardest part is behind me.

To everyone who has cheered me on, checked in, lifted me up when I needed it most - THANK YOU. I couldn’t have done this without you. Today, we celebrate. 🩷

#badassbattlecrew #triplenegativebreastcancer @badassbattlecrew www.badassbattlecrew.com

Ten days post-chemo #15, and I’m feeling… complicated. Physically, I’m running on fumes. Mentally, chemo brain has me second-guessing everything. And emotionally? Let’s just say the weight of it all has officially hit.

The grief isn’t just about losing my breasts to my upcoming mastectomy—it’s about everything this disease has stolen. My energy, my executive function, my sense of control over my body.

Oh yeah, I do yoga now. And, I sniff essential oils like they hold the meaning of life.

This blog is raw and real, saying the quiet parts out loud.

🩷 Link in bio 🩷

Or copy/paste: https://www.badassbattlecrew.com/post/an-honest-check-in-with-myself

January 29: Chemo infusion 15 out of 16—is in the books and I cannot wait to be done. Each session feels like adding a weight to my backpack on a long hike; the closer I get to the summit, the heavier the load.

🌟 Meet my brother, the ultimate badass with a heart of gold! Braving the frosty days in New York, he’s not just dodging snowflakes; he’s training for a half marathon. Not for the medals or the bragging rights, but to raise funds for research so we can give a badass beatdown to breast cancer. Read why he runs and please consider donating ➡️ https://fundraisers.nyrr.org/badassbattlecrew @thinkpinkrocks @dstrassb @badassbattlecrew @stacybeddoes

January 17: First ER adventure! 🏥 Made it deep into cold and flu season before the inevitable bug capitalized on my low WBC. Thankfully, back home and on the mend. 😷 A bustling ER meant @jillmhaggerty had to step up—she’s a pro! 😂 Also, a quick lesson on the right (and very wrong) ways to wear a hospital gown brought some levity to the situation.

January 9: Cycle 14 - Second dose of the red stuff today, and a tearful send-off to the absolute best oncology nurse. It was difficult to find a sticker to mark the countdown chart; there’s a million signs by our school aged artist decorating the house. Only two more infusions to go!

It’s bold, it’s unforgiving, and it’s my latest opponent in this fight against cancer. The blog is live, and I’m breaking down what it’s like to face the infamous Doxorubicin—aka the Red Devil, a chemo drug with the power to save lives and the punch to knock you off your feet. Go to:www.badassbattlecrew.com

From the Red Devil to Sun Devil, the last ten days have been a battle to feel human again. But there’s nothing like a cozy New Year’s Day, feet up, watching college bowl games to force some much-needed rest. Also, finally got the countdown chart up-to-date. 🥱

December 20: C5D1 - Met the “red devil” today—Doxorubicin, the chemo drug that’s as toxic as it sounds. Not gonna lie, it feels like my insides are waving a white flag. Energy is nonexistent and couldn’t even take the count down photo, but somehow, my spirit animal showed up to remind me I’ve got this.

December 13: We did it! 🎉 Today marks the end of Part I of chemo treatment. Goodbye to weekly infusions (and those ice socks and gloves—won’t miss ya!). Part II promises to pack a punch, but for now, we celebrate with cake… even if I can’t taste it. 😂 #BadassBattleCrew @strazzd

December 6: C4D2 - After last week’s setback, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Glad to be back on schedule with the 11th infusion in the books. @shlaschmidt

November 29: Surprise twist! What should’ve been C4D2 got postponed—turns out my body is too weak for more chemo right now. 😔 We’ll give it another go next week. In the meantime, made the most of the found time with a coffee break with my badass brother. @dstrassb. ☕️🩷

November 22: C4D1 - Double digits, baby! Infusion 10 today, which means we’re 63% of the way to surgery. And even better—some good news from the surgeon: the tumor is shrinking! 🎉 Plus, a snap of my steady trying to get some work in while keeping me company on new cycle days. @beddoesa

November 19: Surprise infusion day! My RBC and iron levels are running low, and with Cycle 4 around the corner, a 3-hour iron drip was in order. Mom’s on side-effect watch while keeping the nurses updated. @strazzd

💖 Be a Badass — Battle Gear Store is open until Nov. 25! International shipping avail.

🔗 https://bit.ly/ShopBadassBattleGear

When you hear 'I have cancer,' there’s no script for what to say or do. But showing up means everything. Those small actions create lifelines, whether it’s a hug, a laugh, or just being present.

In my latest blog post, I share what it means to show up and how my husband and kids are channeling helplessness into action—fighting cancer together, one step at a time.

November 15: C3D3 - Today’s infusion was standard, but battling iron deficiency anemia and a fever made bouncing back a bit harder. Still fighting strong!

November 8: C3D2 – Still feeling the last infusion, so today felt like starting from behind. I’ve reached the stage where I might fall asleep mid-sentence or burst into tears over nothing. The fatigue is no joke! @dickstrassburger

November 1: C3D1 – Starting the second half of part one in my treatment plan. The first 48 hours are always the toughest, and the fatigue now is next level! @beddoesa

New blog post: How my wedding dress fitting led to a life-saving breast cancer discovery, just weeks before saying ‘I do’—a story of fate. Link in bio

October 25: C2D3- Today we celebrated the halfway mark of the first leg of my neo-adjunctive chemo journey. It’s like hitting the layover on a long-haul flight—still a ways to go, but one step closer to the destination. @jenny_n_olson_

October 23: Embracing my buzz-cut era. I held it together all day, but when I saw my friend Lindsay, I broke down—and her warmth got me through. With every buzz of the clippers, my friends and family surrounded me and cheered me on. 🩷 @bloomsalon

October 19: A quick escape to the lake was desperately needed, and it gave me a taste of that beach I was dreaming of at my last infusion. This is my happy place.

October 18: C2D2 - A shorter infusion today but with a twist. The hurricane in Florida caused a saline shortage, so all the pre-meds were pushed through a syringe instead of the usual IV. Those hit hard but it could be worse. My heart goes out to those who lost everything in the hurricane. @strazzd

October 17: There’s been a lot of talk about hair since mine started falling out. She wanted a haircut in solidarity—I won’t let her shave it, though!

October 11: C2D1 - Back at it with a hard-hitting infusion day. Dreaming of being on a beach when this is all over.

October 10: My infusion day is moving from Mondays to Fridays, giving me a mini break in the schedule. But things are getting real with the hair loss, so I panic shopped for a wig.

October 5: Still keeping up with the kids’ activities, but admittedly, things are a lot more low-key. We weren’t the family to host the homecoming after-party this year, and we took some shortcuts on the pumpkins

October 1: Move-in day! My parents pressed pause on their life in Wisconsin and moved to Illinois for the next six months to be closer to us. Just wow!

September 30: C1D3 - End of Cycle 1 of 8! Woo hoo! The doctors say how I felt these past three weeks will likely set the pattern for the first three months—though expect more fatigue as we go. Honestly, it wasn’t too bad. A pleasant surprise! @jillmhaggerty

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Love, Life & Cancer

Welcome

Life, Love & Cancer

Plot Twist, Mindset Shift

How Are You? (And Other Impossible Questions in Life After Cancer)

Mastectomy Recovery: My 3-Month Journey Through Surgery, Drains, and Healing

Follow us on Instagram

Just updates. No spam.

Love, Life & Cancer

Welcome

Life, Love & Cancer

Plot Twist, Mindset Shift

How Are You? (And Other Impossible Questions in Life After Cancer)

Mastectomy Recovery: My 3-Month Journey Through Surgery, Drains, and Healing

​

Follow us on Instagram

Just updates. No spam.