Breast cancer survivors in Maryland are fostering a supportive community aimed at empowering others navigating the challenges of recovery. Jill Krause and Tricia Wagman, both of whom have faced the disease, are using their experiences to advocate for awareness and healing.
At 40, Jill Krause reflects on her journey since being diagnosed with breast cancer at 38. Despite completing her medical treatment, the lasting effects of eight surgeries have profoundly impacted her life. Krause now deals with osteoporosis, shallow breathing, limited upper body motion, and heart issues, stemming from the radiation treatment she underwent. “It’s a luxury you lose, of not having had a life-altering trauma,” she remarked, highlighting the struggles faced by many survivors.
According to the National Institutes of Health, the average breast cancer survival rate is approximately 91%, with nearly 100% for localized cases. The death rate has decreased by more than 58% over the past 50 years, largely due to advances in treatment and early detection, as noted in a 2024 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Krause, who launched the YOUniversalLOVE oncology yoga practice, offers yoga sessions at the Claudia Mayer/Tina Broccolino Cancer Resource Center and in her vibrant home studio filled with disco balls. This unique setting reflects her philosophy of embracing life with resilience. Uncomfortable with the term “survivor,” which she feels implies a completed journey, Krause prefers to identify as a “disco ball,” symbolizing the beauty that can emerge from life’s broken pieces.
Reflecting on her first experience with yoga, she recalled, “I laid on the mat for the entire hour… That was all I could do.” This initial struggle is something many survivors can relate to, emphasizing the need for support and understanding in the recovery process.
In Westminster, Tricia Wagman, a former nurse at Carroll Hospital, has dedicated her time to supporting others since founding the hospital’s cancer support group in 1994. Her personal connection to breast cancer deepened when she was diagnosed with invasive ductal cancer at age 59. After undergoing 20 radiation treatments, Wagman continued to work full-time and remained actively involved in the hospital’s annual “Pink Fling” breast-care fundraiser.
“It was awkward to be part of the support group,” Wagman admitted, yet she found comfort in the warm welcome from fellow members. Now retired after 36 years in nursing, she chairs the Pink Fling, which took place on October 19, 2022 in Upperco, Baltimore County.
Wagman shared that breast cancer has affected her family as well; two of her five sisters are survivors. “The advances in early detection have been significant, and surgical techniques have improved remarkably,” she noted, emphasizing the shift from radical mastectomies to less invasive lumpectomies, which have reduced complications like lymphedema.
Krause’s story underscores the importance of self-advocacy in healthcare. She attributes her early diagnosis to her doctor’s insistence on further testing, despite previous assurances from an imaging center. “Advocacy is a really big part of my story, because I advocated for myself and I believe I saved my own life,” she stated, expressing that waiting six months could have led to a different outcome.
As she continues to focus on survivorship, Krause aims to guide others through their journeys. “There was nobody, 15 years ago, guiding me at all with what to do now,” she said. She emphasizes the importance of finding community and expressing emotions, reassuring others, “No matter what the emotion is, you are going to be OK.”
Through their shared experiences, Krause and Wagman are lighting the way for others facing similar battles, fostering a sense of hope and community among breast cancer survivors.
