September 30, 2024

Twice a thriver: Sarella Singer's breast cancer journey

By Sarella Singer, Discovery Channel Manager, Distribution Programs

Did you know that every 14 seconds someone somewhere in the world is diagnosed with breast cancer?

And that someone can be someone we know, someone we work with.

If you don’t know someone who’s had breast cancer, let me be your friend with breast cancer. I am Sarella Singer, Cytiva USCAN channel manager — and breast cancer thriver.

Five years ago, a routine mammogram detected a stage 1, triple positive breast cancer. I had surgery, chemotherapy and radiation and was happy to hear I had a 97% chance to be cancer free five years later. Then four and a half years later, a breast cancer recurrence was found on another routine mammogram, thankfully localized in the breast.

I have now completed a much more difficult course of treatment to combat this unwanted return with newer, stronger chemo and antibody treatments. I just received the pathology report on the tumor cells recovered from surgery and am thrilled to report that all the cells were dead and only scar tissue was left — I’m cancer free once again!

Following these experiences, my advice is simple: Get your mammograms and tell those who you love to get their mammograms. A mammogram saved my life twice, and I am so grateful.

I also want to ask you to please help support the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) by making a donation through the 2024 Research Matters matching donation page. Your donation goes directly into the Aurora Fund — the largest active metastatic breast cancer research program — to make a real impact. From the eight years Cytiva has participated in this fundraising campaign with BCRF, we’ve enabled over 16 years of research!

If you’re unable to make a donation, please help us share this vital information with your family, friends and colleagues. In addition to supporting research through funding, we also aim to educate others on the importance of annual wellness check-ups. Outside of new treatments and technologies, early detection is our best ally in the successful treatment of breast cancer!

Learn more on how Cytiva contributes