The Second Bloom

The Second Bloom was the kick off for what I hope are the start of many energizing events and discussions about perimenopause and the various ways women enter into this time of life. 

I created this blog almost two years ago after starting a new course of breast cancer treatment that left me experiencing extreme perimenopausal symptoms and pushed me into early menopause. I was scrambling to understand all of the changes.

For context, my oncology team wisely advised me of the best course of action for me to take for the type of cancer that I was diagnosed with. I had estrogen and progesterone positive breast cancer twice. That means that the cancer in my body basically thrived and grew in an environment with estrogen and progesterone. So in October 2021 (after another mastectomy) I started ovarian suppression to stop my ovaries from producing estrogen and progesterone. I also started taking daily medication (Letrozole—an aromatase inhibitor adjuvant therapy) to keep all my other organs from producing small amounts of estrogen. I was told that this course of action was the best for preventing another recurrence that could potentially result in a tougher prognosis. Early menopause would just be a side effect. 

I thought, “Okay. Fine. Bring it.”

But by the time February 2022 hit, my body had been going through accelerated and extreme changes that can happen for many women over the course of a decade before reaching menopause. 

At the time there were only a handful of conversations happening in this space so it felt very isolating. 

I realized I was mourning the person who I was, not only pre-cancer recurrence but also didn’t recognize the person my health was forcing me to be. It wasn’t fun and talking about it seemed like such a downer—especially after going through cancer treatment (kind of like survivors guilt), so I didn’t—even though I had supportive and listening ears all around me. Struggling with menopause—something all women go through—did not seem okay in my mind. I hadn’t heard of other women (even my mom initially) complaining about it outside of hot flashes. 

The only thing that helped me at the time was knowing that the sudden symptom changes had to do with my ovarian suppression. But even with that, I felt like the rug was ripped out from under me—and I was warned (kind of). So I could only imagine what it must feel like for women starting to experience symptoms without knowing what they were related to. 

When my treatment first started, I didn’t even know what questions to ask so started looking up basic terms—literally “what is perimenopause?” devouring books on the topic, listening to podcasts, stalking a couple IG accounts, talking to my oncology team about what the changes meant and how I could manage them while not interrupting my cancer treatments.

The more I started to learn, the more intrigued and sometimes angrier I got. I was charged up and wanted to share EVERYTHING I was learning via my blog. I became a self appointed perimenopause evangelist to my friends and family (who were not necessarily experiencing what I was). But I felt like knowing before entering into this phase was so incredibly important. 

I had NO idea how women’s heart health changed during and post menopause transition—women are actually at higher risk of dying from cardiovascular related diseases than cancer—which we’re all scared of. The importance of proactively building bone health blew my mind because of all the risks that come from osteoporosis. 

The more I learned, the more I thought “how can women talk about anything BUT menopause?!” It’s the great equalizer—sure there are notable differences around racial lines and all journeys look different but menopause is going to impact EVERY SINGLE WOMAN! We can spend up to half our lives post-menopausal—there’s so much to learn.

It didn’t seem fair! 

But then there was also the light bulb that made this growing knowledge base more exciting.

I started to think about what it could look like where we openly shared the spectrum of what this experience could be, and traded tips for how to get through it—in fun ways that are part of our normal day to day lives. 

I was starting to accumulate A TON of great products and learning about incredible women developing solutions. I not only wanted to share information but also wanted to share products in the same ways I did with my friends when we started becoming moms. I mean Nose Frida, the Marc Jacobs diaper bag and mom retreats changed my life!!! Shouldn’t perimenopause have the same moment?

So that’s where the Second Bloom came from.

The Second Bloom is about exploring and owning what this new phase can look like. Sure, for some of us the reproductive side of our lives is sunsetting but it doesn’t mean that what comes next can’t be just as beautiful from the seeds that have already been planted. I’m likening this phase to a transformation that could have only happened as a result of the experiences we have already had. 

Lastly, as a woman who has had cancer twice it’s incredibly important for me to include other women who have had cancer in this conversation outside of the walls of the hospital, treatment centers or even support groups.

I’ve had a hard time reconciling my post cancer identity. I’m only just now starting to really claim it. Cancer survivor, thriver—whatever you want to call it is who I am and I am so prayerfully thankful for that. I’m also a woman who’s dealt with an unexpected diagnosis and recurrence, a wife who’s trying to keep the fire burning, a mother trying not to be a helicopter parent, a girlfriend who’s slow to respond to texts but LOVES her girls, a shopper on a budget but with designer goals, a budding traveler, an adventurer and an increasingly lighter partier. So wanted to create an experience that highlights all those sides as well. And I hope to bring that to my friends—both those who have experienced cancer and those who have not—as well.

I’m interested in keeping the conversation going through different events. I’m dreaming up what comes next and excited to keep the momentum going!