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Graduation: it’s an exciting time. Jenna Kieckhaefer remembers it like it was yesterday.
She got her PHD in legal psychology from Florida International University just last year, and a teaching job at Fresno State this past fall.
All was great until something unexpected got in her way.
At age 29 and a newlywed, Jenna was diagnosed with stage 2b breast cancer. The lump in her right breast had been there for a while– doctors who looked at it previously told her not to be concerned. Fortunately, when Jenna took the job in Fresno, she insisted on a further test. Jenna says, "
A radiologist was there with a nurse and he said it was not good news. was the first thing he said to me and I think I started crying right then cause I didn’t expect it."
Jenna has endured 16 rounds of chemotherapy. She lost her beautiful long hair and amazingly taught her classes the whole time and shared her story. She says, "
"I could have my classes know that cancer can effect them. and I’m obviously a very young professor and if that can help anyone, I thought I might as well say it and it also frees me up to wear scarves– and not that hot wig.. yeah."
Jenna’s battle against cancer is not done. She’ll have a mastectomy in June and recover from that this summer.
She’s a great example that cancer can strike anyone at any time and at any age.
She says, "
If I can be an advocate– know your own body and it is unlikely for cancer to get you as young as in your 20’s, but it happens."
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