By Natalia Orrico
I was just 27 years old, newly engaged and planning my wedding, when I was diagnosed with HER2+ Stage 2 breast cancer. Overnight, my world shifted from picking out flowers and venues to chemotherapy appointments, surgery dates, and a treatment plan that included chemo, surgery, and radiation.
Instead of asking friends which dress they liked best, I was asking doctors how to preserve my future. It felt like life had pulled the rug out from under me, shattering me at my very core. I often say I hit “rock bottom,” but truthfully, it felt deeper than that. I don’t know how to explain it.
Love in the Middle of Treatment
Through it all, my husband was my anchor. He wasn’t just my fiancé, he became my caregiver, my emotional safety net, and the one who put my pieces back together when I felt broken beyond repair. At my lowest points, when fear and exhaustion consumed me, he reminded me that I was still me, worthy of love, joy, and a future.
When I completed radiation, my care team timed my treatment so I could celebrate my bachelorette. Just weeks later, on July 15, 2023, I walked down the aisle. My wedding wasn’t just a celebration of love - it was a triumph. I stood there, married to the love of my life, and felt a hope I wasn’t sure I’d ever feel again.
Life Beyond Cancer
Today, at 30 years old, I’m healthy, in remission, and expecting my first child. Pregnancy after cancer is layered with emotions. Joy, gratitude, and wonder, but also moments of vulnerability. When I look at my growing belly, I don’t just see new life. I see proof that my body, which once endured chemo, surgery, and radiation, is now nurturing life.
I’ve also begun vlogging on TikTok, documenting a calming, aesthetic lifestyle that helps me feel normal again. I often wish I’d had someone to follow when I was first diagnosed. Someone who showed what life could look like after cancer. By sharing, I hope to be that presence for someone else: proof that a breast cancer diagnosis doesn’t erase your future. Cancer will always be part of my story, but it doesn’t define me. What defines me now is resilience, gratitude, and the belief that even when you’ve been shattered, you can rebuild a life full of love, peace, and possibility.
Receive updates by email 
