Rachel Giammolva’s mind isn’t quite at ease, and she admits it may not be for some time.
The Destrehan mother of two was diagnosed with breast cancer in November and recently underwent what was the first of multiple surgeries to address the situation
“They said they got it all out,” said Giammolva’s daughter Emily. “I know she’s still having a hard time with it, the fear of it coming back … but it was a relief for all of us, for sure.”
She said she will be at increased risk of the cancer returning for five years, and her surgeries aren’t behind her yet – after developing an infection following her December surgery, they may not be until sometime next year.
“It’s also a huge battle mentally,” said Giammolva. “It was extremely surreal, hard to describe … no one wants to hear the C-word. It was just shocking.”
Still, Giammolva, a registered nurse, is grateful.
“But God is good … my daughter got tested and that came back negative,” said Giammolva. “I’m lucky – a lot of women aren’t as lucky.”
Giammolva is looking to turn what was a significant scare into a positive.
She learned of her cancer after she went to get a mammogram – that decision was inspired by a friend of hers who had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Giammolva said her own decision to go and get a mammogram was about a year and a half late from what is ideal.
“When she went to get it, she didn’t think anything of it,” Emily said.
In light of that, Giammolva has become an advocate for women’s health, the importance of self-care and early detection. One avenue for doing that has been through TikTok videos, stressing to go get mammograms on time.
“I think women, especially with children, married, life is very busy and you tend to try to take care of everyone except themselves,” Giammolva said. “And to be wonderful mothers, wives, and friends, sometimes we need to put ourselves first. We have wonderful medical interventions here. We have the ability to get mammograms and health exams. Women have a tendency to put it off to a later date – we need to be healthy.”
Ignoring back pain or a lump, she said, could have devastating consequences.
“Being a nurse, I have the knowledge – and fortunately, there are plenty of platforms to teach how important it is. I want to be an advocate,” said Giammolva.
Giammolva said her friends and family got her through a very trying time, giving positive reinforcement and support.
Additionally, many of those community members contributed to more than $2,000 raised by a GoFundMe (titled help Rachel Giammolva beat breast cancer) created by Emily to help offset surgery costs.
“I’m very thankful for all of my friends,” Giammolva said.
Emily said she already knows of two women who have gone to get mammograms, inspired by her mother.
“I can definitely see it helping other women as well,” Emily said.
Added Giammolva, “I want to turn it completely around and use my experience to help other people.”
Giammolva noted that there will be a Crawfish and Cornhole tournament fundraiser held by the nonprofit YouNight on March 23 at the Castine Center in Mandeville. Proceeds from that event will go toward local women battling cancer.
