# Breast cancer survivor shares her story to raise awareness 

/ Published Oct. 31, 2023
BATTLE CREEK, Mich., 
Since the early 1980s, October has been identified as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a national observance that serves as a reminder of the progress made in the fight against breast cancer and the importance of ongoing awareness, research, and support to those affected by the disease.

According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, one in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime and about 9% of all new breast cancer cases in the U.S. are diagnosed in women younger than 45 years old.

                DLA Disposition Services employee Krista Nawrocki was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021. The image on the left was taken in 2019 and the image on the right is after she completed chemotherapy in 2023.                            DLA Disposition Services employee shares breast cancer journey                            DLA Disposition Services employee Krista Nawrocki was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021. The image on the left was taken in 2019 and the image on the right is after she completed chemotherapy in 2023.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Jace ArmstrongVIRIN: 231031-D-D0441-206For one Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services employee, Krista Nawrocki, breast cancer would alter her life indefinitely, but she would not let it define her.

On a fall day in 2021, Nawrocki was at home with her sick child, when her child bumped her in the chest, and she instinctively clutched the sore area. She felt a lump and phoned her physician that day to make an appointment.

“I was in between mammograms, so I was not expecting this,” Nawrocki recalls.

Weeks later and after a multitude of tests, the results were in, and she had stage 2 ductal carcinoma breast cancer. Later, she would find out that the tumor was confirmed as HER2 positive - a protein that aids in rapid growth of breast cancer cells, which can lead to an increased risk of spreading.

“It [the tumor] had already spread to my lymph nodes so they considered it stage 2,” she said.

Nawrocki recalls her emotions after that phone call diagnosing her with cancer.

“Ironically, I wasn’t really that upset. I was like okay this is my fulltime job now,” she said. “I was all about getting the treatment started. I just ran at it headfirst; I was ready to get treatment started so we could get rid of it.”

Her doctors suggested an aggressive treatment approach, and she would start weekly chemotherapy. Knowing she would have to take additional time off for treatment, Nawrocki asked her DLA colleagues for additional leave through the voluntary leave transfer program.                DLA Disposition Services employee Krista Nawrocki received weekly, 8-hour chemotherapy treatments for a year and a half.                            DLA Disposition Services employee shares breast cancer journey                            DLA Disposition Services employee Krista Nawrocki received weekly, 8-hour chemotherapy treatments for a year and a half.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Krista Nawrocki VIRIN: 231031-D-D0441-201

“I used all of my time off and then I applied for the leave donation program,” she said. “Unbelievably, I received over 200 donated hours. I wept, it was just so kind,” she said.

At the time of her diagnosis, Nawrocki had been an employee for DLA in Battle Creek, Michigan, for twelve years.

“I’ve been there a long time so I know a lot of people, but I did not expect that,” she said. “Without the love and support of my fellow DLA employees, it would have been hard on us financially. It was so wonderful that so many people so willingly gave some of their time off.”

While the donated leave hours are transferred anonymously, many colleagues approached Nawrocki and her husband - who also works for DLA - identifying themselves as a donor. Donations spanned across multiple Hart-Dole-Inouye Federal Center tenants – Installation Management, Disposition Services, Logistics Operations, and Information Operations.

Through chemotherapy, Nawrocki would spend the first half of the work week working from home, after she received a reasonable accommodation to telework, and the second half receiving treatment and recovering.

“I had eight hours of chemo, it was all day,” she said. “I would make cookies and treats for my nurses and I would pack a lunch and I say, ‘I’m going to go have lunch with the girls.’”

She used the term “chemo cute” to ensure she stayed true to herself and not let her current situation define her.

“I got up every day, took a shower, put make up on, got dressed, did my hair... Oh sorry, I put on my wig,” she said. “I had wigs for quite a while. In fact, I had four different wigs. Chemo cute was wearing my wigs and cute outfits.”

Nawrocki had a friend shave her hair off once it started falling out, but that did not bother her. What took a toll on her emotionally, was a different side effect.                Nawrocki, posing with daughter, Kira, shaved her head after her hair started falling out from the chemotherapy.                            DLA Disposition Services employee shares breast cancer journey                            Nawrocki, posing with daughter, Kira, shaved her head after her hair started falling out from the chemotherapy.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Krista NawrockiVIRIN: 231031-D-D0441-202

“Some of my fingernails fell off. They turned black and fell off. That was more upsetting to me, I am a sign language interpreter by trade.”

While her fingernails fell off, her spirit remained and Nawrocki continued to volunteer as a sign language interpreter for the community, during her time off.

“My husband was like ‘you need to rest’- but I didn’t want to rest,” Nawrocki said. “When I’m tired, I’ll rest, but I’m not tired.”

Her determination and positive outlook on her journey contributed to her physical and emotional wellbeing throughout the diagnosis and treatment.

“Attitude has a lot to do with your physical health, and I just kept a positive attitude the whole time,” she said.

The aggressive treatment worked. The tumor shrank and she had a successful lumpectomy -- Nawrocki’s last chemo treatment was May 30, 2023. While she will continue to take medication for the rest of her life, she doesn’t mind if she is cancer free.

“The whole purpose for me sharing my story is, if I can help one person, my job is done,” Nawrocki said.

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DLA Employees have access to a learning center and confidential counseling through the Employee Assistance Program to include webinars, specialized articles and videos for various of topics resiliency, stress, wellness, parenting, caregiving, and balance.