My name is June Yuki Hayashi and I’m a cancer survivor.

My cancer journey began in 2013. As I turned 40, I just happened to think that I should go see a doctor and ask for a mammogram. I had no symptoms. I just thought it was just gonna be a simple routine. Doing the test itself was very easy. The technologist escorted me to get my mammogram. They were really, really kind. They totally put me at ease. I got a call from my GP, urgently wanted me to come and see him. They found a mass on my right breast. As soon as he said that I had breast cancer, everything changed. I was just in shock.

At the time, I want to go for my fifth degree black belt, my job was doing great, and all of a sudden, it just… It felt like life just stopped. Initially, I had a surgery to remove the tumor. Once I did the mastectomy and reconstruction, then they said, “Yeah, it’s stage three.”

What keeps me grounded is the kendo community, my family, my husband.

Since my cancer journey has ended, I’m back at work. Thinking back, being proactive, getting the screening, I felt gratitude. I felt lucky. Lucky that I caught it.