When Shalisa moved to Roseville in 2022, she expected a fresh start. Just three weeks later, she found herself facing something unimaginable: a breast cancer diagnosis at age 32.
“I had just come home from a softball tournament when I felt something in my right breast, about the size of a pea,” she recalls. Busy with life and preparing to move into a new home with her husband, she brushed it off at first. But when the lump grew, her mom urged her to get it checked. That persistence may have saved her life.
Doctors confirmed she had triple-negative breast cancer, a more aggressive form of the disease. The news came as a shock. There was no history of breast cancer in her family, and with 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, she knew the facts but never expected them to become so personal. “No matter how much of a background you have, you’re never prepared for cancer,” she says.
Treatment took its toll. Shalisa experienced severe side effects, lost weight, grew weak, and at times needed a wheelchair. “If one percent of people have the worst side effects, I had those,” she says. Through it all, her mother, her nurses, and her clinical care coordinator stood by her side. “I had an amazing support team,” she adds.
The experience changed how she views life. She describes it as humbling and says every birthday feels different now. She has become more open about sharing her story, hoping it can help others. Her advice to those newly diagnosed is simple but powerful: “Stay positive. Your mindset can change the trajectory of everything. Accept the hardships. Your attitude and perspective shape your health outcomes.”
Now, as a survivor, she prioritizes her health and cherishes small moments. “Life is never guaranteed. Don’t take anything for granted. Love everything life gives you.” Still, the emotional weight lingers. “People don’t understand the emotional aspect. Once you have it, you always worry, is it going to come back?”
Her greatest source of hope is her 8-year-old son. “He gives me hope today, life itself gives me hope,” she says. “Going through something life-changing proves your resilience.”
And she wants young women to hear her story as a wake-up call. “Breast cancer doesn’t discriminate. I was diagnosed at 32. It doesn’t just happen to older people. It’s not as rare anymore to happen to younger women.”
Her message is clear: pay attention to your body, get screened, and do not ignore the signs.
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