Blog

Welcome to the Grace Grit and Pink Ribbons Blog — a space for honest stories, reflections, and resources on life after breast cancer.

Here, I share experiences of breast cancer survivorship, navigating hormone therapy, rebuilding life after treatment, and finding hope in the everyday.

Whether you’re newly diagnosed, walking through treatment, or stepping into survivorship, these stories and resources are here to remind you: you’re not alone.

Christmas traditions help with Recovery during Christmas

Recovery During Christmas: Healing, Faith, and Finding the Magic While Still Standing

Jesus did not come into comfort. He came into brokenness. He came knowing the cost. When I sit with that truth, something shifts. My pain does not disappear, but it softens. My worries do not vanish, but they feel held. My suffering does not become insignificant, but it finds perspective. Compared to the ultimate sacrifice, my struggles are real, but they are not the whole story.

Life after Cancer

Heather Robinson Roles

Dec 19, 2025

Quiet holiday scene representing the emotional reality of surviving cancer during the holidays.

When the Holidays Hurt: The Truth About Surviving Cancer During the Holidays No One Talks About

Surviving cancer during the holidays is complicated. You can feel grateful and grieving at the same time. This post explores the raw, honest reality of navigating the season when your life — and your body — have changed.

Lifestyle

Heather Robinson Roles

Dec 2, 2025

Life after breast cancer journey support

Beyond the Pink: Life After Breast Cancer and the Ongoing Journey

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but for me, it’s more than pink ribbons. Life after breast cancer is an ongoing journey — one filled with ups and downs, new normals that don’t always feel normal, and the quiet fear of recurrence that lingers long after treatment ends. Survivorship is complicated, messy, and real. Cancer doesn’t always stop you, but it does change you — and sometimes, it even pushes you forward.

Breast Cancer Awareness

Heather Robinson Roles

Oct 3, 2025

Women sharing breast cancer stories of strength and resilience together

Breast Cancer: A Journey of Strength and Resilience

Breast cancer stories of strength remind us that no one walks this journey alone. By sharing our experiences, we honor resilience, build community, and create a legacy of hope. Join me as I begin interviewing women to share their voices—together, we heal.

Lifestyle

Heather Robinson Roles

Sep 22, 2025

Middle-aged woman in a lavender hoodie sitting on a couch, looking fatigued with her hand on her forehead. The words “HORMONE WELLNESS” appear in bold white letters on a purple gradient background beside her.

Living Well With Hormone Therapy Side Effects: Your Empowering Guide

So, you’re about to start hormone therapy after breast cancer. This moment can stir up a mix of emotions—hope, relief, and uncertainty....

Health

Heather Robinson Roles

Jul 6, 2025

A powerful reminder for anyone facing hormone therapy after breast cancer: yes, a 10% improvement is significant — but your quality of life matters too.

The Decision No One Prepares You For: Navigating Hormone Therapy After Breast Cancer

If you’re unfamiliar, endocrine therapy after breast cancer is a treatment designed to lower estrogen or block its effects because many breast cancers (like mine) are fueled by hormones. For hormone-positive breast cancer (ER+/PR+), doctors often recommend one or more of the following

Health

Heather Robinson Roles

Jun 11, 2025

When people hear the word reconstruction after a mastectomy—especially DIEP flap reconstruction—they often assume it’s simple. They think it means implants, maybe even a free “boob job,” like it’s some kind of consolation prize after cancer. Most people think it’s just plastic surgery. And I get it. I really do. Unless you’ve been through this or watched someone up close, you probably don’t know the difference. But the truth is, this surgery is anything but simple. This journey is so much more than skin deep. It’s physical, emotional, spiritual—and so often misunderstood. My Situation: Choosing to Rebuild While Still Fighting I’m having a couple more lymph nodes removed—some that still have stubborn cancer cells—but I’ve decided to go ahead with reconstruction at the same time. I’m already going in for surgery, and while it adds to the physical and emotional weight, it felt like the right moment to begin rebuilding. It’s not about looking a certain way. It’s about healing. It’s ab

The Truth About Reconstruction After Mastectomy: More Than Just a “Boob Job”

DIEP flap reconstruction after mastectomy isn’t just plastic surgery—it’s about healing, reclaiming your body, and surviving what no one sees.

Health

Heather Robinson Roles

Apr 30, 2025

Illustration of three crosses on a hill at sunrise with a soft pink breast cancer ribbon — symbolizing faith, healing, and resurrection.

Easter and Healing: What the Cross Taught Me About Finding Hope

Healing doesn’t always look like Easter morning. Sometimes it feels more like Good Friday — or the silence of Saturday. In this personal reflection on Easter and healing, I share what carried me through cancer, faith, and the in-between. If you’re still waiting for your resurrection moment… you’re not alone.

Faith and Healing

Heather Robinson Roles

Apr 17, 2025