“Being Myself” with Stephanie Marnocha
Stephanie Marnocha was diagnosed at 33 with Stage III breast cancer. Stephanie is a licensed clinical social worker and outdoors lover. She lives in Denver with her four-legged adventure buddy, Annie.
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Being Myself
"While the loss of my breasts may have changed me physically, it did not change the core of who I am, which was what I had feared most of losing through this process."
At 33, after a Stage III, hormone-positive breast cancer diagnosis and learning she carried the PALB2 gene mutation, Stephanie chose an aesthetic flat closure following a double mastectomy — a choice she made not for anyone else, but to stay true to herself. In the moments after her bandages came off, she feared she might be unrecognizable — and instead, she saw the same person in the mirror. That relief, that quiet reclaiming of self, is the heart of her story.
This episode is for anyone who’s been told they must fix their body to belong. Stephanie’s decision reminds us that autonomy is messy and brave, and that sometimes the truest path is the one that feels most like you.
"I already knew I was—and still am—so much more than how my body looks. My breasts never defined me, and now, they never will."
Writing Prompt Inspired by Today’s Episode
Set your timer for ten minutes, write without stopping or editing yourself. There is magic in leaning into that time. The prompt is:
I’m still me…
Stephanie shared that when she looked in the mirror after surgery, she saw something unexpected: she saw herself.
I invite you to write about a moment when you feared you were losing a part of yourself—physically, emotionally, or in any other way—but instead discovered something truer, more real, or more you. What helped you recognize yourself again?
If you find that you write best with a good prompt, check out our free prompts and learn about our writing workshops.
Happy writing! Until next time, take good care.
Episode Links
Read a transcript of this episode.
Purchase the "BODY” issue of Wildfire Journal.
More about our episode sponsor After Breast Cancer Diagnosis.
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