This story is written as it was published on October 18, 2022. Sadly, Jesslyn lost her battle with cancer and passed away surrounded by loved ones on April 3, 2023. Jesslyn's family would like to acknowledge the care and support of Rosedale Hospice and share the link to Jesslyn's obituary. Jesslyn's strength and determination remain an inspiration to young women everywhere and we are honoured to share her story.
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Batman’s fate hangs in the balance as he withstands another jab from Power Ranger Moza Razor Zord at the hands of 3-year-old Nate. It’s the coup d'etat. Batman drops onto the boy’s tiny lap, but quickly rebounds for another round. Nate, who is home from preschool with the sniffles today, is orchestrating this action-figure battle on the couch beside his mom, whose cheeks are wet with tears.
It’s unusual for Nate not to notice, says Jesslyn Davies, smiling at her son. “He’s pretty quick to ask if I need a hug when I’ve been crying.”
Lately, Nate’s been leaning in with a lot of hugs.
In November 2020, Jesslyn, a 33-year-old registered nurse and mother of two young boys, noticed a small cyst on her breast. Soon after, she was diagnosed with Triple Negative Stage 2B breast cancer.
“It seemed strange because cancer hasn't really affected anyone in my life,” says Jesslyn. “I was young and always active and healthy. I felt like my risk factors were just not there. So you wonder… why did this happen?”
Davies is one of many young women who may never get the answer to that question. In North America, 18 percent of breast cancer diagnoses are among women under 50, below the typical age for routine breast cancer screening. Though less likely than women over 50 to be diagnosed with breast cancer, younger women tend to be detected at later stages, resulting in poorer outcomes.
As a nurse, Jesslyn was aware of the clinical breast cancer risks. Her family history, age and healthy lifestyle all worked in her favour, so it seemed breast cancer was unlikely to impact her at this moment in her life.
“I wasn't routinely giving myself self-breast exams. I was driving one day, and I happened to just graze over a lump. And I just had a feeling I needed to get it investigated because I had never noticed anything unusual before,” says Jesslyn.
Jesslyn says her healthcare background has taught her the importance of advocating for your health and following your instincts, so she made an appointment to see her doctor. Over the course of the following month, she underwent an ultrasound, mammogram, PET scan and biopsy. By Christmastime, Jesslyn was diagnosed with stage 2B breast cancer, which meant the cancer had spread to one of her lymph nodes. She also learned she had Triple Negative Breast Cancer, a type of cancer that’s more common in younger women, tends to grow and spread faster, and has fewer treatment options.
“As much as my oncologist cares, she can’t possibly care as much about my life as I do. So that's why it’s my job to advocate for myself.”
Jesslyn underwent eight rounds of chemo and a lumpectomy, followed by 20 rounds of radiation and 6 months of oral chemotherapy. She responded well to the treatment and felt well enough to enjoy time with her boys. By August of 2021, it seemed she was in the clear, so she returned to work. Life began to feel more normal.
Soon after, Jesslyn's oncologist invited her to participate in a clinical trial for a new kind of breast cancer medication to help prevent new cancer cells from forming. To participate, she needed to complete a comprehensive baseline health check, including a CT scan.
A few weeks later, Jesslyn returned from a week-long hiking trip in Utah, to receive the news. Her scan had revealed that the cancer had metastasized to her lungs.
Today, Jesslyn is receiving cutting-edge immunotherapy treatment for her lung cancer and responding well – her lesions are shrinking. She continues to take ownership of her health, treating “food as medicine,” exercising, receiving vitamin supplements, staying positive and most importantly, spending as much time as she can adventuring outdoors with her husband and boys. She hopes her story will empower younger women to pursue education around their breast health and inspire personal advocacy — something she practices herself.
