Team Member Perspective: Breast Cancer Survivor, Michele Polinsky, VP Global Communications and Corporate Philanthropy

My name is Michele Polinsky and I am a breast cancer survivor.
These days it’s the simple things that make me happy. Watching my daughter play soccer at Virginia Tech, taking my son to high school and watching his soccer games. Celebrating holidays and birthdays. Simple things that you take for granted when you are healthy. And you start to worry won’t be in your future when you are first diagnosed with cancer. It’s a scary time.

Your world stands still in that moment. You feel completely alone as the word cancer plays over and over in your mind. It’s a club that nobody wants to join.

Successful surgery was followed by six rounds of intensive chemo, immunotherapy and 30 rounds of radiation. The care, support and compassion I received from everyone on my treatment team at Fox Chase was incredible.

It’s true to say that a mammogram saved my life, but so did West. When I looked up at the pole during my chemo treatment, I truly understood the impact we have on the world. That time our products had my name on them. I’ll be forever thankful.

Early diagnosis and the treatment I received has meant I am here today, to share my story with you. I am happy to say that I have been cancer free since March 2020. And I cannot wait for a day when cancer is no longer so scary for anyone.