Share Your Story: AnnMarie Giannino

<p>AnnMarie Giannino is parlaying her cancer diagnosis into advocacy and she is a powerhouse. She works tirelessly to engage the community through awareness programs and fundraising initiatives. And she ensures that everyone who suffers is heard.</p> <ul><li>01:20: Can you take us back to the very beginning?  </li><li>03:23: Why were you doing all this volunteer work for breast cancer if you hadn't even been diagnosed yet?  </li><li>05:14: Black discharge is normal.  </li><li>07:16: She encouraged me to get a second opinion, which I love about her because you know, not many doctors will encourage that.  </li><li>10:37: I wish more doctors would encourage women to go flat until their body could heal a little bit more and process the grieving of it.  </li><li>12:54: I felt like cancer stole so much and I was taking this back. </li><li>16:09: I think I just burned my boob. </li><li>18:17: Right in the beginning of my cancer process, my whole right side went numb.  </li><li>20:30: She took 17 vials of blood.  </li><li>22:19: What was your worst moment in all of this?  </li><li>24:15: I showed him these very graphic images of my then mutilated chest, black and blue drains coming out. </li><li>27:45: What was your best moment in all of this? </li><li>30:54: What is the one thing you wish you had known at the very beginning of your cancer journey? </li><li>32:39: We never know whose story is going to matter to somebody else. </li><li>34:47: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the US, what would it be and why?  </li><li>36:30: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions </li><li>39:20: What is one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers? </li></ul> <p>Resources</p> <ul><li><a href="https://www.breastcancer.org/" target="_blank">Breastcancer.org</a></li><li><a href="https://www.ihadcancer.com/" target="_blank">I had cancer</a></li><li>AnnMarie’s website <a href="http://www.stupiddumbbreastcancer.com/" target="_blank">Stupid Dumb Breast Cancer</a></li></ul>