Industry News
In a social media post yesterday, pro-snowboarder Kimmy Fasani announced that three weeks ago she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Describing the discovery and eventual diagnosis during the three days that turned her life a full 180, Kimmy is ultimately positive that she has the tools, support, and mentality to overcome all that’s to come.
3 weeks ago I heard the words I never expected to hear… You have Breast Cancer.
My mind has been spinning as quick decisions, lots of appointments, and so much information has flooded our lives. Yet, my family and I are trying to stay grounded, calm, and focused on positive and present moments as we adapt to this major shift.
I have been breastfeeding Zeppelin who is almost 10 months old. My right breast has always been bigger, and early in my postpartum journey I had clogged milk ducts. I developed a dense fibrous bump on the right edge of my right boob about 8 months ago… I just equated this bump as part of my boobs dense tissue since it’s common that breastfeeding changes breast density. This bump didn’t feel like what I’ve been taught to examine for breast cancer. Three weeks ago as I was doing a self breast exam, I felt a pea sized bump under my right arm, so I decided to call my doctor. Thankfully she sensed my urgency and got me in the next day.
On Monday 11/22, Northern Inyo Hospital in Bishop, CA was able to fit me in for a mammogram and an ultrasound. Ironically, a breast surgeon from Scripps MD Anderson Cancer Center in La Jolla, CA was working in Bishop that day. She saw me for a physical exam, and was confident that what she was seeing was Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC). The biggest indicators being: my breast was slightly red, enlarged, had a noticeable mass, swollen lymph node, and when she gently squeezed the skin of my breast it dimpled like an orange peel. The following day I had 3 biopsies and we received the results from Pathology confirming my diagnosis of IBC, on 11/24.
In 3 days my life path did a full 180. I’m healthy, active, young, and very conscious of what I put into my body. Cancer did not care. Though this process is emotional and personal, I want to share this journey in hopes of bringing more awareness to the benefits of self checks, being aware of our bodies, and making the process of coping through Breast Cancer more transparent.
I have a huge mountain to climb but I have the tools, support, and mentality to overcome all that’s to come.
If you’re looking for ways to help, please support @b4bc 💕🙏
– Kimmy Fasani
Kimmy Fasani has been a pioneer in women’s snowboarding since she became the first woman snowboarder to land a double backflip in the park and the powder in 2011. That year, she signed with Burton to become the face of the snowboard powerhouse’s AK line, says her bio on kimmyfasani.com.
Since then, Fasani has appeared in dozens of snowboarding film segments, graced the cover and pages of snowboarding magazines, and continues to push the level of progression in her sport.
In 2016, Fasani earned women’s Rider of the Year and Video Part of the Year honors for her segment in Absinthe Films’ “Turbo Dojo.”
She was nominated for the same accolades in 2017 and her son, Koa, was born in March 2018. Since having her son she’s become a powerful voice for female athletes and their ability to balance motherhood and careers.
In 2019, she was featured in “Fire On the Mountain”, a Grateful Dead inspired action sports film her husband (professional skier) Chris Benchetler directed and produced. Kimmy filmed in Alaska for the Burton Snowboards film “One World”, which released in the early winter of 2020. Kimmy took advantage of the downtime that 2020 brought by launching The Mountain Cookbook with friend and co-owner of Dessert’D Organic bakeshop.
In 2021, Kimmy welcomed her second son, Zeppelin. Her eyes are set on getting back on snow and sharing the outdoors with her family as the new season approaches.
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