Nina’s Story

Site created on February 13, 2021

Welcome to Nina’s CaringBridge website. She is using it to keep family and friends updated in one place.  Your support and words of hope and encouragement are so appreciated. Thank you for visiting.


It started with being grateful for health insurance and getting a regular old annual mammogram. Turned out it wasn’t so regular. In mid January, Nina’s mammogram had some abnormalities. She went back for a biopsy on February 5th and on the 9th received the news that there was cancer in the left Breast. Nina wastes no time ..... ( if you know her well, this is no surprise! ) and in her fact finding , decision maker fashion- had met with the breast surgeon on the 10th, genetics on the 12th and plastics on the 17th.  Then it was off to Mexico for some sun, relaxation and coconut margaritas to contemplate  her options and begin to accept what the next 9-months to a year or so is to bring. This is the beginning of her journey.  Thanks for joining her. 

Her attitude from the start has been to look for the positives and that there is more to her and  to her life than boobs!  The positives are that  this is curable.  Its gonna be a long year or so but  there is an answer.  Also, she could get the Covid vaccine earlier than previously thought! wigs, if necessary, could be fun! She could have the boobs of a 20 year old again!  Maybe the surgeons could give her a tummy tuck while they are in the neighborhood! And mostly of course, family and friends have gathered closer and she is feeling the Love. All good outcomes!!!😁😁😁.

Nina’s account photo is a purple bunny. For various reasons, that is her good luck token and all types of purple bunnies are welcome!

Newest Update

Journal entry by Nina Stillman

Ok. We made it!!!!!!! Last post!  This has been the longest 9 months of my life. I am cancer free, recovering (almost 100%) after reconstruction surgery, and finally getting back to my regular routine!!  I start anti estrogen treatment now and keep it up for 5 years and hopefully that is it. I always have a chance of a recurrence but my doctors and the treatments that I have undergone make that chance somewhere between 2-5% over the course of 20 years. I can definitely live with that. 

I really have all of my Chicago friends and supporters and all of you, and other friends from near and far to thank for helping me make it through with a positive attitude.  Your calls, texts, cards and just making me laugh meant and means more than you know. I have said it before because it’s true!!!! .  Knowing that someone is thinking of you, supporting and cheering you on in a crappy and lonely situation is amazing.  It gave me strength and hope and put a smile on my face. Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you!!!!!

The last thing I will say is please get a mammogram each year. Don’t skip your appointment. Please also educate your young sons and daughters about breast cancer. Help normalize the conversations. Help them learn to advocate for themselves in any medical situation. These are the things that helped my situation be as positive as it could be and as early  detected as it was. I had to make my GP call and make my mammogram appointment because I had been rescheduled and turned away during Covid twice. I hadn’t had a mammogram in 10 years. I again. am incredibly  lucky, with that much time passing I definitely could have been in a much later stage of cancer. Also, check yourself each month- Feel ‘‘em on the First, Feel ‘em up Fridays, Monthly Mammary check. Whatever phrase makes you remember!!!!!    


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