Burke resident Nicole Martin, 38, is in the fight of her life.
For years, the owner of Belle Mode Intimates at Fairfax Corner has fitted breast cancer patients for post-mastectomy bras and donated to area cancer support groups, but now she needs the support. The married mother of a 6-month-old boy and 4-year-old boy was recently diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer.
According to the American Cancer Society, triple-negative breast cancer is an aggressive type of invasive breast cancer that tends to grow and spread faster, has fewer treatment options, and tends to have a less optimistic prognosis.
“I’ve had a lot of emotions, but I’m turning a corner and moving forward,” says the Northern Virginia native. “I’m not catastrophizing anymore.”
Martin will undergo 24 weeks of chemotherapy, then surgery, then potentially 24 more weeks of chemotherapy. She notes that she feels very healthy, has no family history of breast cancer and only discovered the disease after breastfeeding and having clogged breast ducts. Further testing detected cancer.
“I literally didn’t think it could be breast cancer at all because of my age and I feel so healthy,” Martin says.
As co-owner of Bella Mode since 2012, Martin has been hosting breast cancer awareness events every year and donates money and resources annually to Life with Cancer, Inova’s nonprofit organization that helps patients and families meet the challenges of living with the disease.
“Life with Cancer is now servicing me,” she says, noting the organization offers therapy, Pilates, support groups, fitness, nutrition, and more.
Martin recently posted on social media about her health challenge and has been overwhelmed about the amount of support she is receiving from friends and Belle Mode’s clients.
“It’s really ironic that this would happen to me, that I’ve been a part of the community on the other side and now I’m on the side of the patient,” Martin says. “I own a lingerie store that is very niche in its specialized care and attention. We are very much centered around helping women in all phases of their lives.”
On Belle Mode’s homepage, information for breast cancer patients is prominent, noting the store offers fittings for post-surgical bras, prosthesis, and lingerie. Martin hopes to expand services to her customers, based on her personal experience with cancer. She says she realizes firsthand what a pervasive disease breast cancer is.
“You’re never too young or you’re never too healthy to get breast cancer,” she says. “I’m just shocked at how healthy I feel and how good I feel, and clearly something is trying to kill me inside my body — it’s almost unbelievable.”
Feature image courtesy Nicole Martin
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