Join Deb Bartol's Fight Against Triple Negative Cancer

Hi, my name is Deb Bartol and on February 5, 2025 I was diagnosed with breast cancer for a second time. It was found by a routine mammogram (be sure to do all your annual screening). This time it is Triple Negative which is an aggressive form of breast cancer. It is currently classified as Stage 1 which is good news, but we will know more once I have surgery and the full pathology is back. I had DCIS in 2004 (Stage 0). I found it because I had an ache that just wouldn’t go away and I had/have a doctor that listened to me. At that time, I had a lumpectomy, radiation and Tamoxifen. This time, because it is the same breast, I will have a mastectomy, no radiation (because they can’t radiate the same side again) and chemotherapy. The course of chemotherapy will be determined once the pathology comes back and they know the full involvement of the cancer (is it in the lymph nodes, how big is it actually) and what did my genetic testing show.

My husband is my rock. I have three grown children and two grandchildren, my Mom and siblings, not to mention my friends. I also have three foreign exchange children (a Moroccan son, a Bengali daughter and a Thai daughter). I sing in a barbershop chorus (New England Voices in Harmony) (singing/music is a form of therapy for me) and I am the Chapter Regent of the Matthew Thornton chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. I work part-time for the State of New Hampshire. This is my community, my support system.

Because I work part-time, I do not get vacation time or sick time. All the time that surgery and treatment is going to take me away from work will eliminate my paycheck. This is not a dig at the state (everyone there has been amazing!!), this is just how it is for anyone who works part-time. We also are not sure what the medical bills are going to look like, especially not knowing what the full course of treatment is going to be. So, the funds raised here will help with the missing income as well as medical bills.

I’m so grateful for the people in my life, and at this time, most especially for the doctors at Dana Farber who are caring for me. Please pay attention to your bodies, advocate for yourself, and get your routine scans. I wish you all the very best and thank you!