Authentically Me with Kassi Sullivan
Kassi Sullivan was diagnosed at 35 with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Kassi is a social worker who thrives on humor, sarcasm, caffeine and true crime. She lives in Oklahoma with her husband and children.
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Navigating Work, Life, and Breast Cancer with Grace
For young breast cancer survivors, balancing life’s demands—physical health, mental well-being, relationships, and a career—can feel like a monumental task. For Kassi Sullivan, a mental health specialist working with high school students, this balance became even more complex after her metastatic breast cancer (MBC) diagnosis.
In her essay Authentically Me, featured in Wildfire Magazine’s 2024 “Work & Career” issue, Kassi shares her journey of supporting others while learning to prioritize her own healing. Her story is one of resilience, self-awareness, and embracing her authentic self despite the challenges of living with cancer.
The Juggling Act: Supporting Others While Tending to Herself
Kassi works with high school students as they navigate some of the most formative and challenging years of their lives. As someone skilled at compartmentalizing, she often finds herself putting her cancer journey on hold to focus on her students’ needs. While this ability helps her stay present in her work, there are moments when Kassi recognizes the importance of pausing to care for herself.
“There are days when I realize I’m being impatient or petty,” she reflects, “and that’s when I know I need to take a step back. My students deserve my best, and I can only give them that when I take care of myself first.”
Some of her students have noticed her journey, particularly as they’ve seen her transition from having hair to losing it and eventually growing it back. When they ask about her health, Kassi answers honestly but succinctly: “Yes, I’m sick, but we’re here to focus on you.” While she doesn’t always share the full details, her openness helps normalize conversations about illness and resilience.
Loving Yourself Through Change
As a mental health professional, Kassi regularly supports students struggling with body image, self-esteem, and the rapid changes that come with adolescence. She finds herself grappling with many of the same issues, particularly after the physical changes brought on by cancer treatments and surgeries.
“My own body has changed so much in the past year,” she shares. “It’s hard not to feel betrayed by it at times.”
Despite those feelings, Kassi has worked to reframe her perspective. Therapy and self-compassion have helped her see her body as resilient and capable, rather than flawed. “Even though cancer has altered my body in ways I didn’t choose, it has done everything it needed to do to keep me alive,” she says.
If she could go back and speak to her younger self, Kassi would remind her of this truth: “Our body is incredible. Even when it feels like it’s betraying us, it’s doing everything it can to protect and sustain us.”
Advice for Working Through Breast Cancer
For those navigating breast cancer alongside a career, Kassi emphasizes the importance of prioritizing personal well-being. “Jobs will come and go. Employers will eventually fill your position if you leave. But you only have one life,” she says. “Put yourself and your family first.”
At the same time, continuing to work has been a source of purpose and focus for Kassi. As someone who thrives on structure, she found that staying engaged with her job helped her maintain hope and a sense of normalcy. She credits her employer’s flexibility with making this possible, as they allowed her to take leaves for surgeries and adjust her schedule around treatment days.
For others in similar situations, she encourages self-advocacy. “Ask for the accommodations you need. Your health and well-being are worth it,” she says.
Finding Strength and Purpose
Through it all, Kassi finds inspiration in her students. Their resilience reminds her of the importance of showing up authentically, both for herself and for those she supports. While the journey hasn’t been easy, Kassi has learned that self-love and community are powerful tools in navigating the complexities of life with breast cancer.
To young survivors, she offers this message: “Be gentle with yourself. Celebrate the small victories. Even when life feels overwhelming, you are authentically you—and that is more than enough.”
Writing Prompt Inspired by Today’s Episode
Sometimes there are a lot of invisible things that we have going on that people around us don't know. So take an opportunity to write it out.
The balls I’m currently juggling are…
Set your timer for eight minutes. Write without stopping or editing yourself.
If you find that you write best with a good prompt, check out our free prompts and learn about our writing workshops.
Happy writing! Until next time, take good care.
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