Breast Cancer Survivor Samantha Berger Fitzsimmons Shares Her Story
Samantha Berger Fitzsimmons is a wife, mama, retired Radio City Rockette, Jax dance and fitness instructor and breast cancer survivor.
A self described “military brat,” Sam was born in Guam, and raised in the state of Virginia where she had all of her early dance training. New York was always her end goal, although dancing with the Rockettes was not really on her radar.
She moved to New York for a “gap year” after high school and never left until moving to Jacksonville in 2021. Sam wanted to dance on Broadway or the ballet, but as she auditioned for everything, the Rockettes “just kept circling the radar,” she says. She made it into the iconic dance line, and continued to danced as a Rockette for 16 years. She says it was one of the best experiences of her life.
In her off time, Sam also danced for the Metropolitan Opera, toured with the Billy Joel/Twyla Tharp Movin’ Out Broadway show, and danced with Savion Glover for many years.
Sam met her now husband, William Fitzsimmons, in New York in 2019, the same year she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
She first noticed a rash on her breast during a summer dance tour with Savion Glover, and went to her doctor, thinking it was irritation from a costume. It turned out to be shingles, but she also noticed a marble sized lump near the rash, which her doctor wasn’t concerned about. After the shingles had been treated and healed, the lump remained, and Sam’s intuition told her something wasn’t right. So, she went for her first mammogram, which led to her diagnosis of stage one breast cancer.
“My diagnosis was fairly good because of the early detection,” Sam says. “It was stage one but still very scary because there are lots of moving parts, but honestly the waiting was the hardest part, and the diagnosis was actually a relief because situation could have been worse.”
She had a lumpectomy in January of 2020, and radiation in March.
“I was very lucky that I did not have to do chemotherapy.” However, she did have to do 5 days a week of radiation for 4 weeks during the month of March 2020 in New York City - which we all remember as a very scary time during the height of 2020. Being completely isolated, with a lowered immune system, in the largest city in the country during an international pandemic was incredibly challenging, but Sam pulled through. She finished her treatment in April 2020 and headed to Jacksonville to spend the summer healing with William by her side.
“Now I’m feeling fairly good - there are good days and bad days of course,” she says. Those first few months after treatment were hard. You have to take a medicine called tamoxifen, which lowers the chance of recurrence, but it’s an adjustment.”
“Being so active and really taking care of my body has put me in a better place - it’s also really important to monitor what you put on and in your body. I completely overhauled my diet, personal care products and home products.” Sam encourages others to be mindful of what we put on and in our bodies, as there are so many harmful chemicals and known carcinogens that are not banned in food, personal care products or home products in the USA. “It’s something for everyone to look out for,” she says.
Sam wants other women to know that early detection is huge! “I know that mammograms are not comfortable, and they are scary but they are so crucial - it’s life or death. And self exams are so easy - there are tons of tutorials online.”
“Our health is our greatest asset,” she says.
As for this month’s awareness campaign and fundraiser - Sam says “Bounce for Boobies is so fun! The rebounder came into my life a couple years ago - everything was closed down (in New York) because of covid and I needed some way to stay active. I had a rebounder in my apartment and it was huge for my healing - they are great for lymph, and mostly for me - my mind body and soul… bringing it to Jacksonville and inviting everyone into my healing journey is really kind of special.”
We think it’s special that Sam is here and welcoming us into her wellness journey!
The Bounce for Boobs Breast Cancer Fundraiser at Jax Yoga and Wellness Collective runs from October 16-21
Remember jump rope for heart? It’s the same concept, but this time we are bouncing to raise money for the Mia Ware Foundation, a local organization that supports all who have been or will be touched by cancer.
Here’s how it works:
Book your time through FitDegree (There are several 30 minute classes each day this week)
Collect sponsorships
Show up and bounce with us and either Venmo or bring cash or a check to class with your donations
The person who raises the largest donation will win a gift basket filled with local items including 10 free bounce classes at Jax!
Why bounce? Rebounding (the official name of the bounce classes we offer at Jax) is excellent for breast and lymphatic health. It’s a great preventive measure for breast cancer and an excellent way to maintain healthy lymphatic function after breast and other cancer treatments. And no you won’t pee your pants… plenty of moms take this class each week and no accidents yet - our resident pelvic floor therapist Megan Gibson says it’s actually great for STRENGTHENING your pelvic floor!
Don’t want to bounce but want to donate to the cause?
Great! Just Venmo your donation to us at @jaxyogastudio with a note that says “Bounce for Boobs” and we will include it in the donation.