Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Natalie Stevenson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Natalie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.

My Defining Moment

If you saw me around town, you would never know I am being treated for stage IV metastatic breast cancer. I smile easily. I show up. I live fully. What most people can’t see is that cancer has been one of the most defining—and transformative—experiences of my life.

My cancer journey began in 2011, when I was 32 years old and felt a small lump in my breast. At the time, imaging didn’t detect anything concerning, and I was sent home with instructions to “watch it.” Two years later, that same lump had grown into a large ER+, PR+, HER2- tumor with total lymph node involvement. I was 34, a single mother with a fourth-grade son, suddenly thrust into a whirlwind of survival mode.

Treatment felt like a sprint to the finish line. Chemotherapy came first—AC, then Taxol—followed by a double mastectomy with expanders and full lymph node dissection. Radiation followed, then hormone therapy that sent my body into shock. Three more surgeries came after that: DIEP flap reconstruction and an oophorectomy. I pushed through it all with what I believed was a “fighter’s attitude.” I stayed positive. I kept going. And when treatment finally ended, I told myself I had beaten cancer.

What I didn’t realize was that while my body had survived, something inside me had quietly shut down.

Cancer didn’t leave when treatment ended. It lingered in ways I didn’t yet understand—emotionally wounded, disconnected from my body, still fighting alone long after the doctors said I was finished. I was determined to turn my back on cancer and move forward, but the trauma of the experience dulled my joy and dampened my life force. I lost me—not intentionally, it just happened. To get through my days, I began practicing meditation and mindfulness, sensing that something deeper needed attention, even if I didn’t yet have the words for it.

Six years after my initial diagnosis, cancer came back—and this time, it changed everything. In early 2019, I learned it had spread to my bones. Metastatic. Incurable. No finish line—only treatment to prolong life.

That moment was devastating. I threw myself into work, desperate to regain control over something when everything felt so far out of my hands. But eventually, I reached my defining moment—not when cancer returned, but when I finally stopped running from it.

I surrendered the illusion of control and chose radical acceptance. I slowed down. I sought a skilled therapist and began addressing years of unresolved trauma through EMDR. I joined a support group and allowed myself to be seen and supported. I recommitted to mindfulness, meditation, and presence. Within six months, something remarkable happened: my fire returned. My hope returned. I found beauty again—in nature, in connection, in quiet moments of gratitude.

Most importantly, I made a conscious decision to choose happiness every single day.

The metastatic diagnosis forced me to look deeply inward and reclaim the joy that had been buried under expectations, fear, and survival mode for years. Being surrounded by other survivors reminded me that I wasn’t alone—and that healing doesn’t always mean curing. Sometimes it means becoming whole again.

Today, I am a joyful, peaceful, loving, emotionally free woman walking into the next and greatest phase of my life—fully myself—despite ongoing treatment for metastatic breast cancer. Cancer changed my path, but it also saved me by guiding me back to who I truly am.

Above all, my journey has taught me the power of connection. No one should have to walk this road alone. That belief now fuels my purpose: creating spaces where others can find support, meaning, and renewed happiness—no matter where they are in their cancer journey.

I am hopeful. I am grateful. And I am living fully—right here, right now.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Natalie Stevenson is a co-founder of Cancer Community Clubhouse and a metastatic breast cancer survivor. With over 17 years of experience working with real estate investors and a leading financial security company as an investment & retirement specialist, Natalie has returned to her roots in human services. Natalie holds a bachelor’s degree in human and family sciences, serves on the Nevada Cancer Coalition’s Survivorship Task Force, is a Metavivor Peer-to-Peer program leader, is a 2022 Elevate Ambassador for the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, and a mentor angel with Imerman Angels. Originally diagnosed as a young, single mother, Natalie especially values and enjoys spending time with her son, practicing mindfulness techniques including meditation, yoga & QiGong, and she escapes to the natural retreats the region has to offer—especially Lake Tahoe! As a survivor, she is committed to helping others find a renewed sense of happiness despite going through cancer as a life event. Above all, she aims to create a space for connection so others do not have to go through the journey alone.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

As a nonprofit, our clientele are the cancer patients, survivors, and family members our programs serve. Growing our reach in the community has involved making professional connections with medical professionals – nurses, oncologists, radiologists, and cancer centers in general, along with other nonprofits for collaboration.

Almost more impactful has been our growth through word of mouth. Many people affected by cancer feel lost as they navigate the difficult treatments and the healthcare system, along with the deep effects it has on our finances, work, relationships, etc. Once a person receives supportive services in our community, they tell their friends and colleagues who have also been affected by cancer. Many of our participants have deep hearts for helping others get through their cancer experiences and share our services widely.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

A year after being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, I realized I would not be able to continue my work as an investment specialist at a financial firm. Devastated to make very difficult financial decisions based on this, I decided to “release” my attachment to my career, downsize my life, and move forward with full focus on my health. Knowing that I was not alone in my cancer experience, yet felt alone for so many years, I decided to start a nonprofit cancer support organization so no one had to go through cancer alone. Cancer Community Clubhouse is my journey of resilience. Starting from nothing, we now serve over 250 program-based visits each month! That’s 250 times someone affected by cancer walks through our doors for additional support. Showing the need that exists in this area. Within four years as an organization, we now have ongoing mental health groups, fitness classes, oncology wellness services, and educational seminars. I built this community because it was my lifeline. Now my lifeline gives life to so many others walking this path alongside me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.cancercommunityclubhouse.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cancer.community.clubhouse/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CancerCommunityClubhouse
• Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/company/cancer-community-clubhouse/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CancerCommunityClubhouse