Dimitra’s Journey: Strength, Survival, and Support

At TP’s “Strength, Survival, and Support” panel for Pink October, Dimitra Aggelopoulou, Vice President at TP, shared her personal breast cancer journey. Her story highlighted the importance of listening to your body, taking action, and relying on a strong support system both at home and in the workplace.

A Surprising Discovery

Last June, Dimitra noticed something unusual—her cat had developed a habit of pawing at her chest. At first, she thought it was cute, but she soon started to feel a pain that made her pause. After a self-examination, she saw a slight shadow in the mirror and knew something wasn’t right.

Dimitra immediately scheduled a mammogram. Although it wasn’t her first time, she sensed something was different when the doctors kept calling her back. Soon the results showed a large shadow, and Dimitra realized she was facing a serious challenge.

Acting Fast with a Mastectomy

Just days later, Dimitra met with a surgeon and scheduled her surgery. Initially, they thought there was only one tumor, but further tests revealed three. The decision was made to proceed with a full mastectomy. The news, coming so close to her surgery date, was difficult to process. With the support of her family and her colleagues at TP, Dimitra remained focused on getting through the process and starting her recovery.

Chemotherapy and Support

By August, Dimitra had started chemotherapy. The process moved quickly but it wasn’t easy. She lost her hair and began hormone therapy, but Dimitra’s positive outlook helped her stay grounded. She shared that keeping busy with work during this period was important for her—it gave her a sense of purpose and helped her focus on what needed to be done. For Dimitra, taking action was key, especially with the responsibilities of her role and being a mother.

Managing Side Effects and Focusing on Healing

Dimitra openly shared the physical challenges she faced post-surgery and chemotherapy. While she lost weight and experienced some pain, particularly with limited movement in her left arm due to lymph node removal, she maintained her focus on healing.

She continues to work on her physical therapy to regain strength and mobility and approaches the process with patience and determination.

The Power of Support

Dimitra emphasized how much the support from her family and colleagues meant during this time. Her husband was her rock, and her colleagues at TP, provided ongoing encouragement. She reminded everyone that each person handles a diagnosis differently, and it’s important to be there in whatever way is most helpful.

Her openness provided inspiration, showing how early detection, resilience, and the power of community can make all the difference.

Health and a New Perspective

Since her diagnosis, Dimitra has focused on improving her health and well-being. She’s training to regain strength in her arm and has made travel a key part of her healing journey. Her doctors often remind her that this experience is just a “parenthesis” in her life, a temporary chapter, and Dimitra is moving forward with optimism, embracing new habits and a fresh perspective on life.