Battling Breast Cancer: Single Mom and Entrepreneur is Inspired by Her Future Self

During her toughest moments, Jennifer Zawadzki has drawn strength from her vision of a future in which she has triumphed through her challenges. It’s more than her philosophy on life; it is, quite literally, her business.

Ms. Zawadzki — or Jen Z, as her friends call her — is the founder of Future You Project, which offers inspirational gifts and cards to support people through tough times. The messages about positivity and self-care came in handy when, just as her business was flourishing, she was diagnosed last year with stage 4 breast cancer.

“I dug deep and pulled many things out of my ‘toolbox’ to deal with my cancer,” says the single mother, who was treated at The Eugene M. & Christine E. Lynn Cancer Institute at Boca Raton Regional Hospital, part of Baptist Health. “Life has its ups and downs, right? I think the point is doing the best you can, and honoring the journey as it comes — the highs and the lows.”

The Importance of Making the Right Connections

Ms. Zawadzki, 48, had been looking for a new primary care physician and was drawn to the background of Biana Manchik-Schwartz, M.D.,afamily medicine physician with Baptist Health who practices in Boca Raton. She made an appointment to talk about the pain she was having in her armpit.

From their first appointment, they hit it off — which was good, since Dr. Manchik-Schwartz was soon delivering the life-changing newstoher new patient that she had cancer. Realizing the intense pressure Ms. Zawadzki was under, Dr. Manchik-Schwartz immediately worked to expedite care through Lynn Cancer Institute.

“That's what I really enjoy about working here with Baptist Health — the fact that I was able to literally just pick up the phone, call, and tell them the situation,” she says. “The collaboration with the doctors at Lynn Cancer Instituteand Lynn Women's Health & Wellness Institute is huge. It made it a lot simpler.”

The Journey Begins

At Lynn Cancer Institute, Ms. Zawadzki was impressed with the multimodality breast clinic, which allowed her to meet with a number of experts in one visit, including breast medical oncologist Jane Skelton, M.D., radiation oncologist Samuel Richter, M.D., and social worker Darci McNally, director of Oncology Support Services.

"I just was like, wow, I've got this team of people who are working together, from day one, to save my life,” she says. Every step along the way she was met with genuine compassion — not to mention expert care. "I’m not sure I will ever be able to express how incredible my experience at Lynn Cancer Institute has been.”

Her treatment was complex — and grueling. In addition to numerous tests and scans, she underwent six months of chemotherapy, followed by the surgical removal of her right breast, and then 16 rounds of radiation to her chest. Partway through the radiation treatment, a monoclonal antibody therapy that targets HER2-positive breast cancer was added. She also had three rounds of radiation to her spine to halt any cancer growth there, and surgery to remove her ovaries and fallopian tubes to prevent her body from producing estrogen.

“It was a lot,” she says. “I just focused on staying positive.” Because that’s what she does.

In the Business of Spreading Joy

Ms. Zawadzki’s business, Future You Project, was born out of challenging times she experienced following an unexpected divorce. She had just moved to Florida from Ohio for a new job and, as the single mother of a 3-year-old, was feeling very alone. Out of the blue, she began receiving affirming messages in the mail that were signed by her future self. Sent anonymously by a friend, the notes and gifts gave her a new perspective.

“When you get these words of encouragement, especially from your future self, it's powerful,” she says. “I wanted to be this person that Future Jen could be proud of.” She started exercising, took a salsa dance class, participated in a Spartan endurance race, counted her blessings — in essence, she rediscovered her joy.

Ms. Zawadzki realized others could benefit from that same kind of support. “I got on this mission to curate these themed gift boxes that came with personalized letters from your future self,” she says. The project, which was featured on Good Morning America, blossomed during the pandemic.

Ms. Zawadzki has continued to work throughout her treatment — although on some days, when feeling poorly, she did so from her bed. “It's always been about paying forward the love and kindness that I received in my hour of need, of being able to do that for others in theirs.”

Now, a portion of the proceeds from Future You Project support Lynn Cancer Institute. In addition, visitors to the website are offered the option to make an additional donation. “That was important to me because I want to give back to the people who saved my life,” she says.

Celebrating Through All That Life Sends Your Way

If you’re wondering whether Ms. Zawadzki is really as positive as she projects, you might want to know this: “When I was first diagnosed, I threw a party,” she says. There’s video.

The theme of the party was “Getting Wiggy With It,” and the featured activity was shaving Ms. Zawadzki’s head before chemotherapy could claim her hair. Friends donned wacky wigs, which she later wore to her treatment sessions. They took turns cutting off her locks to donate to a charity that makes wigs for pediatric cancer patients; then the electric razor was brought out. Her 10-year-old son, Johnny, got to wield it first.

“I wanted it to be really empowering for my friends, family, and most importantly my son,” Ms. Zawadzki recalls.

Of all the challenges she faced in her cancer journey, she was most intentional about Johnny’s experience. “I just never allowed fear to enter our home,” she says. “My son now understands at a deeper level — as I think I do, too — the importance of family, the importance of community. For my son to be able to see all of these people rallying behind me, and also the fact that we could laugh through it together — it was huge. He has an appreciation for life now that he'll carry with him forever. And I'm very proud of that.”

Lessons Learned, Lessons Shared

Ms. Zawadzki’s relentless self-advocacy and positive spirit has been a key to her progress, Dr. Richter says.

“You know, she got dealt a bad hand. But she was one of those people that you knew, from the minute you met her, that she would make the best lemonade out of the lemons she was given,” Dr. Richter says. “I think, to her credit, that's why she's been doing so well.”

Currently, Ms. Zawadzki has no evidence of disease and is being monitored closely. She remains on long-term immunotherapy to help her body recognize and defeat any cancer cells if they return.

Ms. Zawadzki’s advice to other women — to everyone, really — is not to take your health for granted. “Don't ever think that just because you feel OK, you are OK. Go for your screenings every year. Love yourself enough to make sure that you're taking care of your body,” she says. “Early detection saves lives, period.”

For those who are diagnosed with cancer, her message is one that Future Jen would embrace. “You’re stronger than you realize,” she says. “Just dig deep and know that you have power and strength to get through this.”

Visit BaptistHealth.net/mammo to learn more or schedule your breast cancer screening this Breast Cancer Awareness Month.”