- Vanessa Rissetto, from New York, was diagnosed with the disease in May 2023
- She said she ‘knew something was wrong’ long before
- She had developed an initial symptom that was overlooked by doctors
A dietitian who overcame breast cancer has revealed the surprising first symptom she developed almost a year before being diagnosed with the disease – which was continually overlooked by tests and doctors.
Vanessa Rissetto, a New York City registered nutritionist and co-founder of Culina Health, discovered she was battling the horrific disease in May 2023.
But the health guru recently told the Today show that she “knew something was wrong” long before the diagnosis, because she had developed an unexpected condition: her breasts had become “extremely itchy.”
Vanessa explained that as a health professional she “knew itching could be a sign of cancer” and became convinced she had the disease.
But two mammograms came back “clear” and doctors brushed aside her concerns.
A dietitian who beat breast cancer has revealed the surprising first symptom she developed months before being diagnosed with the disease
“I went into the bathroom and looked at myself in the mirror and said, ‘I have cancer,'” she recalled.
“I felt crazy because everyone was saying, ‘You don’t do that,’ but I knew something was wrong.”
She explained that she had gone to a dermatologist who told her it was probably ‘eczema’ and had prescribed her a steroid.
But the itching persisted and the medication didn’t help, only fueling her fears.
Ultimately, Vanessa decided to switch to a new doctor who sent her to get another mammogram — ultimately leading to the heartbreaking news that she had Stage 1A HER2 triple-positive breast cancer.
“I just sat in my car and panicked for about four hours,” she recalled of the moment she found out in May 2023.
But because of her premonitions, Vanessa said she was “shocked but not surprised.”
The doctors immediately took action and just weeks later she underwent surgery.
Vanessa Rissetto, a New York City registered nutritionist and co-founder of Culina Health, discovered she was battling the horrific disease in May 2023.
But after doctors told her the result was ‘not good’, she had to go under the knife for a second time last July.
She then began chemotherapy, followed by sixteen rounds of radiation, and in April her treatment was completed and she was officially declared cancer-free.
And although she now feels good physically, the mental consequences of battling the disease still affect her.
“I think there’s always a low level of fear that I’ve had cancer, and that my body has made cancer, and maybe it will make cancer again. And that sucks,” she said.
“Sometimes I’m having dinner with my friends and I think, ‘Wow, they have mental peace and freedom because they wake up in the morning and all they think about is the fact that their kids haven’t cleaned their room.’ .”
“I mean, I know they have stressors, but they don’t have to think about mortality the way I do, and that’s just really hard. To be honest, I don’t know if I’ll ever get over it.’