She felt reassured after genetic testing confirmed she didn’t carry inherited mutations associated with an increased cancer risk.
“My aunt had breast cancer in her 30s, so the women in my family did genetic testing,” Barden said. “When the test came back negative, I was thinking, ‘Great, I never have to worry about breast cancer.’”
That’s why Barden says she was “floored” when she was diagnosed with breast cancer shortly before her 37th birthday in July 2023.
Knowing Your Body
Barden, at the time a single mom, was in the shower bathing her toddler when she first spotted something unusual. She remembers bending over to wash her son’s hair and noticing what looked like a small marble on the surface of her skin near her armpit.
“Nobody knows your body better than you do, and I just thought, ‘This doesn’t seem normal,’” Barden said. “I made an appointment at City of Hope to get it checked out and things moved pretty quickly after that.”
Cynthia Lynch, M.D., a medical oncologist and medical director of the Breast Cancer Program at City of Hope Arizona, says Barden had stage 1A ductal carcinoma, a common breast cancer that begins in the milk ducts. Dr. Lynch emphasizes how critical it was that Barden paid attention to her body and recognized that something was different.
“Sometimes younger women feel things and assume it’s a cyst or something else benign,” Dr. Lynch said. “But if there’s ever a change, it’s important to bring it to your doctor’s attention because the earlier we identify breast cancers, the better the chance for a cure.”
Cared for by Colleagues
For Barden, choosing where to go for her treatment was a no-brainer. As regional manager for physician relations at City of Hope Arizona, it was her job to explain to referring providers why City of Hope was the best option for their patients.
“I had more than just faith. I work every day next to these physicians, so I see their actual work and their patients’ outcomes. There was no way I was going anywhere else,” Barden said.
After becoming a patient herself, Barden said she developed a greater appreciation for her colleagues’ honest communication and collaborative approach. At City of Hope, a multidisciplinary tumor board reviews each case to help determine the most appropriate care options.
“We always take a comprehensive look at the patient and their circumstances and show them all the potential avenues for treatment,” Dr. Lynch said.
Choosing a Lumpectomy
Barden opted for a lumpectomy followed by radiation and hormone therapy, rather than a double mastectomy. The risk of recurrence for both options was similar, but the recovery after lumpectomy surgery is typically shorter than a double mastectomy. She wanted to recover quickly to take care of her son, Beau and this gave her the best path forward to do just that.
Just one month after learning she had cancer, Barden had the lumpectomy on August 11, 2023. She also had a sentinel lymph node biopsy, which involves removing the first few lymph nodes to check if the cancer has spread.
Fortunately, the procedures went smoothly and Barden was told the team had successfully removed all of the cancer.
“We always say ‘speed to cure,’ which is something City of Hope tries to do for all patients,” Barden said. “It was such a blessing because by the time I was able to process that I really had cancer, the surgery was scheduled and then it was done.”
The support Barden received from City of Hope extended beyond the cancer center walls. She said her care team helped organize meal trains and offered to babysit. “They really went that extra mile to take care of me and my family.”
An Unexpected Connection During Radiation Treatment
The next phase of Barden’s treatment began in October 2023 and involved 28 rounds of radiation therapy to reduce the risk of recurrence. Barden remembers being warned radiation would leave her feeling exhausted.
“I was thinking, ‘No way, not me. I’ll still be able to exercise,’” Barden said. “Unfortunately, they were right and by the third week, I couldn’t go to the gym.”
Luckily, Barden had someone special offering support: her future wife, Meaghan, who drove her to and from each radiation session.
They had previously connected via Instagram, back when Barden attracted a large following for her CrossFit content. But after posting about her cancer diagnosis, Meaghan reached out and they started talking more regularly.
At the time, Meaghan was working as a park ranger in Minnesota. However, she was originally from Arizona so when a job relocation opportunity came up, she accepted it.
“She called me and said, ‘I have to tell you something, but it doesn’t have anything to do with you,’” Barden explained with a laugh. “She told me she was moving back to Arizona. I was like, ‘We should definitely hang out.’ That led to her driving me to every radiation appointment.”
Their relationship continued to grow, and Barden realized her mother’s advice about love turned out to be true. “When you know, you know!”
Barden proposed to Meaghan the following year, and they got married a few months later.
Expanding Their Family
The final and longest stage of Barden’s cancer treatment is hormone therapy, which she’ll be on for up to 10 years. She takes tamoxifen, an oral medication that blocks estrogen receptors to prevent tumor recurrence. Barden was advised not to become pregnant while on tamoxifen because the medication can lead to birth defects.
For Barden, this was disappointing because she wanted to give Beau a sibling. When Meaghan came into her life, that dream felt possible again. In May 2026, they welcomed their daughter Mabel into the world. The entire family was overjoyed.
“Cancer doesn’t have to define your life or stop your dreams. There are multiple ways to make them happen,” she added.
For Dr. Lynch, it’s deeply rewarding to see patients like Barden thrive after cancer. “It’s such a blessing to walk alongside someone on their journey through cancer. To see her, from diagnosis to where she is now, I just consider it an honor to have had a small part in that.”
Living For Today
Today, Barden enjoys an active lifestyle with her family. They go hiking and camping, and 5-year-old Beau loves riding his electric dirt bike and picking out fresh eggs from their chicken coop.
Her exercise regimen isn’t as intense anymore. However, she became a runner and is training for the upcoming Phoenix Marathon. Reflecting on her cancer journey, Barden explained that her biggest takeaway is to always live for today.
“You can’t focus on yesterday or worry about trying to control what happens tomorrow. It’s important to live in the moment.”
