Breast cancer is a powerful punch to the gut, an emotional slap upside the head. Cancer is the big gorilla sitting in the corner; while you’re going through treatment, it’s an overwhelming fact of life that’s impossible to shove out of your mind.

But as time goes by, the memories fade. You never forget cancer entirely, of course; it’s a life-changing experience that stays with you forever, much like having a baby (only without the joyful outcome). Still, its presence in your day-to-day...