State Senator Sue Serino can finally laugh with her staff while reflecting back to May 13, 2020, the day she learned that she had an invasive form of breast cancer.

“Remember I called you from the car?” she said, smiling to Kara Cumoletti, her communications director. “I was crying, like, 'I have cancer.'"

Serino, who represents Dutchess and Putnam counties, continued with work and her re-election campaign. During an interview at her Hyde Park office on Tuesday, Serino told Spectrum News that it was difficult at first to talk about the diagnosis with friends, and even some family.

“I didn’t tell my mom about my diagnosis,” Serino said. ”She got mad at me afterward. I just didn’t want to have to worry her.”

But then in July, she told everyone.

Serino announced that a recent lumpectomy did not keep a tumor from spreading, and she was about to begin four weeks of daily radiation treatment.

Next came the cards, gifts, cupcakes, and even a wooden version of an American flag from the Hyde Park Police Department. Instead of blue, the stripe across the flag was pink.

“They had this beautiful surprise for me,” Serino said of the flag. “It was so thoughtful. They came and presented it to me here at the office.”

She said these gestures were like fuel for her, and pushed her over the finish line.

Serino found out last week that radiation treatments worked and she is now cancer-free. She is glad she shared part of her journey with the community.

“Then, when you hear people who have said, ‘Oh, I had that and here’s what happened. This is what I went through. I’ve recovered and been clean — no cancer — for ten years now,'” Serino recalled. “(There were) multiple stories I’ve heard from members of our community that have really helped me tremendously.”

Serino hopes her story reaches other women who have put off their follow-up appointments because of the pandemic, or for family reasons.

“We worry about everybody else,” Serino said. “A lot of times, our stuff gets out on the back burner. I think it’s really important. This is a perfect example. I was very fortunate because I caught it early, but if I would have gone longer, I don’t know where I would have been with it.”