After a routine mammogram found an abnormal growth in my left breast, I was diagnosed with HER2+ Invasive Ductal Carcinoma in June of 2022. By the time they caught it, I was already Stage 2B, and the cancer had spread to a dozen lymph nodes. 

The diagnosis was shocking because I had no symptoms and no family history of breast cancer. I was overwhelmed and terrified, but one of my friends reminded me that amazing breakthroughs are being made in cancer research every day. The fact that there were people out there dedicating their lives to saving mine gave me the courage I needed to start my "journey" and face every scan, surgery, radiation treatment, and chemo appointment, knowing I would be okay. I would survive.  

During my treatment, I was fortunate to become involved with the National Foundation for Cancer Research (NFCR) as a Community Ambassador. With an emphasis on “high-risk, high-impact” research, NFCR provides scientists in the lab the critical seed funding they need to make game-changing discoveries in cancer detection, treatments, and prevention and ultimately, a cure for all cancers.