My Reason for Research

Pictured above is my beautiful Aunt Sally with her husband Ronald. She's the reason I chose my project, The Young Breast Cancer Survivors Network, so I feel it's important for you to know her story. When she was only 30 years old, she found a lump on her breast and went to the doctor. The lump was biopsied, and she was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was caught early so treatment was started. She had a lumpectomy and endured daily treatments of radiation for six weeks. After her final radiation treatment, she was sent home with the good news that her cancer was gone. Two years later, she began experiencing pain in her back. Over time the pain progressed to the point that she couldn't even lay down, and had to sleep sitting upright. She went back to her doctor and received a mammogram which showed no signs of cancer, and she was mistakenly diagnosed with mastitis and was sent home with antibiotics. The pain continued and a few weeks later a lump developed on the same breast as two years earlier. After going back to the doctor and having the lump biopsied, she was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer, which is non-detectable with a mammogram. It was a very aggressive form of cancer and had spread to her other breast and back, which was the source of her pain. Aunt Sally had a radical mastectomy on her left side and began chemotherapy. She was told by the doctors to go home and "get everything settled," giving her a slim survival rate. But after several months of chemotherapy, she had beaten the cancer for the second time, and proven all the doctor's wrong. Thirty years later, she is well and cancer free, and a true source of inspiration for me. Working on this project is my way to honor her and the struggle that she went through. She is a breast cancer survivor, and my work with Dr. Meneses will allow me to give back to other survivors’ and their families.