Amy’s Breast Cancer Survivor Story

For Amy, mammography wasn’t just a career – it was a calling. At 40 years old, after a divorce, she decided to start over and find work that truly mattered. She began in X-ray, later training in mammography, and quickly discovered her passion for helping women take charge of their breast health.

Over the next two decades, Amy went back to school and started building a career she loved. In her position with OhioHealth, she spent much time at Avina’s Lane Avenue office before she finally joined us full-time in 2022. The transition felt seamless, and she loved spending her days focused entirely on screenings. What she didn’t know was that one of those screenings would change her life forever.

That same year, Amy went in for her own annual mammogram with her radiologist, Dr. Katherine Cyran. It had been about 14 months since her last exam (a little overdue) and her husband encouraged her not to delay any longer. So she scheduled the appointment the very next day.

During that visit, her mammogram showed something that needed a closer look. She had no family history, so she was quite surprised. When she saw the images, Amy’s professional instincts told her what was coming. A few weeks later, her biopsy results confirmed it – she had breast cancer.

Amy’s surgery was scheduled for the same day she and her daughters had tickets to see the Backstreet Boys in concert, a show they had been anticipating for a while. Rather than cancel their plans, she asked to move the surgery back a week. “Those few days with my girls were exactly what I needed,” she said. “We laughed, sang, and made incredible memories before starting the next chapter.”

Her surgery went well, and she stayed positive throughout the time it took to heal. Because her cancer was caught early, she didn’t need chemotherapy. Instead, she underwent five short rounds of radiation, and was back to work just a couple months later.

Amy faced her diagnosis with strength and optimism. Months later, when life returned to “normal,” she found herself struggling emotionally. “January and February hit me hard,” she recalled. “After being strong for so long, it finally caught up with me.”

That experience, though difficult, deepened Amy’s empathy for her patients, especially those coming in scared for their first mammogram. Sometimes, if the timing feels right, she shares that she’s a survivor. “When I do, I can see their faces change. They realize they’re talking to someone who truly understands.”

“I don’t know that everything happens for a reason, but I do believe in trying to find positivity in a negative situation.” Today, Amy is thriving. She eats better, moves more, and takes time to care for herself in ways she didn’t before. Her family, especially her husband and children, rallied around her in every stage of recovery.

Her message is simple but powerful: don’t wait. “If I had waited even another year, my story would have been very different.”