My Hidden Breast Cancer's Early Detection: The Breast Density Summit
Breast cancer doesn’t just affect one person—it ripples through families, generations, and communities. For me, it’s a deeply personal story that starts with my mother, whose journey with breast cancer shaped the way I faced my own diagnosis and ultimately led to the founding of For The Love Of Cups.
My mom and I share a unique cancer trait. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in both breasts—at different times. Her first diagnosis resulted in a single mastectomy, but five years later, cancer returned in her other breast. This time, she underwent the double mastectomy she had originally wanted but was denied.
Her strength and determination to advocate for her own health became my guiding light when I was diagnosed with breast cancer in my right breast. I knew immediately that I wanted a double mastectomy, but it wasn’t an easy path.
Four days after my surgery, I received a call from my surgeon.
“ARE YOU SITTING DOWN?” she asked.
I wasn’t. I had been sitting, but the weight of her words made me immediately stand and begin pacing. I braced myself for the news from my pathology report.
“It’s a good thing you listened to your intuition (and your mom),” she said. “Your left breast was LOADED with breast cancer. Loaded.”
Those words are etched in my memory. My “healthy” breast, as the doctors had called it, was anything but. Despite extensive screenings and tests, nothing had shown up in my left breast. Dense breast tissue had hidden the cancer from view.
Apply to Join The Breast Density Summit Task Force
I remember the heartbreak of seeing a photo taken just before my surgery. My mom is hugging me, her face filled with anguish, wishing she could take this burden from me. In the background, my daughter stands guard, her worry etched into her young face.
It’s rare to have breast cancer in both breasts. I had been advised by multiple doctors to opt for a lumpectomy for the original tumor. But I knew in my gut that wasn’t the right choice for me. I had to fight—hard—to get the double mastectomy. I even fired my entire medical team and started from scratch with a group of doctors and surgeons who supported my decision.
After my first appointment as a newly diagnosed breast cancer patient, I was sent home with dozens of pamphlets. Not one of them mentioned dense breast tissue. Not one.
Learning about my dense breast tissue and doing my own research played a pivotal role in my decision to undergo a double mastectomy. But getting to that point was one of the most terrifying experiences of my life.
There was so much pressure to “hurry up” and start treatment—get the lumpectomy, begin radiation, and take tamoxifen. But I knew that path wasn’t right for me. Still, I felt lost, scared, and completely alone at times, even with the incredible support of my family.
I couldn’t stop thinking: If this was so hard for me, with all the resources and support I had,
how much harder must it be for women without access to these advantages?
That thought became the driving force behind For The Love Of Cups. Inspired by my mother and motivated by my daughters, I founded this nonprofit to ensure that women have the support and information they need to make informed decisions about their breast health. Because everyone deserves the benefit of early detection.
Today, we’re making strides in educating women about breast density and advocating for better screening methods. But there’s still so much work to be done.
That’s why I’m so excited to announce our first-ever Breast Cancer Early Detection Breast Density Summit. This event has been a dream of mine for years. Since my diagnosis in 2014, there have been important changes to Breast Density Notifications in the U.S., but we need to ensure that this information reaches more women. More importantly, we need to focus on follow-up care and help women understand what to do with the information they receive.
This summit is about empowerment, education, and action.
If you’ve ever felt lost, confused, or alone in your breast health journey—or if you want to be part of the movement to change that—I’d love for you to join us. Together, we can ensure that no woman has to face these challenges without the support and information she deserves.
Let’s make a difference, one informed decision at a time.
We are looking for: Advocates, survivors, caregivers, physicians, oncologists, radiologists, and breast surgeons to fill a variety of roles and positions to build a task force for The Breast Density Summit.
This is for people who:
Are dedicated individuals passionate about breast health advocacy
Have experience in healthcare, patient advocacy, or breast cancer survivorship
Are committed to improving breast cancer screening standards
What we need:
Speakers & Panel Members
Focus groups of women who can share about their experience with their breast health screening
Help organizing the event
Donors and Sponsors
Apply to Join The Breast Density Summit Task Force
RESOURCES
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