On 8/28/24, at 25 years old, I was diagnosed with stage 1A triple negative invasive ductal carcinoma. I completed treatment in January 2025, and while this diagnosis turned my world upside down, it also showed me strength I didn’t know I had.

I come from a family deeply affected by breast cancer. My grandmother and mom both fought breast cancer twice, and my mom’s knowledge of her BRCA1 mutation led me to pursue my own testing journey. Despite early resistance from a provider, I advocated for myself and tested positive for the BRCA1 mutation in 2022. I joined high-risk screening programs, and it was through that vigilance that my cancer was caught early during what was supposed to be my "baseline" MRI. 

I had done everything possible to avoid getting breast cancer, but cancer doesn’t discriminate. What I do have is determination: to fight, to raise awareness, and to help change the narrative for young people like me.

This walk is more than symbolic, it’s a step toward better research, earlier detection, and expanded access to genetic testing and education. It’s also a celebration of self-advocacy, resilience, and community.

I invite you to support my walk, join my team "The Pink Thriving Geese," share my story, and help fuel a future where no one has to hear the words “you have breast cancer.”