My story begins 3 years ago when my mother discovered a mass in her breast. She was crippled with fear and didn’t know what to do. Hoping it was nothing serious or something that could be easily fixed, she visited her local doctor, who provided a referral for a mammogram.

Despite this, my mother was overwhelmed with fear and uncertainty. She reached out to friends, family, and even colleagues, hoping for someone to accompany her and ease her anxiety, but no one was able to help. Paralyzed by fear of the unknown and the results, she did nothing.

For two years, my mother lived in constant fear, keeping her health concerns from my brother, my husband, and me. Despite our questions about some unusual behaviors, she refused to share what was going on. It wasn’t until the death of a family member that she finally confided in me, and from that moment, I knew I had to act quickly.

After her first mammogram, suspicious findings were flagged, leading to further tests and two biopsies. The results confirmed it—she had stage III breast cancer. Fortunately, the cancer had not metastasized, which brought us a small measure of relief amid the fear.

It took several rounds of encouragement, but my mother agreed to undergo chemotherapy, followed by surgery and radiation. Today, I’m incredibly thankful to say that she is in full remission. This journey has been long and hard, but we have come through it stronger and more determined to raise awareness about the importance of early detection and the dangers of fear and stigma.

Let’s leave the stigma behind—donate today and help support life-saving research and programs for those facing breast cancer.