My journey with breast cancer started 7 years before I was diagnosed. In 2016, my mom found a lump in her breast and, unhappy with the medical advice she received, asked for a referral to Sunnybrook from our family doctor. They assessed her and determined the lump she found was cancerous and treated her. The care from Sunnybrook didn’t stop there. When they found out my mom’s family history, they offered genetic testing to everyone in her family. This is when my journey began. I did the testing and was negative for the breast cancer gene but because my mom is a survivor, I entered into the Breast Cancer Screening High Risk program at Sunnybrook. I did annual MRI’s and mammograms and met with my High Risk doctor yearly as well. In May of 2023, I went for my annual mammogram which came back normal. Thinking I was in the clear for another year, I went to my annual MRI 2 weeks later feeling optimistic. I received a call from my Sunnybrook doctor a week or so later letting me know there was an area of concern and she would like to refer me for a biopsy if I was interested. I had my biopsy on June 9th and on June 11th (my 35th birthday) she called to inform me I had DCIS (breast cancer). My summer, fall and winter were filled with drives to Sunnybrook for appointments with; pathologists, surgeons, clinics, more testing, oncologist, surgery, chemotherapy and immunotherapy and heart scans. It was busy but I felt confident that I was in the best care possible and that I would make it through this journey. It is because of donations raised to help fund the research and technology, that early detection was available to me, making my journey so successful. Thank you for your time and support,        Sarah Kroekenstoel