After my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, I couldn’t shake the fear that one day, I would face the disease as well. That day arrived decades later, but still much earlier than I’d expected. It was the fall of 2022, and I had gone in for my annual mammogram.…
Kimberly Pagano grew up in southern California, alongside her fraternal twin sister, where the two were enrolled in karate classes at a young age to learn self-defense. “It set the stage for who I am today and gave me confidence in different aspects of life,” Kimberly, who goes by Kim,…
While breast cancer brought Shannon Coffey and Dawn Bobo together, it was the shared experience of grief and loss that cemented a special bond between the women. After being diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer in 2023, Shannon reached out to ABCD: After Breast Cancer Diagnosis to request a Mentor. ABCD…
Tom Gobroski’s journey as a male breast cancer survivor and advocate for ABCD is a testament to his resilience, determination, and passion for helping others. Diagnosed in March 2015, Tom demonstrates the importance of early detection and the need for support in the face of breast cancer. Tom’s discovery of…
June Winters is no stranger to mentorship. Since starting her journey with ABCD in 2017 she has mentored some 25 Participants and describes her experience as an “opportunity to listen and to give a sense of hope, encouragement and empowerment to others.” Our story picks up in the fall of…
Soon after turning 40 in December of 2019, Jaclyn Dillon had her first mammogram and it was all clear. Eight months later, she was at home during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic with her young daughter, who was celebrating her third birthday. “She knocked her head back on my…
After losing her mother to breast cancer and learning she carries the BRCA2 mutation that puts her at high risk for breast, ovarian, and other cancers, Ivonne Harris didn’t hesitate to act. “As soon as I got the results, I knew what I wanted to do,” she says. For Ivonne,…
Flo Cameron loves to laugh. But after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021, Flo faced moments of sadness that she describes as “some of the lowest times in my life.” Because she had a family history of the disease, Flo wanted to do everything possible to reduce her risk…
Nine years ago, Linda Settler received a life-altering diagnosis: stage 1A breast cancer. However, unlike many others, she had already mentally prepared for this diagnosis. Growing up with the knowledge that her maternal grandmother had also faced breast cancer, Linda always knew it was a matter of when, not if,…
Receive information from ABCD straight to your inbox.
Subscribe to Our Email List 5775 N. Glen Park Road, Suite #201
Milwaukee, WI 53209
ABCD: After Breast Cancer Diagnosis is a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.
ABCD does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations.
ABCD does not provide medical advice, make diagnoses, or offer treatment options.
ABCD staff and volunteer Mentors are not licensed mental health professionals, therapists, social workers, or psychologists. They do not provide medical, therapeutic, or clinical advice. ABCD’s services are intended solely to offer peer-based emotional support and shared understanding through personal experience. If you need immediate mental health services, please reach out to your medical team or the National Hotline For Mental Health Crises And Suicide Prevention by dialing 988 on your phone.