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…
Breast cancer was already in Alyssa Mitchell’s life. Her mom had been diagnosed at 36, so Alyssa had always paid attention to her own breast health. Then at age 33, Alyssa found a lump, and a biopsy confirmed she had HER2-positive breast cancer. An MRI showed what was initially believed…
For years, Keeshia Jones had regular mammograms without any sign of a problem. But in July 2018, her screening mammogram revealed something suspicious. After more testing, Keeshia learned she had breast cancer. As a longtime volunteer for the Jane Cremer Foundation, a southeastern Wisconsin organization promoting awareness of cancer and…
Like the multi-colored hot air balloons in the festival in her hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Jennifer Tomlin felt tethered to the ground by her cancer diagnosis of 10 years ago. Not only that, but at the time of her diagnosis, she was in the midst of changing careers, from music…
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,…
After learning that her biopsy showed cancer and hearing her surgeon’s recommendation for a lumpectomy followed by radiation, Jan Lindemann was scared. Jan had experienced side effects from radiation in the past, suffering several health problems as a result. Although Jan understood that radiation techniques had improved over the years,…
“The world came crashing down,” is how Angie* remembers the moment she learned she had metastatic breast cancer. It was February 2016. Angie, then 41 years old, had always been healthy. But after Angie experienced back and rib pain, her doctor ordered imaging. When the CT scan showed lesions in…
ABCD provides holistic care that medical providers cannot offer. Working as a complement to healthcare providers, MSW, Leanne Walz, discusses the value of having someone there who truly understands at this most vulnerable time in the life of someone who is dealing with breast cancer.
Cheryl Biro has been involved with ABCD for almost 10 years and has seen the organization through several different lenses during that time, first as a Participant, then as a Mentor, and now as a Board Member. “I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer at the end of 2013…
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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.