This #AANHPIMonth, we're sharing a story from our friend and breast cancer survivor, Shelly. 💗 In 2024, Shelly performed a breast self-exam in the shower and felt a lump. After some appointments and tests, including a mammogram and ultrasound, she received her diagnosis: Stage 2B invasive ductal carcinoma with lymph node involvement. Shelly had the support of her husband, parents who flew in from the Philippines, church family, and her NBCF-funded patient navigator, Allie. Allie supported Shelly not just medically but also emotionally and practically, providing her with a comprehensive medical binder to help her organize appointments, medications, records, and notes. She also helped prepare Shelly for chemotherapy, telling her what to expect and ensuring she had the tools she needed to feel ready Once treatment began, Allie's support went far beyond paperwork as she helped Shelly access wigs and head coverings, introduced her to their resource center's lending library, which includes cookbooks tailored for cancer treatment nutrition, and checked in with her regularly. Shelly recalls: "I am so grateful that I have family here and in the Philippines, friends, church family, medical group, and Allie, who are praying, encouraging, and supporting me all the way until now. I knew that I needed to face the reality that I have cancer. I had to have faith that I would get better. My husband and I never stopped praying for God to lead us to all the medical people who would help us get through this. In this journey, I feel like I am not alone. Miracles happen every day. God uses all these people in my life as instruments to know that life is beautiful despite the circumstances."

"I want to encourage Asian immigrants who may feel fearful about breast health concerns. Being in a new country doesn't mean the experience will be worse. It's natural to feel fear when facing the unknown, but once we understand what we're dealing with, that fear can diminish and even turn into motivation to take care of ourselves. Cancer can be expensive and physically draining, but early detection and treatment are far better than letting it progress unchecked." -Joy This Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Month, we're sharing the story of our friend Joy, who was an international student at the time she was diagnosed with Stage 2 estrogen and progesterone receptor-positive (ER/PR ) invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). She shares: "I wish I had known earlier the importance of doing regular checkups, especially breast cancer and cervical cancer screenings. I used to be very healthy, full of energy, and passionate about life and exercise, so I often ignored the need to go to the hospital for checkups. I was too confident in my own health. In traditional and more conservative Chinese culture, breast health and other women's illnesses are rarely discussed openly within families. Before my diagnosis, I knew almost nothing about breast cancer. No one in my family has had breast cancer, and my genetic testing shows it is not hereditary. My hope is that everyone stays healthy and doesn't let financial concerns delay treatment. Start treatment early, and things will get better." #AANHPIMonth #AAPIMonth