RICHMOND, Va. — Joanne Peña was only 10 when her mother passed away from colon cancer. In 2018, when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, it felt eerily similar to her childhood experience.
Peña and her husband sat down with their children, just as her mother had done with her and her sister years earlier, to share the news. She wanted to keep their lives as normal as possible because her own childhood had been so disrupted.
Peña began having regular mammograms and pap smears at age 30, always receiving normal results. However, when she felt a lump in her breast at 30, and mammograms showed nothing, she pushed for an ultrasound. The ultrasound led to a biopsy that confirmed the cancer.
Peña’s cancer was found on both sides and had spread to her lymph nodes, making a bilateral mastectomy her only option. This experience convinced her that self-advocacy was crucial for early diagnosis and survival. She now encourages other women, especially those with dense breast tissue, to advocate for additional testing if needed.
She advises women to ask for an MRI if mammograms are clear but there is still concern, as her cancer was not detected by mammograms. Peña also promotes genetic testing for those who might need it.
Since her diagnosis, Peña has had seven surgeries and often reflects on why she survived when many friends did not. To honor their memory, she urges women to schedule their mammograms.
For those who need a mammogram but can’t afford one, there are programs available for assistance. Click here for information about the Reach Out For Life free mammography program or call 804-977-3920 (English) or 804-499-0246 (Espanol).