Breast cancer survivor turns diagnosis into mission to help others, advocate for earlier screening

Amy Terry never expected a routine mammogram to change her life.

Terry, in her mid-40s, was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer in 2022. The diagnosis meant chemotherapy, radiation and surgery — a treatment course she described as “very terrifying.”

“I was diagnosed in 2022 after a routine mammogram, and I was blindsided by the results,” Terry said. “Being and dealing with breast cancer, you hear the word ‘fight’ a lot. Once I gave myself permission to lean into the process of healing and letting the medications do what they were targeted to do, I feel like it became a little easier for me to wrap my head around.”

Terry said her experience has convinced her that women should start screening earlier.

According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than