In 2019, at just 30 years old, twin sisters Stephanie and Allison (AJ) were diagnosed with breast cancer within weeks of each other.

What began with a mammogram became a journey neither sister could have imagined, one that would take them through fear and uncertainty, chemotherapy and surgery, faith and family, and ultimately into survivorship.

Today, nearly seven years later, the sisters stand together as cancer survivors, mothers, and Portraits of Hope Ambassadors for the American Cancer Society, drawing on their experience to encourage women to prioritize their health, understand their risk, and hold on to hope.

A Family History That Changed Everything

The sisters’ mother was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 41 and is now a 25-plus-year survivor. Given their family history, AJ knew early screening was important and encouraged her twin to schedule her first mammogram.

“I reluctantly scheduled my screening,” Steph recalls.

Within days, both sisters received calls due to suspicious findings.

AJ underwent a biopsy and was diagnosed with Stage 0 ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Her sister still remembers the voicemail she left upon receiving the news:

“I just talked to my doctor at Mayo. I have breast cancer. Bye!”

While AJ began navigating her diagnosis, Stephanie underwent additional imaging. Despite suspicious findings, doctors initially advised her to monitor the area and return in a year, or sooner if anything changed.

One week later, during a routine physical, her gynecologist detected a lump in her left breast, in the same area as the suspicious imaging findings.

Around that time, Stephanie made a last-minute decision to accompany AJ to her Mayo Clinic appointment in Rochester, Minnesota.

As she listened to AJ’s doctors explain her diagnosis, one detail stood out: AJ had no palpable lump, a positive sign that her cancer had been caught very early.

That evening, Stephanie told her husband, Paul, about the lump.

His response was immediate: call the clinic to request additional screening.

The next day, she did.

A repeat ultrasound revealed not one but two masses in her left breast. She underwent biopsies of both masses the same day.

Shortly afterward, she received her diagnosis: Stage 2A invasive ductal carcinoma.

She transferred her care to Mayo Clinic and joined the same team of doctors and surgeons who were treating her sister.

“This Can’t Be Happening.”

Her first reaction was disbelief and bewilderment.

For two 30-year-old sisters, breast cancer was not something they had expected to face at that stage of life.

As AJ later described in a 2022 interview with KSTP5 News, the diagnosis felt terrifying and surreal. The sisters suddenly faced questions about treatment, their futures and careers, and whether they would be able to have children.

There was no way to know exactly what the road ahead would be like.

They simply had to take it one step at a time.

The Road Through Treatment

Stephanie’s diagnosis was Stage 2A invasive ductal carcinoma, ER-positive, PR-positive, and HER2-positive. Her lymph nodes were negative for cancer.

Her Mayo care team prepared her for an intensive treatment plan that would ultimately last about 18 months, followed by years of endocrine therapy.

Beginning in November 2019, she underwent six rounds of intensive chemotherapy, each three weeks apart. Her doctors compared the experience to taking an intense hike while adding another brick to the backpack with each infusion.

The physical side effects became increasingly severe with each round.

Hair loss was especially challenging for her as a practicing attorney who frequently appeared in court. She worried that losing her hair might undermine the professional image and credibility she had worked hard to build.

Instead, she received an extraordinary outpouring of support.

The partners at her law firm, colleagues, and staff stepped up to help with her workload, including covering court hearings and assisting with briefs. Members of the Minnesota legal community, including Judges and other attorneys, also expressed compassion and support.

Her coworkers even organized a “Bandana Friday,” wearing head bandanas in solidarity with her.

What she had feared might make her appear vulnerable instead became a reminder that she was surrounded by people who believed in her and were willing to stand with her.

Surgery….Then a World in Shutdown

In March 2020, Stephanie underwent a double mastectomy with direct-to-implant reconstruction, performed by the same surgeons who had treated AJ several months earlier.

The timing was remarkable: her surgery was the last procedure performed at Mayo Clinic before non-emergency surgeries were placed on hold as the COVID-19 pandemic shut down much of the world.

The surgery was successful.

Pathology confirmed that the cancer had not spread to her lymph nodes and that the initial six rounds of chemotherapy had been highly effective. Only trace amounts of cancer remained in the tumor bed.

Based on the results, she did not need radiation. However, she qualified for 14 additional infusions of Kadcyla (T-DM1), a newly approved treatment her care team described as “chemo lite.”

Although facing another 14 infusions was difficult, she was grateful to have access to a treatment shown to reduce the risk of recurrence for patients like her.

She completed those treatments in February 2021.

Then came the news she had been working toward for more than a year:

She was in remission.

She transitioned to Tamoxifen, an oral endocrine therapy, and continues it as part of her long-term treatment.

She Was Never Alone

Throughout the journey, her husband, Paul, remained her constant source of support.

He was there when she was told she needed a biopsy, accompanied her to appointments and chemotherapy sessions, stood by her during surgery, and remained by her side through the most difficult moments.

His support has continued into survivorship. He still accompanies her to her six-month remission checkups at Mayo Clinic.

Her parents, sisters, brothers-in-law, friends, coworkers, and church community also surrounded her with practical and emotional support, from preparing meals and walking the dogs to simply being there when she needed company.

Perhaps one of the most important lessons she learned was that it is okay to ask for help and to accept it.

As someone who had always relied heavily on her own strength, she initially struggled with vulnerability. Cancer taught her that accepting help is not a weakness.

Sometimes, it is part of moving forward.

Faith, Hope, and Finding What Sustains You

Her faith remained central to her journey.

Faced with a life-threatening diagnosis, she made a deliberate choice to trust God and surrender the circumstances beyond her control.

A verse that carried her through the hardest moments was Hebrews 10:23:

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.”

During her recovery from surgery, as the world entered the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, she began a 30-day Bible reading plan via the YouVersion Bible app where she read the entire Bible from cover-to-cover. It gave her structure and purpose during an otherwise uncertain season.

Exercise and music also became important sources of strength. When she was able, she walked on the treadmill, lifted weights, and walked her dogs. She found movement helpful for both her physical and mental well-being.

Music became another source of encouragement, particularly songs about hope, resilience, grit, and victory.

What Cancer Changed

Looking back, she says that cancer changed everything.

Her faith grew deeper and more personal. Her priorities became clearer. Her marriage and relationships with her family, friends, and church community grew stronger.

Most importantly, she learned not to take ordinary days for granted.

“Every day is a gift,” she says.

That perspective continues to shape how she lives.

Today, she and AJ are both cancer-free. They are also mothers, something they once wondered if they would ever become after their diagnoses at 30.

Their journey has led them to another purpose: helping other women understand the importance of awareness, screening, and their personal risk.

Her Message to Women

For women who have recently received a breast cancer diagnosis, her message is simple:

You are not alone. Take it one day at a time.

Steph encourages women to surround themselves with people who love and support them, make space for activities that bring them joy and life, and remember that survivorship is a marathon, not a sprint.

And for women everywhere, she emphasizes the importance of being proactive about their health:

Early Detection Saves Lives.

Scheduling screenings takes time. Medical appointments can be stressful and inconvenient. However, early detection saved Steph and AJ’s lives. They encourage women to be advocates for themselves and request preventative screenings when necessary. You are your best advocate! Don’t delay!

Steph’s family continues to learn about breast cancer risk, screening, healthy living, and ways to support overall well-being. Their experience has reminded her that some aspects of health are within our control, from staying active and being mindful of nutrition to avoiding tobacco and discussing individual risk and screening needs with healthcare professionals.

But above all, she wants women to remember this:

Breast cancer does not have the last word.

In 2019, two 30-year-old twin sisters stood at the start of a road they never expected to take. They did not know what their treatment would bring, what the future would hold, or whether their dreams of motherhood would become reality.

Today, they stand together as survivors, mothers, and advocates.

Their story is ultimately one of hope.

“No matter how dark or foreboding the road ahead might seem, hold on to hope,” she says.

And the words that have carried her through the journey remain at the heart of her story:

God is good. All. The. Time.

Learn more about Steph and AJ’s work as American Cancer Society Portraits of Hope Ambassadors: (American Cancer Society Portraits of Hope Ambassadors)

Follow their breast cancer journey at adailymiracle.com and on Instagram and Facebook at @adailymiracle.

Tune into their 2022 live interview with KSTP5 News: Family with 3 breast cancer diagnoses urges women to get screenings early and often 

Photo credit: Chris Fomby