When Anna Taylor’s aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer, it came as a surprise as there was no family history of the disease.  

Two months later, Taylor discovered a lump in her breast. Doctors at Gibbs Cancer Center soon diagnosed her with stage II triple-negative breast cancer. 

At just 26 years old, she became Gibbs’ youngest breast cancer patient. She underwent surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.  

Years later, learning of a 60-percent chance of recurrence, she made the difficult decision to undergo a double mastectomy and reconstruction surgery. 

Surrounded by loving family and friends, celebrating small victories daily and holding onto her faith, she found the strength to move forward. 

Now, she lives a fulfilling life, finds joy in her career as a special education teacher and is grateful for the compassionate care from her medical team. She praised her multi-disciplinary team for answering her questions and ensuring she received effective and timely treatment.  

Dr. James Bearden, in particular, helped ease her mind. He was highly personal and fought for her every step of the way, she said. 

“Find joy in the small moments and the small victories,” Taylor said. “I’ve told myself, ‘Just take it a day at a time.’ There will be new battles, but you find the small victories in each day.” 

Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis among women, apart from skin cancers. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2024 about 310,720 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among women and about 42,250 women will die from breast cancer in the U.S. 

Taylor is thankful that the cancer had not spread to her lymph nodes and that she could continue working after her treatment. 

She credited her friends with being a huge source of encouragement, helping her maintain a positive outlook. 

Since navigating her breast cancer and becoming a survivor, she has connected with other survivors and has been encouraged to maintain a journal to document her experiences. 

“It’s amazing to see the growth over time,” she said.