2020 Models: Joyce S.

May 1, 2020

Age: 54, diagnosed at 48, No family history, No known genetic mutation

Joyce, a dental team coordinator, postponed getting a mammogram for four years as she didn’t have health insurance. When she finally got one, it led to a stage 1 breast cancer diagnosis. She had a lumpectomy and radiation but opted against chemotherapy. Joyce describes herself as a lifetime caregiver. From before the age of 20, she had custody of a niece and nephew and was a foster parent to two other kids. Later, she helped raise two stepchildren and a great-niece. She also took care of various family members. “I never took the time to worry about myself,” she says. “I never asked for help because I felt like I had to be the strong one that everyone else could lean on.” Even when she was diagnosed, she didn’t think she needed help. It wasn’t until she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer later that she finally reached out to H4TG. “I receive unlimited support from the group, and they give me an uplifting part of myself I wouldn’t have realized on my own.” The rebellious, fun-loving attitudes of women in the 1920s appeal to Joyce’s own sense of independence and her desire to live every day fully and with as much fun as possible.

Archives

Archives

Recent Post

© 2025 Here for the Girls, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity
EIN 26-0606190
3709 Strawberry Plains Rd., Suite D
Williamsburg, VA 23188
Contact us at info@hereforthegirls.org

Our team is ready to support you, and the best way to get in touch is by emailing support@hereforthegirls.org. While we do not offer crisis services, we are committed to providing a trauma-informed environment and can guide you toward appropriate support. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency or crisis: Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline; Call 911 if you or someone else is in immediate danger; Go to your nearest emergency room

For non-emergency support, consider these options: Contact your primary care provider for a referral to mental health services; Use SAMHSA's treatment locator at findtreatment.gov to find local providers; Call SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for treatment referrals
cross linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram