“In January, I found a lump in one of my breasts,” recalls 22-year-old Summer Mendell, whose doctor advised her to get a lumpectomy. “I was in surgery one week later. I was working full time and in school, so I had to put everything on hold. It was scary. I don’t know anybody else who has experienced this at my age. It was nerve-wracking and difficult, but everything ended up okay. It was a close call. I know a frightening amount of people have had breast cancer in their lives, so I often think about them and their journey. My care at UCLA Health was excellent. They were so supportive and efficient. My doctor was so polite and respectful. He knew how serious this was and made it a really positive experience.”

Tags: Breast Cancer, Cancer, featured, lumpectomy, patient stories