Andrea de Armas was 26 when she found a lump in her breast and went for a scan before starting a physician assistant program. She said an ultrasound technician made her feel she was overreacting, even though she had no known family history of breast cancer.
A radiologist reviewed the scan and recommended an immediate biopsy. De Armas then went to Baptist Health’s Herbert Wertheim Cancer Institute, where another scan and biopsy confirmed the lump was malignant. She learned the diagnosis the day before her program was set to begin.
Further testing found a genetic mutation linked to higher breast cancer risk. De Armas said that gave her a sense of control as treatment began. She had a lumpectomy in early June, scheduled chemotherapy around her classes, and later planned a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction during winter break.
De Armas graduated in 2025 and now works as a physician assistant. She says she is cancer-free but remains on hormone therapy, which caused temporary menopause. Her surgeon, Dr. Cristina Lopez-Penalver, said the two worked as a team.
The story comes as the American Cancer Society reports that about one in 10 new breast cancer diagnoses occur in women under 45. De Armas said she hopes her experience encourages others to push for answers when something feels wrong.
