A local woman who was diagnosed with breast cancer in her early twenties, is helping to educate others about the disease.
Amy Cleveland, 27, was first diagnosed at the age of 22, after she noticed a lump in her chest.
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"It was a little higher up, that's why I didn't worry about it too much, because it felt like it was in my chest," Amy said.
Doctors diagnosed Amy with breast cancer. She underwent six months of all types of chemotherapy, some of which were unresponsive. After her course of treatment, the tumor was finally small enough to remove, putting Amy in remission.
"It's definitely not something I ever expected at that age," Amy said. "It's not something I had a lot of friends or people who really understood what I was going through."
In addition to her course of treatment, Amy took a genetic test and tested positive for carrying the BRCA-II gene. Surprisingly, she learned it was passed to her through her father's side.
"A lot of times when you hear of genetic cancers, specifically breast cancer, you hear, my mom had it, her sisters had it," Amy said. "But with my family, I got it from my dad."
Now cancer-free for five years, Amy is educating others on the importance of breast cancer education.
"Cancer doesn't discriminate. Just make sure you're paying attention to yourself," Amy said. "It doesn't matter what age you are, or what your family history is. Pay attention and get checked out."
Amy, and thousands of others will be participating in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure on April 6th. Click here to register.
For a list of recent stories Isis Romero has done, click here.