Survivors

When Sona was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2018, the news came at a time when life was full—two young sons, a demanding legal career, and a growing family business she was helping to scale from behind the scenes. But beneath the busyness, her body had been whispering that something was wrong.

As an OB/GYN, Janis has spent decades guiding women through critical health decisions. She knows the statistics. She understands risk factors. But when it came to breast cancer, even she was surprised.
“You don’t think it will happen to you.”

When Deanne heard the words no one ever expects—you have breast cancer—her first reaction was pure shock. Despite catching it early and learning it was hormone-based, the news still felt surreal. What truly made it real was the daily number of women diagnosed—a statistic that kept echoing in her mind long after the doctor’s visit was over.

In September of 2023, 38-year-old Amy Burke was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. Burke, a middle school teacher and mom of two, faced 16 rounds of chemotherapy and 28 straight days of radiation over the next year. After intensive treatment and a double mastectomy, the Haverhill native became cancer-free in 2024. Now, over two years later, Burke trains for the 130th Boston Marathon as one of four runners for Runway for Recovery, a non-profit that supports families’ journeys with breast cancer.