In February 2025, Lucretia Stewart went to her annual checkup with no pain, no symptoms, and no reason to expect anything unusual. To her surprise, her mammogram came back with abnormal results. A few days later, she was scheduled for advanced imaging and a biopsy, after which she received the news that no one wants to hear: it was breast cancer.
Like many other women facing cancer, Lucretia’s first reaction was shock and fear. Thankfully, her care team detected her breast cancer early enough to classify it as stage 0. Dr. Lindsey Fauveau, a breast surgical oncologist at Woman’s Hospital, took the time to explain the diagnosis and what Lucretia could expect moving forward after the surgery to remove the tumor.
Throughout her breast cancer journey, Lucretia’s care team made her feel safe, supported, and cared for. “They were supportive, they provided resources, they regularly checked in on me, and they answered any questions I had. It was something I had honestly never experienced before.”
As a Black woman, Lucretia felt like she carried an extra layer of anxiety because of the weight of history, mistrust and wondering if the doctors and nurses treating her would see not just her chart or the color of her skin, but her as a person. “There’s a normal fear as a Black woman to go to the doctor, but it’s amplified when you get a diagnosis like this,” she explains. “I had to put my faith and complete surrender of the situation in the hands of folks who don’t look like me, hoping they’d fight for my life like it was their own sister, momma, or daughter lying in that bed,” she says. “I’m so grateful that I did, because they saved my life! That’s my truth.”
Today, Lucretia is a cancer survivor and proudly shares her story with others to advocate for early detection. She wants to remind both men and women not to ignore their bodies and offers them the following advice:
“Do not take your health for granted. An annual checkup is the difference between stage 0 and stage 4. I caught my cancer so early that I actually had the opportunity to fight it and get rid of it. Do what you’ve got to do to take care of yourself and keep going.”
Contact your OBGYN today to schedule your annual appointment, even if you feel well. Early detection can make all the difference. If you notice any abnormal symptoms such as lumps, changes in breast shape, or unusual pain, reach out to your healthcare provider right away.