{"id":1168097,"date":"2025-12-15T11:40:18","date_gmt":"2025-12-15T16:40:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nortonhealthcare.com\/news\/"},"modified":"2026-01-06T09:55:56","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T14:55:56","slug":"kentucky-breast-cancer-survivors-writing-book-to-empower-patients-after-diagnosis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nortonhealthcare.com\/news\/kentucky-breast-cancer-survivors-writing-book-to-empower-patients-after-diagnosis","title":{"rendered":"Kentucky breast cancer survivors writing book to empower patients after diagnosis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

One word can turn into one sentence, and a sentence a paragraph, and paragraphs into a story. And this story is about resilience, perspective and enough courage for a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s a group of Kentucky women who survived breast cancer and are now working together to share their stories with a new book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe work we\u2019re doing on this book is going to change lives,\u201d said Savannah Dupree, one of the women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All six were diagnosed with different forms of breast cancer at age 40 or younger. They met at different chapters in their cancer journey, and now they\u2019re collaborating so others can feel supported while going through treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGoing through the cancer journey is one of the loneliest things, no matter how big your support system is; everyone\u2019s experience is different,\u201d Emily Rombach said. \u201cYou\u2019re allowed to crumble. You\u2019re allowed to take a moment and be in that fear.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As they shared their stories with each other, they had a calling to help others going through something similar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSomething was weighing on my heart. Something was really deep in my mind,\u201d Mia Whitton said. \u201cI kept thinking about it constantly that I wanted to provide support to people in our community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was Savannah who initially had the idea about starting a writers\u2019 group. They\u2019ve met from word of mouth over the past few years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cWriting is very healing, but also you\u2019re reliving the trauma, what you went through,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The book will feature chapters meant to relate to anyone going through their own breast cancer story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBeing able to be vulnerable and share your story is so important, because you can connect with so many other women who have gone through it or will go through it,\u201d Courtney Line said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI hope that our stories will inspire and encourage everyone that needs it,\u201d Jennifer Parker said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The group\u2019s book\u2019s title will be \u201cYou\u2019ve got this\u2026and we got you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve got this, but sometimes you don\u2019t,\u201d Emily said. \u201cWhen that time happens, we got you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One in 8 women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society. That\u2019s why early detection is so important, because faster treatments lead to better outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou are not invincible. It\u2019s so important to know your body,\u201d Savannah said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The group is working to have the book\u2019s first draft ready this December.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jeffrey B. Hargis, M.D., breast medical oncologist with Norton Cancer Institute<\/a>, will write a foreword for the book. The goal is to have it published by October 2026 for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The book represents a message of hope, and that a breast cancer diagnosis doesn\u2019t have to be the end of the story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just a chapter in your story, it\u2019s not your whole book,\u201d Mia said. \u201cYou have other chapters you\u2019re going to write.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breast cancer often has no symptoms, so regular breast health checkups are important. Mammograms are a critical tool in the early detection and treatment of breast cancer. To schedule a mammogram or see mobile mammogram options, visit this link<\/strong><\/a> or call (502) 485-4700<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n \n

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