Champion and her sister each had to undergo chemotherapy due to the aggressiveness of the breast cancer. Fortunately, neither needed radiation treatment.
“As much as no one wants to be diagnosed, it was a gift,” said Champion, reflecting on going through treatment with her sister. “We did it side by side. We encouraged and supported each other.”
Champion is also grateful for the care they both received — not only throughout their treatment but beginning with the BRCA gene testing. “Without Kaiser Permanente’s proactive testing, we might not even be here today,” she said.
A force for change
Today, both sisters are doing well. Since her recovery, Champion has found her purpose writing and coaching others. “Speaking about my story is what I do and love,” she said. “Sharing my story has become a passion. The more I share, the closer we get to more people getting tested.”
Champion, together with Dr. Vora, appeared on the “Good Day LA” morning news show to share about her journey and encourage other women to get screened early, especially if there’s a known family history of breast cancer.
Dr. Vora recommends that women should undergo a formal risk assessment for breast cancer at age 25, and those with an average risk of breast cancer should get a mammogram every 1 to 2 years beginning at age 40.
“Tasha is a great example of how even with aggressive forms of breast cancer, such as triple-negative disease, when detected in the early stage, it’s possible to have a great prognosis and outcome,” she said.
Learn more about screening for breast cancer.
