Kristina Walters: In February of 2025, we went in for our mammograms at Hoag Breast Center in Newport Beach a few days apart. We didn’t have any lumps or anything. They were routine visits. My mom got a call to come in for an ultrasound because they had found something. And a few days later, I got the same call. We each got biopsies and my mom found out first that she had Stage I breast cancer. I was planning to go with my mom to her appointment at Hoag. I’m an only child and I always go with my parents to their appointments. And they actually called me that morning and said, “Can you come in for your results?” And I just knew right away. I went in and it was basically the same as my mom’s, except she had it in both breasts and I only had it in one. But we both had caught it early.
Jean Reding: It was very surreal. Of course, no one plans for this kind of thing. We went to each other’s appointments so we kind of got to hear everything explained to us twice, which was good because when you’re told you have cancer, you’re so emotional and you can’t really take it all in. Luckily our doctor (breast and oncoplastic surgeon Elizabeth C. Kraft) has all sorts of podcasts and other information on her website, which was helpful.
K.W.: Things are so different now with breast cancer. It’s not a death sentence. And we’re so lucky to have this amazing breast center in our backyard. They really took care of everything.
J.R.: We didn’t have to remember who to call or what to do. They made all the appointments for us and called us all the time to let us know what the next steps were. I can’t say enough good things about Hoag. And the surgery it’s not like when my husband’s grandmother had breast cancer and they’d have to lop off he entire breast. They did the lumpectomy and reconstruction at the same time.
K.W.: That was the really cool silver lining. Of course you’re anxious, but you also get to have new breasts out of this. It kind of takes your mind off he negative.
J.R.: We both had to have radiation. I had more because it was both breasts and I think a little deeper. But thankfully no chemo.
K.W.: When my mom finished her radiation, they let me go with her and ring the bell together, and we had my dad and my husband and my kids with us. It was very emotional and super special. And it kind of closed the door on it a bit. Of course, we still have to get mammograms every six months for a couple of years, but we’re fine with that. My mom and I still look at each other like, how did this happen to us at the same time? What are the odds? I definitely went out and bought a lotto ticket. Didn’t win, but I guess we’re winners anyway because both of us are still here to talk about it.
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