Same-day Testing, Same-day Peace of Mind
UF Health Jacksonville offers fast answers to mother and daughter through same-day breast cancer assessments.
Ellen Durand fought Stage 3 breast cancer in her 30s. She endured dozens of rounds of radiation, participated in clinical trials and had multiple operations, including a double mastectomy.
When Ellen was diagnosed, her daughter, Ashley, was 6 years old. Ellen was determined to fight cancer so she could raise Ashley and be there for all her childhood milestones.
In this throwback photo, Ellen and Ashley Durand enjoy a day at the Louisville Zoo. This picture was taken the day before Ellen received her cancer diagnosis.
Ellen learned she was a carrier of a BRCA2 gene mutation and decided to have Ashley tested as a teenager. The test confirmed Ashley was also a carrier of BRCA2, which is associated with an increased risk of developing breast cancer.
Ashley called her mother one morning from Alabama, where she was attending college, with terrifying news — she found a lump and needed help. Ellen knew they should act quickly.
“Finding my lump was probably how you would imagine finding one — initial panic, a lot of crying in the shower and a lot of thinking the worst,” Ashley said.
For Ellen, the possibility of her only daughter being diagnosed with breast cancer at age 22 was devastating. She remembered waiting seven agonizing weeks for her own diagnosis, enduring delays with scheduling and referrals to see all of the required specialists.
“I can honestly say waiting for the results in between tests brought me more anxiety and stress than the actual moment I was diagnosed with breast cancer,” Ellen said.
Ellen works for UF Health Jacksonville and knew about the hospital’s same-day breast assessment service. She called and made an appointment for the same week. Ashley was able to see multiple specialists within that same day.
Fortunately for Ashley, her tumor was identified as a fibroadenoma, or a noncancerous breast tumor. No treatment was necessary. She was able to return to school with a plan for regular follow-ups.
Ashley has since earned her master’s degree in biological science from Auburn University. She plans to become a veterinarian and will always remain a steadfast advocate for early breast cancer detection.
“I would really like more of the public to know this is a viable option,” Ashley said. “I would have endured unnecessary stress and anxiety wondering about my lump if it was not for the assessment.”
Same-day breast assessments are available at UF Health Jacksonville and UF Health North. For more information or to make an appointment, visit UFHealthJax.org/breast, or call 904.244.4387.
UF Health patient Ashley Durand stops for a photo opportunity while visiting a national park.
