›› Fearless Females: Jennifer Harlow

In the summer of 2007, Jennifer Harlow,  35 years, noticed a small lump, about the size of an almond in her left breast. A busy mother of three small children , she ignored it for three months thinking it would go away.

After seeing a doctor, she went in for a mammogram and biopsy. She was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer. It hit her like a ton of bricks. The thought of dying of cancer paled in comparison to the thought of leaving her three small children without a mother. 

Jennifer did not understand why the body she had taken such good care of failed her. The thought of getting breast cancer at such a young age never crossed her mind.

Often times, cancer can be aggressive in younger women and Jennifer wanted to make sure that she was making the right choices for her particular cancer. After hours of research and speaking with several doctors, she opted for a mastectomy, followed by chemotherapy and radiation.

Nearly three years after treatment, Jennifer is thriving and in perfect health. She is an advocate for early detection/mammograms and breast health education. She hopes that her story helps other women find hope and courage while battling this disease.