26-Year-Old Beats Breast Cancer, Graduates PA School

When Andrea de Armas found a lump in her breast at 26, the ultrasound technician made her feel like she was wasting everyone's time. The young woman sat in a waiting room full of older patients, already feeling out of place, when the tech's attitude made it worse.

But the radiologist saw something different. After reviewing the scan, they recommended an immediate biopsy, validating what De Armas had known all along: something was wrong.

Four days later, the day before starting her physician assistant program, De Armas got the diagnosis: breast cancer. "I felt like I was in go mode," she said. "Like, I need to do something about this, because tomorrow, I start PA school."

And that's exactly what she did. De Armas refused to let cancer derail her dreams.

She scheduled her lumpectomy during a school break and went for chemotherapy at 6:50 a.m., then headed to class in the afternoon. She planned her bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction during winter break. Her surgical oncologist, Dr. Cristina Lopez-Penalver, said De Armas "was really not about ready to let this breast cancer get in her way."

While breast cancer in women under 45 accounts for only about one in 10 new diagnoses, rates are rising by about 1% per year. Young women often face more aggressive tumors and later-stage diagnoses. They also sometimes face dismissal from medical professionals who assume they're too young for cancer.

Further testing revealed De Armas had a genetic mutation linked to increased breast cancer risk. The discovery gave her family crucial information to get ahead of their own health risks. "It's also pretty empowering for my family," she said. "People can get the screenings they need."

Why This Inspires

De Armas graduated as a physician assistant in 2025 and started working in her field just one month later. Now 30, she's cancer-free and living what she calls "a pretty normal life for a 30-year-old," though she continues hormone therapy and regular oncologist visits.

Her journey highlights something Dr. Mary Gemignani, director of the Women's Early Onset Cancer Program at NYU Langone, has seen repeatedly: young women balancing "unique needs" like school, work, and family obligations during cancer treatment, often with fewer resources than older patients.

De Armas wants others to learn from her experience. Being nervous about medical tests is valid, she says, but "never let the fear of the unknown freak you out." She encourages everyone to trust themselves and push for answers when something feels wrong.

"It's always in your hands," De Armas said. "Do the things that we know are in our control. It's a cliché that knowledge is power, but it is so true."