85-Year-Old Survivor Funds Breast Cancer Research Institute

At 85 years old, Ginny Clements is turning a terrifying teenage diagnosis into hope for thousands of others.

Clements was just 15 when she felt a small bump and had no idea what it meant. In 1956, breast cancer wasn't something people talked about openly, so she kept quiet for months before telling her mother.

She underwent a mastectomy and spent the next 35 years keeping her experience private. When she finally opened up at age 50, she realized her story could help others navigate the same frightening journey.

In 2020, Clements took her mission even further. She established the Ginny L. Clements Breast Cancer Research Institute at the University of Arizona Cancer Center, funding research that could change the future of treatment and care.

This week, she's co-hosting a town hall at the university to discuss advances in breast cancer care and life after diagnosis. The event welcomes everyone because, as Clements learned over the years, breast cancer doesn't just affect women.

"I've known two men who've had breast cancer," Clements said. "I didn't know at one time that men had breast cancer, but they do."

The Ripple Effect

Clements' advocacy comes at a crucial time. Breast cancer remains the most common cancer in Arizona, according to the state's Department of Health.

Her message is simple but urgent: don't wait. Clements has known people who suspected something was wrong, delayed getting checked, and lost their lives as a result.

"Just go and have somebody examine you," she pleaded. "Don't fool around with it, please."

From a scared teenager in the 1950s to a research institute founder in her 80s, Clements proves that surviving is just the beginning of making a difference.