Young breast cancer survivor an inspiration

A sports physical for the high school softball team changed Tiffany Avery’s life forever. Within a few weeks, the then-16-year-old Floridian was diagnosed with breast cancer, underwent a lumpectomy and faced an uncertain future.

The surgery transformed her physical shape so drastically that she gave up going to the beach and wearing tight shirts. It also left her feeling frightened and isolated.

“I never had anyone to talk to or support me because no one talks about teens having breast cancer,” said Avery, now 23 and living in Dahlonega.  “Even when you say it, people think of 40- or 50-year old women. But there are more and more young girls developing it.”

Avery’s youth has made it difficult to connect with cancer support groups, she said.

“Honestly, I haven’t been treated well by some groups,” she admitted. “I've had women actually tell me that I don’t belong there because I’m so young.”

For years, Avery kept her story to herself. But last spring, she made close friends with a co-worker and for the first time, opened up about her history.

“He made me realize that I could help other young people so they don’t have to go through what I did,” she said. “I joined a group in Dahlonega and gradually they learned about my story. They were all doing the Atlanta 2-Day Walk for Breast Cancer, so I signed up, too. And they encouraged me to tell my story to more people.”

During the October walk-a-thon, Avery stood up in front of a crowd and shared her experiences. It was one of the most daring things she’d ever done and made the rest of the weekend -- walking 30 miles and raising $1,000 -- seem easy in comparison.

“That was the very first time I ever told my story to more than one person at a time,” she said. “I’m a very private person, and it was hard.”

That experience has made it easier for Avery to speak openly about young women and cancer. The key point she reiterates is the importance of checkups, since young women diagnosed before the age of 30 have a higher risk of getting the disease again -- and not surviving. She also shares the personal impact those facts have made on her life.

“I have never wanted to get married or have kids because I know I’m going to die, and I don’t want to leave a family behind,” said Avery. “I've turned all that off, but it’s the hardest thing to get passed.”

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