A high school self-exam changed Montsy Duron’s life before she even knew what one was supposed to feel like.

In this episode, Montsy shares how a brochure from The Rose led her to find a lump at 18, why repeated tumors led to a mastectomy and reconstruction at 21, and how surviving a health crisis gave her the strength to finish college, become a first-generation graduate, lead an HR team, and become a mother. She talks honestly about fear, recovery, family, faith, and the message she wants every young woman to hear: know your body, trust your instincts, ask for help, and remember that you can do hard things.

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Key Questions Answered

1. How did a self-exam brochure from The Rose help Montsy find a lump when she was only 18 years old?

2. Why did Montsy and her mother come to The Rose for help after discovering they did not have health insurance?

3. What were the recurring breast tumors Montsy experienced, and why did they require multiple lumpectomies?

4. Why did Montsy decide to have a mastectomy at 21 after her tumors kept returning?

5. What was the reconstruction process like while Montsy was attending college, working, and recovering from surgery?

6. Who supported Montsy through treatment, recovery, and the fear of facing a serious health issue at such a young age?

7. How did surviving breast tumors motivate Montsy to become the first person in her family to graduate from college?

8. Why did Montsy choose a career in human resources and education, working with Title I schools and underserved students?

9. How did Montsy’s unexpected meeting with Dorothy Gibbons bring her breast health journey full circle?

10. What does Montsy want young women to know about self-exams, early detection, trusting their instincts, and asking for help?