Early detection, healing, and hope: A Sentara nurse's breast cancer survival story

For many people, breast cancer is something that happens to someone else. For Andrea Helmbach, a nurse leader at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center, that was exactly how she felt until a routine mammogram changed her life.  

Now, one year after her diagnosis, Andrea is living life fully, sharing her story to encourage others to prioritize their health, stay up to date on screening mammograms, and remember that a breast cancer diagnosis is not the end of the story. 

A diagnosis she never expected 

Andrea Helmbach, MSN, APRN, AGACNP-BC, SCRN, serves as Stroke Manager for Patient Care Services at the hospital. She considered herself low risk for breast cancer. She had no family history, no symptoms, and no reason to think she would ever hear the words, "You have breast cancer." 

In September 2024, Andrea's mammogram was negative. One year later, before starting a new position at the hospital, she scheduled another routine screening mammogram. The results came back positive.   

"Make yourself a priority," Andrea said. "We often don't because we're taking care of everybody else. For me, I didn't have a family history, so I was very low risk, and I just didn't think it could happen to me." 

Her message to others is simple and direct: "Don't put off getting your mammograms."  

Navigating an emotional journey 

After her diagnosis, Andrea worked closely with her Sentara care team to understand her options. She ultimately chose to undergo a mastectomy with reconstructive surgery. Throughout the process, she said her physicians clearly explained her treatment choices and gave her confidence in the path forward. 

Like many cancer patients, Andrea discovered that the emotional recovery could be just as challenging as the physical recovery. 

"There is so much emotion, and you don't realize you're depressed, and you're struggling with everything that's been thrown at you," she said.  

When she began returning to work several months later, she faced a reality that many cancer survivors understand all too well. 

"People look at you and you look fine," Andrea said. "You really just want to scream, 'I'm doing the best I can.' But you're not 100%."  

Over time, however, she found a renewed sense of purpose. 

"I am not defined by breast cancer," she said. "I am still me. I still have a lot to give. I still have a lot to do."  

Finding hope through others 

In the earliest days after her diagnosis, Andrea admits she was frightened. 

On online support forums, she often saw stories from people facing recurrent cancer and wondered whether long-term survival was truly possible. Then she connected with a woman who had survived breast cancer for 27 years.  

The survivor reached out with encouragement, thoughtful gifts, and ongoing support that helped Andrea see a future beyond her diagnosis.  

"Alright," Andrea remembers thinking, "there are people that survive this."  

That realization became a turning point in her journey. 

Separating facts from myths 

As a healthcare professional, Andrea also learned how important it is for patients to seek information from trusted medical experts. 

While online support groups can provide encouragement and connection, they can also spread misinformation about cancer treatments and outcomes. Andrea encourages anyone facing a breast cancer diagnosis to work closely with qualified healthcare professionals and discuss concerns with their care team.  

She also believes it is important to remember that breast cancer affects more than just women. 

"We all have breasts," she said. "It's a cancer. It's a human disease."  

Early detection saves lives 

Perhaps the most powerful part of Andrea's story is that her cancer was found through routine screening at a time when she felt perfectly healthy. She had no symptoms, no pain, and no family history.  

That is exactly why regular mammography is so important. 

Had Andrea assumed she was not at risk, her cancer might not have been discovered as early as it was. Routine screening gave her the opportunity to receive treatment and move forward with her life.  

A message for Breast Cancer Awareness Month 

In 2026, researchers suggest an estimated: 

• 21,910 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women 
• 60,730 new cases of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) will be diagnosed 
• 42,140 women will die from breast cancer 
• 2,670 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer 
• 530 men will die from breast cancer 

One in eight women will face breast cancer in their lifetime. Although the mortality is declining, breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women, and the leading cause of cancer deaths in Black and Hispanic women. In fact, women of color are more often diagnosed with advanced breast cancer. 

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month reminds us of the importance of screening and early detection. Andrea shared that only 1 in 2 women received their annual screenings, and she hopes her experience encourages others to take that important step. 

"If this can happen to me, it can happen to anybody," she said.  

Today, she is back to doing what she loves, caring for patients, growing professionally, enjoying life with family and friends, and watching her grandson grow up. Her story is a reminder that while a breast cancer diagnosis can be frightening, there is reason for hope. 

Schedule your mammogram. Make yourself a priority. And remember, early detection can make all the difference.