October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to remind us all of the critical importance of early detection in the fight against breast cancer. At Golden Valley Health Centers (GVHC), we are, encouraging women to take charge of their health through preventative measures. Early detection can save lives, and Colleen O’Hare’s powerful story is a testament to this.
Colleen has been a dedicated Behavioral Health Clinical Supervisor at GVHC since 2013, working tirelessly to support her patients. However, in May 2023, Colleen’s life took an unexpected turn during what seemed like a routine day.” I went in for my regular mammogram, not expecting anything out of the ordinary. But when they found an abnormality and rushed me into an ultrasound, I knew something wasn’t right,” Colleen recalls. The diagnosis came quickly: triple-positive breast cancer, one of the more aggressive forms of the disease.
“I just went numb. When I got home, I was dry heaving, crying… and the only thing I could think about was, ‘Am I going to live or die?'”
Colleen’s diagnosis shows how serious breast cancer can be. In the U.S., 1 in 8 women will get breast cancer at some point in their lives, making it a disease that affects many families. But Colleen’s story is a powerful example of why early detection is so important.
Because Colleen made sure to get her yearly mammogram, her doctors were able to find her cancer early. This early detection gave her a better chance to fight the disease. Now, she wants to make sure other women know how important it is to stay on top of their health.
“Because I did my yearly mammogram, they found my cancer early. Early detection saved my life. I can’t emphasize enough how important it is for women to get their mammograms every year.”
Colleen’s experience proves that getting regular checkups can truly save lives making treatment more effective and increasing the chance of staying healthy.
Battling Breast Cancer
The road to recovery wasn’t easy for Colleen. The physical toll of chemotherapy, surgeries, and a double mastectomy drained her energy and wore her down.
“Chemotherapy strips you of your life. You’re down, with no energy, no life. It’s a kind of fatigue you’ve never experienced. There were days when I couldn’t even get out of bed,” Colleen shared.
Yet, throughout it all, her son remained her biggest source of strength. “I kept going because of my son. The love I have for him pushed me to keep fighting, even on the hardest days.”
But Colleen also found support at work, where her GVHC colleagues were always there for her, lifting her up during the darkest times. “There were days I wanted to give up, but my colleagues would always say the right things, helping me keep going.”
Golden Valley Health Centers Support
Colleen received immense support from GVHC throughout her fight against breast cancer. The emotional support and practical help she received was invaluable. One of her greatest fears after her diagnosis was losing her job, but GVHC gave her the peace of mind she needed. “I feel so blessed that I work for an organization like GVHC. They held my job while I went through treatment, and they allowed me the flexibility to take time off for my appointments and recovery.”
Colleen is especially grateful to Jorge Fernandez, Heydi Herrera, and Anna Diaz—her Behavioral Health Leadership team—for going above and beyond to ensure her job was safe. “Over the past 15 months, while I received treatment, not only did they complete their own duties, but they also absorbed all of mine just to save my job. They have worked diligently and tirelessly to support me in every way they could, and I am forever grateful.”
In addition to providing job security, GVHC Foundation supported Colleen financially through the Employee Care Fund, which helps GVHC employees and patients facing emergencies. This support helped ease some of the financial burden of her treatment.
Her coworkers at the Modesto Tully Health Center also showed incredible support. She recalls one particularly tough day when she suffered a nosebleed caused by her treatment. Her colleagues immediately stepped in to help. “They didn’t hesitate to clean up the blood and make sure I was okay. Their kindness has been overwhelming.”
Colleen feels deeply grateful for the support she has received. “I feel very indebted to Golden Valley Health Centers. Their support, financially and emotionally, has been beyond anything I could have imagined.”
Schedule your mammogram at Golden Valley Health Centers by calling or texting (209) 722-4842.
Spanish 
English 
