--- title: "Video: East Bay Mom Advocates for Early Detection, Treatment | Sutter Health" description: "East Bay resident Ronellyn Junius is back to living her life and advocating for mammograms and early detection." url: "https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/video-east-bay-mom-advocates-for-early-detection-treatment-2023563874" --- 1. [Home](https://www.sutterhealth.org/) / 2. [Patient Stories](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories) / 3. Video: East Bay Mom Advocates for Early Detection, Treatment # Video: East Bay Mom Advocates for Early Detection, Treatment * * * 2024 East Bay resident Ronellyn Junius knew something wasn’t quite right — she felt a pain in her left beast. So she made an appointment to see her doctor who recommended she get a mammogram at the Carol Ann Read Breast Health Center. Her subsequent breast cancer diagnosis was a shock to the mother of two who was just 38 at the time, but after treatment at Sutter Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, she’s back to living her life and advocating for mammograms and early detection. ## Discover similar stories Choose a service topic below to read more stories like this one. [Cancer services](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories?verticalKey=patient_story&facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_services.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Cancer+services%22%5D%7D%5D)[Breast cancer](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories?verticalKey=patient_story&facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_services.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Breast+cancer%22%5D%7D%5D) ## Cancer Care That Goes Further Our compassionate oncology teams are here to support you while providing innovative, evidence-based treatment. [Request a Referral](https://www.sutterhealth.org/referrals) ## Related articles [View all articles](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories) - Patient story ### [Imelda’s Breast Cancer Story](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/imeldas-breast-cancer-story-2023563889) Sutter recruiter Imelda Martinez has clean scans eight years after being diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer. - Patient story ### [Best friends share everything – even breast cancer](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/best-friends-share-everything-even-breast-cancer-2023563931) Michelle Meyers and Maureen Matthews have shared a lot over the past four decades — even breast cancer. - Patient story ### [Riding Through a Journey With Triple-Negative Breast Cancer](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/riding-through-a-journey-with-triple-negative-breast-cancer-2031182779) In November 2024, Marcela Tinka's mammogram led to a diagnosis of triple-negative breast cancer. But she wouldn't face it alone. [View all articles](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories) ## Disclaimer _Each individual’s treatment and/or results may vary based upon circumstances and the healthcare provider’s medical judgment. Testimonials or statements made by any person(s) within this site are not intended to guarantee outcomes or substitute for medical advice._ ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/video-east-bay-mom-advocates-for-early-detection-treatment-2023563874#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Patient Stories","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Video: East Bay Mom Advocates for Early Detection, Treatment"}]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/video-east-bay-mom-advocates-for-early-detection-treatment-2023563874#videoobject","name":"Breast Cancer at 38: Breast Pain, Mammogram and Diagnosis","inLanguage":"en-US","thumbnailUrl":"https://cf-images.us-east-1.prod.boltdns.net/v1/static/817826402001/0c23056d-4ffe-4542-93c4-04c15886a786/1a02f801-6385-4d28-99d2-e29eef3d5735/1280x720/match/image.jpg","uploadDate":"2024-10-18T19:27:34.885Z","embedUrl":"https://players.brightcove.net/817826402001/79bcaa57-54d7-453c-9f1f-8ab3ef7b15de/index.html?videoId=6363406990112","description":"Ronellyn Junius knew something wasn’t quite right, so she scheduled a mammogram at the Carol Ann Read Breast Health Center at Sutter Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Oakland. ","duration":"PT3M0S","transcript":"RONELLYN JUNIUS: A few weeks after my 38th birthday,\nI felt the pain in my left breast,\nand it radiated under my arm.\nSo I called my doctor and made an appointment.\nGoing into the exam, I was a little nervous\nbecause I had never had a mammogram.\nI was just ready to get it done.\nI scheduled it on my lunch break, got the biopsy\nthe next day after the mammogram and ultrasound.\nI had triple-positive invasive ductal carcinoma stage 2B.\nI was extremely afraid because I didn't know if I\nwas going to make it or not.\nRITA KWAN-FEINBERG: A lot of people\ndon't think of women who are 38 as possibly having\nbreast cancer.\nBut because of the care she received here at Sutter,\nwe were all in tune of the possibilities\nand to make sure that she was taken\ncare of with the right diagnosis.\nNARRATOR: Mammograms are the best way\nto catch breast cancer early.\nThe Carol Ann Read Breast Health Program offers best-in-class 3D\ndigital mammography for better detection and fewer false\npositives.\nOur mobile mammography van, funded by donors,\nbrings state-of-the-art 3D mammography to our community.\nWe provided over 2,000 mobile mammograms since 2020 to women\nacross the East Bay, regardless of their ability to pay.\nANA JAUREGUI: Here at La Clínica Monument,\nthe Sutter van comes once a month.\nAnd it is incredibly helpful for the patients\nto have access to their breast health screenings on site.\nBENJAMIN RABER: We have a wonderful nurse navigator\nprogram.\nThey address all those needs to make sure things happen timely\nand the patient feels cared for along the way.\nANGELITA VASQUEZ: As a nurse navigator, I help to advocate\nso patients can be a part of the treatment decision.\nWe're the primary point of contact between the patient\nand their treatment team.\nWe help to maintain continuity of care\nand provide support and resources.\n[MUSIC PLAYING]\nRONELLYN JUNIUS: In that year and a half,\nmy body went through a lot.\nEverybody I came in contact with,\nall of the nurses, my social worker, everyone was awesome.\nI felt like I had a team behind me\nas far as my care team and my family.\nYeah, I'm a daddy's girl.\nIt was days where it got really, really hard and really dark,\nbut he was there to be that light.\nHe kept me focused on my faith.\nRONELL JUNIUS: And when she came out of the hospital,\nshe was in a wheelchair, and we had\nall these people waiting on her, celebrating her recovery.\nOh, man.\nYou had to be there to see that.\n[CHATTER, SINGING]\nWOMAN: Yeah, all right.\nGet it, beautiful.\nRONELLYN JUNIUS: Early detection saves lives.\nIt's real.\nIt's very important to have the services be available to you\nlocally, near work, near home.\nSo I am doing amazing.\nMy oldest graduated from college.\nI was able to see her walk the stage.\nMy youngest is 10.\nI'm able to spend time with her.\nI'm just able to enjoy life.\n[MUSIC PLAYING]"} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Article","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/video-east-bay-mom-advocates-for-early-detection-treatment-2023563874#article","name":"Video: East Bay Mom Advocates for Early Detection, Treatment","headline":"Video: East Bay Mom Advocates for Early Detection, Treatment","abstract":"East Bay resident Ronellyn Junius is back to living her life and advocating for mammograms and early detection.","description":"East Bay resident Ronellyn Junius is back to living her life and advocating for mammograms and early detection.","keywords":["Cancer services","Breast cancer","Breast cancer"],"datePublished":"2024-10-28","dateModified":"2026-05-15","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/video-east-bay-mom-advocates-for-early-detection-treatment-2023563874","inLanguage":"en-US","isAccessibleForFree":true,"mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/video-east-bay-mom-advocates-for-early-detection-treatment-2023563874","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/video-east-bay-mom-advocates-for-early-detection-treatment-2023563874#breadcrumblist"}},"author":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization"},"publisher":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization"},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://dyn.mktgcdn.com/p/GLZtzeBNpM1HuE892t4dzI86Rnu8fnKi9nnkv4iULHE/fit=crop,gravity=auto,width=1200,height=630"},"video":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/video-east-bay-mom-advocates-for-early-detection-treatment-2023563874#videoobject"},"articleBody":"East Bay resident Ronellyn Junius knew something wasn’t quite right — she felt a pain in her left beast. So she made an appointment to see her doctor who recommended she get a mammogram at the Carol Ann Read Breast Health Center. Her subsequent breast cancer diagnosis was a shock to the mother of two who was just 38 at the time, but after treatment at Sutter Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, she’s back to living her life and advocating for mammograms and early detection."} ```