{"id":15038,"date":"2019-11-06T20:42:52","date_gmt":"2019-11-06T20:42:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cmshub.wpengine.com\/?p=285409"},"modified":"2024-11-03T15:16:53","modified_gmt":"2024-11-03T15:16:53","slug":"identical-twins-find-strength-in-shared-breast-cancer-battle-after-being-diagnosed-3-months-apart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ogkologos.com\/en\/identical-twins-find-strength-in-shared-breast-cancer-battle-after-being-diagnosed-3-months-apart\/","title":{"rendered":"Identical Twins Find Strength in Shared Breast Cancer Battle After Being Diagnosed 3 Months Apart"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span itemprop=\"articleBody\">Like millions of women, identical twins Ashley Huffman and Danielle Jones had a family history of breast cancer, so they knew they might have an increased risk of developing the disease. Their paternal grandfather was diagnosed with it at the age of 55. However, neither one of them expected breast cancer to strike so early, nor did they expect to have it at the same time.<\/span><span itemprop=\"articleBody\">Ashley\u2019s breast cancer journey started with a strange pain akin to a plugged milk duct. On November 26, she learned she had <a href=\"https:\/\/wwmt.com\/news\/local\/identical-twins-find-strength-in-each-other-during-battles-with-breast-cancer\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">breast cancer<\/a>.<\/span><span itemprop=\"articleBody\">\u201cIf I hadn\u2019t been checked for this weird abnormality, who knows where I could\u2019ve been down the road from now. My oncologist thought I probably had it for four to five years,\u201d Huffman said. \u201cHad a double mastectomy in January. Started chemo in March. Followed by 20 rounds of radiation.\u201d<\/span><span itemprop=\"articleBody\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span itemprop=\"articleBody\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-285692\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.thebreastcancersite.greatergood.com\/twin-diagnosis\/\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"523\" class=\"size-full wp-image-285692 lazy\" data-src=\"https:\/\/d1dd4ethwnlwo2.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/TwinDiagnosis1.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/d1dd4ethwnlwo2.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/TwinDiagnosis1.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/d1dd4ethwnlwo2.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/TwinDiagnosis1-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d1dd4ethwnlwo2.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/TwinDiagnosis1-600x314.jpg 600w, https:\/\/d1dd4ethwnlwo2.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/TwinDiagnosis1-768x402.jpg 768w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width:1600px) 992px, (min-width:1200px) 768px, (min-width:518px) 480px, (min-width:325px) 320px, 300px\"\/><\/span><span itemprop=\"articleBody\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/momstrongashleyhuffman\/photos\/a.324975271467328\/324985738132948\/?type=3&amp;theater\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Photo: Facebook\/Mom Strong-Ashley\u2019s Journey with Cancer<\/a><\/span><span itemprop=\"articleBody\">The plot twists didn\u2019t stop there, though. Danielle joined the cancer-fighting club on the 15th of February, <a href=\"https:\/\/wwmt.com\/news\/local\/identical-twins-find-strength-in-each-other-during-battles-with-breast-cancer\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">less than three months after<\/a> Ashley was diagnosed. Luckily, Danielle\u2019s cancer had not progressed as far. She may have her sister to thank for the increased vigilance that led to her early diagnosis.<\/span><span itemprop=\"articleBody\">\u201cI had a double mastectomy in March,\u201d says Danielle. \u201cThen I didn\u2019t have to do any chemo or radiation because mine had not spread yet. It was ductal carcinoma in situ.\u201d<\/span><span itemprop=\"articleBody\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span itemprop=\"articleBody\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-285693\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.thebreastcancersite.greatergood.com\/twin-diagnosis\/\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"524\" class=\"size-full wp-image-285693 lazy\" data-src=\"https:\/\/d1dd4ethwnlwo2.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/TwinDiagnosis2.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/d1dd4ethwnlwo2.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/TwinDiagnosis2.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/d1dd4ethwnlwo2.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/TwinDiagnosis2-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d1dd4ethwnlwo2.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/TwinDiagnosis2-600x314.jpg 600w, https:\/\/d1dd4ethwnlwo2.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/TwinDiagnosis2-768x402.jpg 768w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width:1600px) 992px, (min-width:1200px) 768px, (min-width:518px) 480px, (min-width:325px) 320px, 300px\"\/><\/span><span itemprop=\"articleBody\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/momstrongashleyhuffman\/photos\/a.324975271467328\/324985738132948\/?type=3&amp;theater\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Photo: Facebook\/Mom Strong-Ashley\u2019s Journey with Cancer<\/a><\/span><span itemprop=\"articleBody\">Danielle\u2019s cancer journey was also easier because she had her sister to talk to, and Ashley had already been through a lot of the things Danielle had questions about. But on the whole, the sisters were both there for each other when they needed it.<\/span><span itemprop=\"articleBody\">The strange turn of events led the twins to get genetic testing done, and they learned that they both carry the <a href=\"https:\/\/wwmt.com\/news\/local\/identical-twins-find-strength-in-each-other-during-battles-with-breast-cancer\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">BRCA 2 gene mutation<\/a>, which puts them at a higher risk of breast and ovarian cancers.<\/span><span itemprop=\"articleBody\">\u201cDoctors recommended Danielle go and get tested to see if it was something she had, because we each had a 50\/50 shot of having it,\u201d Ashley says.<\/span><span itemprop=\"articleBody\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span itemprop=\"articleBody\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-285694\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.thebreastcancersite.greatergood.com\/twin-diagnosis\/\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"523\" class=\"size-full wp-image-285694 lazy\" data-src=\"https:\/\/d1dd4ethwnlwo2.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/TwinDiagnosis3.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/d1dd4ethwnlwo2.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/TwinDiagnosis3.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/d1dd4ethwnlwo2.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/TwinDiagnosis3-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d1dd4ethwnlwo2.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/TwinDiagnosis3-600x314.jpg 600w, https:\/\/d1dd4ethwnlwo2.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/TwinDiagnosis3-768x402.jpg 768w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width:1600px) 992px, (min-width:1200px) 768px, (min-width:518px) 480px, (min-width:325px) 320px, 300px\"\/><\/span><span itemprop=\"articleBody\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/CallieRaineyTV\/photos\/a.1111396315579192\/2719746361410838\/?type=3&amp;theater\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Photo: Facebook\/Callie Rainey WWMT<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/momstrongashleyhuffman\/photos\/a.324975271467328\/324985738132948\/?type=3&amp;theater\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Facebook\/Mom Strong-Ashley\u2019s Journey with Cancer<\/a><\/span><span itemprop=\"articleBody\">The sisters\u2019 double diagnosis is something of a tragedy, but it has also been a blessing in disguise. Going through cancer together has brought them closer together and allowed them to find strength in one another.<\/span><span itemprop=\"articleBody\">Danielle has been declared cancer-free, while Ashley\u2019s battle continues. She hopes to be cancer-free and done with treatments late next year.<\/span><span itemprop=\"articleBody\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-285695\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.thebreastcancersite.greatergood.com\/twin-diagnosis\/\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"524\" class=\"size-full wp-image-285695 lazy\" data-src=\"https:\/\/d1dd4ethwnlwo2.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/TwinDiagnosis4.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/d1dd4ethwnlwo2.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/TwinDiagnosis4.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/d1dd4ethwnlwo2.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/TwinDiagnosis4-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d1dd4ethwnlwo2.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/TwinDiagnosis4-600x314.jpg 600w, https:\/\/d1dd4ethwnlwo2.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/TwinDiagnosis4-768x402.jpg 768w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width:1600px) 992px, (min-width:1200px) 768px, (min-width:518px) 480px, (min-width:325px) 320px, 300px\"\/><\/span><span itemprop=\"articleBody\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/momstrongashleyhuffman\/photos\/a.324975271467328\/324985738132948\/?type=3&amp;theater\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Photo: Facebook\/Mom Strong-Ashley\u2019s Journey with Cancer<\/a><\/span><span itemprop=\"articleBody\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span itemprop=\"articleBody\">Ashley and Danielle are using their experience to help others who are going on similar journeys. They\u2019ve started a <a href=\"https:\/\/coffeechaosandgiggles.com\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">blog<\/a> and shared their story on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/momstrongashleyhuffman\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Facebook<\/a> in the hopes of answering questions and showing solidarity with other men and women battling breast cancer. Danielle also hopes to start a breast cancer support group in her hometown of Kalamazoo, Michigan.<\/span><span itemprop=\"articleBody\">\u201cThe biggest take away is, early detection is everything, trusting your body and making sure you\u2019re getting tested,\u201d says Danielle.<\/span><span itemprop=\"articleBody\">Everyone deserves to have someone close to them they can lean on. We\u2019re so glad Ashley and Danielle could be that for each other and so many other people!<\/span><span itemprop=\"articleBody\"><a class=\"btn btn-block center social-share facebook\" data-service=\"facebook\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.thebreastcancersite.greatergood.com\/twin-diagnosis\/#\" title=\"Share on Facebook\">\u00a0\u00a0Share on Facebook<\/a><\/span><span itemprop=\"articleBody\"><br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.thebreastcancersite.greatergood.com\/twin-diagnosis\/\">Source<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Like millions of women, identical twins Ashley Huffman and Danielle Jones had a family history of breast cancer, so they knew they might have an increased risk of developing the disease. Their paternal grandfather was diagnosed with it at the age of 55. However, neither one of them expected breast cancer to strike so early, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":15039,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5137],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15038","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ogkologos.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15038","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ogkologos.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ogkologos.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ogkologos.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ogkologos.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15038"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ogkologos.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15038\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44396,"href":"https:\/\/ogkologos.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15038\/revisions\/44396"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ogkologos.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15039"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ogkologos.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15038"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ogkologos.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15038"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ogkologos.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15038"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}