Patient Stories

• A convenient, 15-minute screening on the UC Health Mobile Mammography Unit led to Donna’s breast cancer diagnosis

• Breast cancer specialists at the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center worked together to guide Donna through diagnosis, treatment and recovery

• Today, Donna helps more women make time for the screening that saved her life

Donna Moore knows her stuff when it comes to preventative breast health and mammograms.  

As a mom of 3 kids and a nurse at Winton Hills Medical & Health Center, she spent years encouraging women to stay in control of their health through mammograms and self-exams. She set the standard by practicing what she preached.

So when the UC Health Mobile Mammography Unit visited her workplace in May 2025, Donna stepped on board. In about 15 minutes, she could complete an important screening without adding another trip to her day—a simple step to stay ahead of her health.

For Donna, the mobile unit made following her own advice easy: the screening came to her, took only 15 minutes and gave her answers she could act on.

“There are so many negative myths about mammograms, I try to encourage women and let them know that a few minutes of discomfort can possibly save their lives.” Donna said. 

What Donna couldn’t predict is that her commitment to staying vigilant with mammograms probably saved her life.

The routine screening that saved her life

Two days after her screening on the Mobile Mammography Unit, Donna received a call about her exam. The results showed an abnormality, and she needed another scan. 

Donna went right to West Chester Hospital, where experts saw something that needed a closer look and recommended a biopsy. 

Additional imaging and biopsies gave Donna’s team the information they needed to understand her diagnosis and plan the next step together.

“Because Donna underwent her mammogram, her cancer was able to be detected at the very earliest stage before it can be felt or seen with a physical exam.” said Alicia Heelan, MD, surgical oncologist at UC Health. “This early detection is what allowed her to keep her native breasts and have a lumpectomy for surgical treatment.”

Appointments and questions started moving quickly, but Donna decided to keep the news to herself. She was getting ready to leave for a family vacation to California and wanted to understand what was happening herself before telling family and friends.

But while she was in California, Donna received a call from UC Health radiologist Kyle Lewis, MD. She would need an MRI as soon as she got home. Donna’s daughter found her crying in the gym, and Donna finally shared the weight of her news with someone else.

It was the first time Donna let someone else help carry the fear and uncertainty she had been holding on her own.

“Once I told my daughter what was going on, she told me not to worry, that I was going to be ok. With much prayer and being able to talk to someone, I felt a huge burden being lifted.” Donna said.

Mammograms save lives

Here is what we want you to learn from Donna’s story: Mammograms save lives. 

When Donna’s initial mammogram in May found an abnormal result on her left breast, she was sent for an MRI. That MRI found another mass that looked suspicious on her right breast, so Donna had to go back for a repeat MRI and biopsy. 

You might be thinking, “But hasn’t she already gotten an MRI? What else will they find with a biopsy that they don’t already know?” When it comes to breast cancer, we leave no stone unturned—every answer we reach helps us find the best path forward for each patient.

Finding a second suspicious area changed the course of Donna’s care and gave her team the information needed to treat both breasts.

In July, just two months after her mammogram, Donna prepared for surgery with Dr, Heelan. Surgical teams removed the cancer with lumpectomies on both sides.

Radiation oncologist Teresa Meier, MD, guided Donna through five days of radiation, while oncologist Kerri McGovern, MD, helped shape her medical care plan and supported her as she focused on healing.

A team beside her at every step

Five days of radiation might sound brief, but Donna’s recovery took months. Fatigue and a loss of appetite made life harder. Through it all, the people closest to her showed up. One of her children joined her at every appointment, along with her niece, who works at the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center.

Donna’s care brought her team across every specialty together around one shared goal: helping her understand her options, complete treatment and get back to the life that she loved.

At UC Health and the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center, Donna found an all encompassing team of breast cancer experts that stayed one step ahead while keeping her at the center of every decision. Dr. Heelan, Dr. Meier and Dr. McGovern brought their expertise together to give her a clear path forward. 

“At UC, every breast cancer patient receives personalized care from a multidisciplinary specialized breast cancer care team,” Dr. Heelan said. “Every care plan is reviewed by the entire team and presented to the patient before any treatment is initiated.”

That steady guidance helped Donna feel informed, cared for and ready for each next step.

From follow-up imaging to personal calls with results, Donna’s care teams gave her answers, guidance and their full support at every step.

Turning her experience into action

Today, Donna is cancer free and living her best life.

She originally retired from nursing in February 2025. But after her own breast cancer diagnosis, she knew she wanted to get back to her healthcare roots. In November 2025, she returned three days a week with a clear goal: helping more women get their mammograms.

Today, Donna helps women schedule overdue screenings, brings the UC Health Mobile Mammography Unit to Winton Hills Medical & Health Center and speaks about prevention at her church. Her message: A convenient, 15-minute mammogram puts you in control of your health.

“God blessed me by putting a great team and wonderful people in my life to help me go through my journey. I felt that it was my mission to bless others by giving back to women in the communities in which I worked for many years. From my experience, early detection is key.”

Donna spent her career reminding women to make their health a priority. Then a mammogram helped uncover her own breast cancer.

She’s using her experience to make sure more women take the same step that saved her life. 

In just 15 minutes, a mammogram can give you answers and put you in control of your health. Call 513-584-PINK to schedule yours today.