Giving Back After Early Diagnosis

Shannen's Story

I’m so thankful I was diagnosed early so I can continue to be here for my family, especially my daughter.

-Shannen Mitchell

Shannen Mitchell’s first-ever mammogram at Mammoth Hospital, at the age of 47, resulted in a phone call from Dr. Yuri Parisky, Director of Medical Imaging, to come back immediately for a biopsy. The news was not good—breast cancer.

“My cancer was fast growing,” says Shannen. “By the time I went for a lumpectomy, the cancer had grown from stage zero to two.”

Shannen went to Northern Inyo Hospital for surgery, and UC San Diego for follow up treatment. Mammoth Hospital’s Cancer Outreach program helped her with her travel expenses, and she also took advantage of Mammoth Hospital’s free cancer support groups.

 “I’m so grateful for Yuri,” says Shannen, who is now cancer-free. “I have his personal phone number. I couldn’t have gotten through those first scary months without my confidence in him. If he wasn’t so warm, thorough, and concerned, I’m not sure I would have subscribed to the treatment plan.”

Shannen now volunteers every August with the Brian Venneman Cancer Outreach Golf Tournament to express her gratitude and give back to others. She also serves on the California State Council for Developmental Disabilities to advocate for her daughter, who has autism.

“I’m so thankful I was diagnosed early so I can continue to be here for my family, especially my daughter,” she says.

Shannen is a testament to early detection saving lives! Mammoth Hospital offers an affordable mammography program for uninsured and underinsured patients which is sponsored by our generous community or donors, including the Albertsons Companies and Vons Foundation.