Tami Agassi

Q. Tell us a little about yourself and your lifestyle.

A. I am 34. I live in Seattle, Washington and am the Executive Director for the Marsha Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer Research.

A. BCRF Note:
Since this profile was received, Tami has married, become the mother of a baby girl and retired to be a full-time mother.

Q. Describe how you found your cancer, were you on 'watch' or did it sneak up on you?

A. I found my cancer through self examination at age 30. When I first found a lump, I was told by a doctor that there was a 98% chance it was benign. It was suggested that I go back to the doctors in 6 months to see if the lump had grown. Fortunately, I didn't accept 98% as a good enough answer. I sought a second opinion which allowed me to detect my cancer in its earlier stages.

Q. Following diagnosis, what helped you cope the most, and gave you strength?

A. My faith in God and passion for life gave me tremendous strength and inner peace.

Q. How has breast cancer changed your outlook on life?

A. Breast cancer has taught me how precious life is. Each day I am alive is a glorious day for me. Instead of being excited or worried about the future, I am ever grateful for today.

Q. What advice would you give to someone who is newly diagnosed with breast cancer?

A. The greatest gift you can give to yourself and to your loved ones is to take care of yourself first and foremost. As women, we tend to take care of others first and put our needs second. This is the one time in your life where your needs must come first. Always remember that allowing others to care for you is the greatest gift you can give them, especially during this time.

Q. How has The Breast Cancer Research Foundation been helpful to you?

A. I credit organizations like the BCRF for saving my life. Without the awareness created by organizations like this, I would have never had the knowledge needed to conduct self breast examinations, especially at the age of 30. This awareness also gave me wisdom to challenge my doctor and seek a second opinion, which resulted in early detection for me. It gives me great comfort to know that the research funded by the BCRF will result in a promising future for us all.