At 25, Jody Ginter Mihok was looking ahead to dating, a career and the possibility of starting a family. Then four words changed everything: “you have breast cancer.”
Instead of planning the next chapter of her life, Mihok found herself navigating surgeries, chemotherapy, fertility decisions and questions about a future she had once taken for granted.
A breast cancer diagnosis at 25 brought questions Mihok never expected to face so young. Would she be able to marry or have children? How would surgery change her body? Would she ever feel comfortable in a bathing suit again?
Alongside treatment, she grappled with her femininity, her confidence, and how others might see her.
Mihok was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006, at age 25. The diagnosis turned her world upside down.
“I went from being a 25-year-old young adult living her life to having what seemed like daily appointments, testing, surgery, and then six months of chemotherapy,” she said.
As a participant in the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition’s Young Survivors in Action program, Mihok has found support through a community specifically designed for young women navigating the unique challenges of a breast cancer diagnosis.
Breast cancer is often viewed as an older woman’s disease, a perception that can make a diagnosis in a young adult easier to dismiss. Before her biopsy, Mihok was repeatedly reassured that the lump was probably nothing because of her age.
“Being young can sometimes make people assume cancer isn’t a possibility, and that was certainly part of my experience,” she said.
She had to make decisions about her future that a 25-year-old should never be faced with.
“There were also things I had to think about at 25 that I never expected to face, including my fertility,” she said. “I met with a fertility specialist, but the process would have required me to pay money out of pocket, and they wanted me to take hormones before egg retrieval. Because my cancer was hormone-positive and aggressive, that wasn’t an option for me.”
Life eventually brought Mihok something she once feared cancer had placed beyond her reach. At 35, she became pregnant without fertility treatment and welcomed her daughter, Jacey, who is now 10.
Two years after her daughter was born, Mihok was diagnosed with breast cancer again. This was not a recurrence, but a completely new cancer, and this time, her greatest fear was leaving her 2-year-old daughter without a mother. After two diagnoses at two very different stages of life, October and Breast Cancer Awareness Month carry a deeply personal meaning for Mihok.
Now every year, Mihok participates in the Deer Park Goes Pink 5K in Newark, being held Oct. 25 this year. For her, the event is much more than a race; it is a powerful reminder that she is not alone in her journey. It brings together survivors, families, friends, caregivers, and supporters who are united in the fight against breast cancer.
“I come back every year because this event means something very personal to me,” she said. “Being surrounded by this community reminds me how many people are willing to stand beside you, whether you are currently going through treatment, a survivor, a caregiver, or someone who has lost a loved one.”
Mihok also emphasized the importance of supporting Deer Park Goes Pink because the funds raised benefit the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition, helping individuals and families affected by breast cancer in Delaware.
Although being diagnosed with breast cancer at such a young age is something no one ever wants to experience, the journey taught Mihok valuable lessons about maintaining a positive outlook, advocating for her health, making use of available resources, and appreciating life’s meaningful moments.
While cancer became part of her journey, Mihok never faced it alone. She is especially grateful to her husband, her daughter Jacey, and the family and friends who supported her through every appointment, treatment, and uncertainty. Their strength, encouragement, and love provided comfort during the hardest days and reminded her that she always had a team standing beside her. Today, her experience serves as an inspiration to others facing similar challenges.
“Cancer became part of my story, but it did not get to define my whole story,” Mihok said.