Breast Cancer Awareness Month: LI breast cancer survivor shares story of self-advocacy to help others

"

A Long Island breast cancer survivor is urging others to be their own advocate. Jennifer Rosand, of Islip Terrace, discovered a lump in her breast last year. Her initial tests came back non-cancerous, but she says she knew something was still wrong because of constant pain. Rosand decided to do further testing which resulted in a positive cancer diagnosis. She's urging others to follow their instincts if they feel something is not right with their bodies. "You may not think it's nothing, but just get it checked. Stay on top of it, trust your gut. You have to advocate for yourself," added Rosand. "I do believe patients should have that self-awareness on how their breasts look and feel and always be advocates for themselves," says Dr. Joyce Au, a breast surgeon at Huntington Hospital at Northwell Health. Rosand had a double mastectomy and is now cancer free. "