10/07/2025
Robin Lewis was enjoying life as a successful executive when she received shocking news. Her aunt called, saying she had found a lump and was diagnosed with breast cancer. This alarmed Robin because cancer runs in their family. Her mother had breast cancer, and her grandmother also died at an early age from the disease.
“Robin, I never miss a mammogram. I just happened to have been doing a self-exam and felt it,” her Aunt Terri said. The wheels of concern began churning in Robin’s head. Later that evening, Robin did a self-exam. To her surprise, Robin also felt a lump. She immediately made an appointment with her physician, who referred her for imaging. While Robin was dressing after her mammogram, the nurse said, “Don’t get dressed. The doctor wants to examine you right now.” After scoping both breasts, the doctor revealed he was 99% sure there was cancer on both sides.
Although a biopsy later confirmed cancer, the surgeon said these reassuring words, “Yes, you have cancer, but you don’t need to get your affairs in order!” Robin breathed a sigh of relief. Her thoughts immediately shifted from surviving to thriving.
Because of Robin’s past experience working in donation and transplantation, she has a special appreciation of the impact donated tissue makes in the lives of recipients, and is especially grateful to receive the gift of life. “I feel younger and more vibrant, so I’d tell my donor thank you for making my life better,” she reminisced. “Because I caught it early, I was able to avoid chemo,” she exclaimed.
"I’m grateful to my donor families for their generous gift of skin that helped me heal after a bilateral mastectomy. It allowed me to get back to a sense of normalcy and enjoy special moments with my family."
Today, Robin enjoys a life doing what she loves best—spending time with her husband, son, daughter, grandkids, and her European Golden Retriever.
Thank you, MTF Biologics, for sharing this story!
