SPOKANE, Wash. — A local breast cancer survivor is sharing her story of resilience and raising awareness about the importance of early detection and never skipping a mammogram.
Two years ago, Deanna Hawley joined the roughly 300,000 women in the United States diagnosed with breast cancer annually. In her case, the cancer was metaplastic carcinoma, an extremely rare form of the disease that was caught early enough to make remission possible.
“If I had skipped that mammogram and decided, ‘oh I’ll put it off for six months,’ I would have been in a completely different situation,” Hawley said.
Her September 2023 diagnosis came after Hawley kept a promise she made to herself in her friend’s memory.
“I had a friend who was diagnosed and died within a year of her diagnosis. So, I kind of made a mental promise to her that I would never skip a mammogram,” Hawley said.
When the mammogram revealed early stages of metaplastic carcinoma, Hawley and her husband initially turned to the internet for answers, but quickly realized they needed professional medical guidance.
“We started digging on the internet and after about 20 minutes we said ‘No, we’re not looking at this anymore. We need a doctor,'” Hawley said.
That decision led her to her care team at MultiCare, where she received treatment over 15 months.
“Nurses and all of the doctors, I just can’t say enough about all of them,” Hawley said.
Dr. Zachary Guss, a radiation oncologist at the MultiCare Cancer Institute, emphasized the importance of early detection in breast cancer cases.
“If we catch these early, then we can usually use less intense treatments and give a much better, and more favorable outcome,” Guss said.
Hawley’s treatment included chemotherapy, various medications and eventually surgery. Throughout the 15-month journey, her family remained by her side while she continued working and pursuing hobbies with friends.
“Through my entire treatment, we would get together and we would crochet,” Hawley said.
She now keeps a blanket, made of individual squares crocheted by friends throughout her healing journey, as a reminder of the support she received.
In December 2024, Hawley received her final infusion, marking a significant milestone in her recovery.
“That was like the best Christmas present ever. My hair was starting to grow back and I went into the holidays not as a patient,” Hawley said.
2025 brought new titles that replaced her identity as a cancer patient: mother-in-law and grandmother — roles she may not have experienced without that routine mammogram.
Hawley’s message to other women remains clear and urgent.
“Do not skip your mammogram. Don’t do it,” she said.
Each time she shares her story, Hawley is reminded of the community of survivors who supported her through treatment.
“I couldn’t have done it without that sisterhood that comes out of the woodwork to offer help,” Hawley said.
While October marks the end of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Hawley continues sharing her experience year-round, hoping to encourage other women to prioritize preventative care and early detection that could save their lives.
For more information about early breast cancer detection, visit www.nationalbreastcancer.org.
COPYRIGHT 2025 BY KXLY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
