Breast cancer is becoming a more common diagnosis for young women between the ages of 20 and 40 years old.
More than 250,000 women between the ages of 20 and 40 are living with breast cancer in the United States, according to the Young Survival Coalition, and more than 11,100 young women will be diagnosed in the next year.
The diagnosis unites young women together into a sisterhood that really tests their strengths.
Paula Harmon was diagnosed with breast cancer 10 years ago at age 25.
"I've changed completely. Gone from being the biggest couch potato you ever knew, to a person who regularly exercises," she said.
Harmon said after she learned of the diagnosis, she went to tell her mother, who worked at the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center. They cried together, and were ready to face the next step.
The college graduate, at the peak of her independence with a new career in accounting, moved back home with her mother.
"I hadn't been home in a very long time. So, that was definitely a challenge, going back at 25 and sort of feeling like a teenager again. It was an interesting experience," Harmon said.
Perhaps even more difficult for Harmon was losing her hair after chemotherapy.
"Something as simple as going to the grocery store. I remember for the very first time I didn't want to get out of the car, because I thought everyone is going to be staring at me, because I decided not to wear a wig," she said.
Despite her lumpectomy, one year later she started dating and married her boyfriend of five years.
"I have a very lovely scar from my surgery and he still to this day says it's one of the most lovely things about you, which is so sweet," Harmon said.
Dealing with cancer isn't easy for anyone, much less younger people who have finally crossed the threshold into young adulthood.
Runi Limary was diagnosed with cancer when she was 27.
"Your self image is huge, because you're barely growing and finding yourself. I was teaching at the time, and it was just a whirlwind of activity, so my passion now has sort of shifted a little bit more from teaching children to helping survivors," she said.
That's how Limary became the coordinator for young survivor services for the Breast Cancer Resource Center.There's no effective breast cancer screening tool for women under 40, and young women are often diagnosed with cancer that's advanced to a later stage.
"A lot of it, we think, are environmental factors. All the preservatives. Our water. The chemicals. We also starting to realize some of it are genetics. And there are great advances in the medical field that's helping us be a little bit more proactive," Limary said.
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Young survivors
More women between 20 - 40 are facing breast cancer, chemotherapy and survival.
 
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Once a month, a group of young breast cancer survivors who call themselves the Pink Ribbon Cowgirls get together at the Randalls' cafe in Westlake. After a just year and a half in existence, it's got more than 50 members.
"With this group, we can laugh about so many of those things because a lot of them are inside jokes, and we've all been through it," Limary said.
The women chat about how the disease has bruised and benefited lives.
"Tomorrow is not guaranteed and that's where I do embrace life so much more now. And, I laugh a lot more now. And, just try to enjoy life. That's the biggest thing," Limary said.
But for the young women of the Pink Ribbon Cowgirls, there's always the fear that cancer could strike again.
"I don't want to have to go through that again. It's still a scary, scary thing. I wouldn't wish this on anyone," Harmon said.
