Cancer survivor stays the course as student at YSU

YOUNGSTOWN — Breanna Rohrman was a 20-year-old Youngstown State University student when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

She had no family history, and there was no lump. Pain prompted her to schedule a doctor’s visit in early 2008, but an ultrasound showed nothing and the doctor told her she was fine.

“It went away, but then a year later it came back,” said Rohrman, of Struthers, now 22, who talked about her experience, marking October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. “I told my mom I really think I need to go back to the doctor.”

This time she had a mammogram that showed an area that looked suspicious. Another ultrasound was followed by a biopsy.

“It showed that it was cancerous,” she said.

It’s a thought that never had entered her mind.

“I don’t know what I thought,” Rohrman said.

She scheduled surgery at the Cleveland Clinic in July 2009 but says the ordeal didn’t seem real to her until that day.

Although cancer was in only one breast, Rohrman chose to have a bilateral mastectomy — removal of both breasts.

For the complete story, see Wednesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com