For Rachel Spilberg, breast cancer is not just a chapter in her life – it’s a story of progress.

Rachel was first diagnosed in 1993. At the time, her treatment followed the standard path: a lumpectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation. She was young, and like many, she faced the diagnosis with uncertainty – but also determination. She decided that life had to keep moving forward.

Eleven years later, in 2004, breast cancer returned, and this time, everything was different.

Rachel underwent a double mastectomy with reconstruction. Unlike her first experience, she did not require chemotherapy or radiation. The contrast in treatment wasn’t just medical – it reflected how much knowledge, care, and approaches to breast cancer had evolved over time. Through both diagnoses, the cancer never metastasized. Today, she feels good and continues to live her life with gratitude and perspective.

But Rachel’s story doesn’t end with her. It continues through her granddaughter, Jeri.

Jeri Spilberg, Rachel’s first grandchild, is now pursuing her master’s degree, focusing her research on breast cancer metastasis – studying how and why cancer spreads, and why it targets certain organs over others. Her path into research was deeply personal. Inspired by her family’s history, Jeri always knew she wanted to contribute to something meaningful. That purpose became clear when she joined the Breast Cancer Canada Translational Research Unit.

For Jeri, the work is complex – but grounded in impact.

She understands that breast cancer is not one disease, but many. That’s why personalized care matters. It’s also why her research is so important: every discovery brings us closer to more tailored, effective treatments.

Rachel has seen this evolution firsthand. “The first time, I had one kind of treatment. The second time, it was completely different,” she reflects. “Not just the treatment – but the knowledge, the care, everything had changed.”

That progress is what fuels Jeri’s vision for the future. In her lifetime, she hopes to see defined treatment pathways for every subtype of breast cancer – ensuring better outcomes and survival rates for all patients.

For Rachel, the message is simple, but powerful:

Don’t be afraid – to go to your doctor. The diagnosis. The journey. “Learn from it,” she says.

And to Jeri – and researchers like her – Rachel offers this: Keep going. Keep asking questions. Keep researching. Keep working toward answers.

Fuel progress, and researchers like Jeri today.