A Hidden Cancer, a Relentless Search, and New Hope

For years, Carol Rice made breast health a priority and scheduled regular mammograms. In 2025, she received a diagnosis that would change her life and reinforce a message she now shares with every woman she knows: stay on top of screenings, listen to your body, and seek care when something doesn’t feel right.

Trusting her instincts and care team

In August 2025, Carol, a Bakersfield resident, discovered a lump in her breast and scheduled an appointment with her primary care provider. That provider referred her to Nicole Gordon, MD, breast surgeon at the AIS Cancer Center at Adventist Health, for an MRI. However, nothing appeared on the scan. For many patients, that might have been the end of the story, but Dr. Gordon wasn't convinced.

“I know something is there, and we’ll find it,” she told Carol.

A biopsy was performed, but the results were inconclusive. Still, Dr. Gordon remained persistent. A few weeks later, just before Christmas, she recommended additional imaging and another biopsy.

On December 31, Carol was told she had Stage 1 triple-negative breast cancer, an aggressive form of cancer that can grow and spread more quickly than other types.

“Dr. Gordon was relentless,” says Carol. “She never gave up on me. She saved my life.”

Looking back, Carol believes that persistence made all the difference.

“She’s such an advocate for patients,” Carol says. “Every woman should have a Dr. Gordon. She is a fighter for women’s health.”

Processing the diagnosis

Like many patients, Carol remembers the moment she heard the word "cancer.”

“You’re in a daze, trying to process the information,” she recalls. “I couldn't process it.”

She remembers asking questions that every parent hopes they'll never have to ask.

“Will I survive this? Will I get to see my daughter graduate from college?”

Carol and her husband, Doug, leaned on one another as they navigated the diagnosis. Their daughter, Sydnie, became another source of motivation. Together, the family made a commitment.

“My husband and I decided we were going to keep everything as normal as possible and continue our lives as normal as possible,” Carol says.

One team, one place for compassionate care

Under the care of Madiha Naseem, MD, medical oncologist at the AIS Cancer Center, Carol's treatment plan included chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy.

“Carol had six rounds of chemotherapy, then surgery to remove the tumor and reconstruct her breast, followed by radiation therapy,” Dr. Naseem says. “We were able to do it all at the AIS Cancer Center, so she didn't have to navigate appointments all over town.”

For Carol, receiving coordinated care from a team she trusted made a tremendous difference.

“I felt Dr. Naseem was extremely proactive,” she says. “She was incredibly detailed in her plan of action. She explained everything in terms we could understand and was there every step of the way.”

She credits the entire AIS Cancer Center team with helping her through some of the most difficult days.

“They are my heroes,” she says. “Learning that you have cancer is devastating. Your world is turned upside down. For me, the team I was blessed with made my journey easier. They were compassionate, caring, and treated me like family.”

Strength through unexpected challenges

Just two days before her first chemotherapy treatment, Carol and her husband experienced another devastating setback when a fire destroyed their home office, temporarily displacing them from their home.

At a time when they were already facing uncertainty, friends stepped in to help.

“Our dear friends, Laura and Jason Barnes, opened their home to us,” Carol says. “Their generosity was a tremendous blessing as I navigated the challenges of breast cancer treatment and the aftermath of the fire.”

She also credits her employer for their support throughout her cancer journey, allowing her to continue moving forward with treatment while maintaining as much normalcy as possible.

“Doug and I are deeply grateful for our family and the many friends whose love, prayers, and encouragement carried us through this journey,” she says.

Celebrating a major milestone

In May 2026, Carol reached a milestone she had been working toward for months: her final chemo treatment. Her nurse navigator, Stephanie, encouraged her to celebrate the occasion.

Expecting only a few loved ones to attend, Carol arrived to find more than 25 people gathered outside to cheer her on. Church members, lifelong friends, professional colleagues, and people she lovingly calls her "soul sisters," surrounded her with support.

“It was an overwhelming feeling,” Carol says. “I am so blessed to have so much love and support.”

Before surgery, another MRI identified an area of concern. Fortunately, a biopsy confirmed the mass was benign, allowing her to move forward with the next phase of treatment.

In June 2026, Carol underwent a lumpectomy and reconstructive surgery, followed by radiation therapy.

Turning her experience into advocacy

Carol has been scheduling annual mammograms since her mid-30s. As one of seven siblings with no family history of breast cancer, she never imagined she would become the first in her family to be diagnosed with the disease.

Now, she encourages other women to stay current on breast screenings.

“I'm a huge advocate for mammograms,” she says. “They are so important.”

Her message is especially urgent because breast cancer detected early is often highly treatable. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, 99 percent of women whose breast cancer is found before it spreads outside the breast survive at least five years.

Looking forward

As she continues her recovery, Carol plans to use her experience to help others facing similar journeys. A longtime supporter of Adventist Health's VIPink events, she hopes to become even more involved in raising awareness and supporting local programs.

“You can feel sorry for yourself, but that's not my personality,” Carol says. “I'm a doer.”

Today, she reflects on her journey with deep gratitude for her care team.

“Without them, who knows what would have happened,” she says. “Dr. Gordon and Dr. Naseem saved my life.”