Meet One of The Rose’s Youngest Diagnosed Patients

Montserrat Duron

Monserrat’s decision to perform a self-exam after attending a health fair changed the trajectory of her life. Upon finding a lump, she faced unimaginable challenges due to a lack of insurance. Yet, with the support of The Rose and the steadfast care of Dr. Bonefas, she navigated a grueling journey towards recovery and advocacy. 

Julia Morales on Baseball, Motherhood, and Breast Cancer in the Family

Julia Morales

Baseball built Julia’s career, but it’s the people behind the game who keep her in Houston. She traces her path from small‑town athlete to Astros broadcaster, then opens up about 2020, when pregnancy, COVID, and her mother’s breast cancer collided, pushing her to start mammograms early and speak candidly about family history and early detection.

The St. Jude of Breast Cancer: Dr. Dixie’s Dream for Women with Nowhere to Go

Dixie Melillo 1

Dixie and I started The Rose because we were tired of telling women, “You have cancer, and there’s nowhere for you to go.” Forty years later, we’re back in that same fight. In this conversation, Dr. Dixie Melillo walks us from those early days of oil‑bust Houston and charity‑hospital waiting lists to today’s harsh reality: we can diagnose, but for too many uninsured and underinsured women, we can’t get them into treatment.

God Winks, Ringing Bells, and The Rose: Nancy and Shelley’s Shared Journey as Honorees at the Everything’s Coming Up Roses Luncheon

Nancy and Shelley

Nancy and Shelley didn’t plan to share a breast cancer story, much less two very different diagnoses, eight years apart. One faced stage zero DCIS at 41 after pushing for a 3D mammogram; the other walked into an annual screening, felt no lump, and still heard “stage two HER2‑positive.” In this conversation, we talk about what happens when two pragmatic, organized women lean on faith, friendship, and their networks to move fast on treatment—then turn around and use their experience to champion The Rose and the women who rely on us for access to mammograms, diagnostics, and compassionate care.

From Plastics to Patient Advocate: Honoring Shelley Cooper at This Year’s Everything’s Coming Up Roses Luncheon

Shelley Cooper

Shelley didn’t see herself as “an honoree.” She saw herself as a working mom in a male‑dominated industry who just wanted to stay ahead of breast cancer. In this conversation, she walks us through the mammogram she almost didn’t get, the stage zero DCIS diagnosis that still shook her, and the 10 years of follow‑up, skin checks, and colonoscopies that followed. Her story reminds us that early detection, asking questions, and having access to care—like the care The Rose offers uninsured and underinsured women—can change everything.

The Road Less Traveled: From Biker to Breast Health Champion

Mike Hazelrigs

Mike Hazelrigs takes us on a ride through his life as a biker and his profound involvement with The Rose and Bikers Against Breast Cancer. With candor, he shares the story of meeting his fiancé Kathy, who was diagnosed with cancer, and the challenges they faced together as a couple.

Luncheons, Legislation & Lifelines: Behind the Scenes with Mitra Woody

Mitra

Mitra Woody shares how her story led her to champion The Rose and its mission to save lives through early detection. She draws on her healthcare law background to explain why access to preventive breast care remains out of reach for many uninsured and underinsured patients. She points to mobile mammography and patient navigation as the most critical lifelines The Rose offers in vulnerable communities. During this episode, she lays out clear goals for the Everything’s Coming Up Roses Luncheon: raise serious funds, recognize longtime volunteers and spread the word about the work happening every day at The Rose.