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When Suzanne Brown and her family moved to Warrensburg in July 2023, they had no idea where to turn for medical care. What they found was more than a hospital; it was a community of caregivers who would walk with them through one of life’s most difficult journeys.
“When we moved here, we had no idea where to go or what to do for medical care, and we just kind of landed at Western Missouri Medical Center. I would not change a thing. I get emotional thinking about how we landed where we landed at WMMC with Shea Fijal and Dr. Singh. I don’t ever want to move away, because I don’t want to lose those doctors.”
Just two weeks after arriving, at age 41, she discovered a lump in her breast. With persistent encouragement from her daughter (who begins nursing school this fall at the University of Kansas), she scheduled a mammogram at WMMC. Within days, she received a diagnosis of triple-negative breast cancer.
“I remember leaving the biopsy, and in the elevator, it hit me: ‘Oh my gosh, I have breast cancer.’ That first thought was full of anxiety and fear. But then I met everybody there, and everything calmed down.”
Her treatment was aggressive: 16 rounds of chemotherapy, a double mastectomy, a hysterectomy, genetic testing that confirmed the BRCA1 mutation, and reconstructive surgery. Through it all, she found unwavering support in her care team and family.
One moment she will never forget was the day she rang the bell to mark her final treatment.
“The day I rang the bell; I’ll never forget it. Everyone stopped what they were doing and came to stand with me. It showed me how much I mattered to them, and how much it meant to celebrate that milestone together. And when I was nervous for my first AC treatment, the nurses, especially Rachel, sat with me, held my hand, and encouraged me through it. I get emotional thinking about it, even now. That kind of compassion changes everything.”
Now in remission, she uses her story to advocate for early detection and prevention. She stresses one of the most important messages for women in our community: you do not need a physician referral to schedule a screening mammogram. She hopes her story will remind women not to delay.
Her courage and advocacy have been recognized beyond Warrensburg. Dr. Singh nominated her as an Honorary Survivor Model for the 2025 Bra Couture KC, an event raising hundreds of thousands of dollars to support breast cancer patients across the region. She walked the runway as a symbol of strength, hope, and survivorship.
This year, she will take the stage as the Honorary Guest Speaker at our 13th Annual Ladies’ Night Out to share her journey marked by resilience, family love, and the power of prevention.
“You never think it will happen to you, but if sharing my story encourages even one woman to schedule her mammogram, it’s worth it.”
Join us on Thursday, Oct.16, 2025, as we gather for a night of awareness, celebration, and community at Ladies’ Night Out, because every story shared has the power to save a life.