Loveland mother shares cancer survival story after diagnosis at young age

CINCINNATI —

A Loveland mother is sharing her story in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

She says a self-exam helped save her life. Advertisement

Julia Fannin was 33 years old when she noticed a lump on her breast, and said at first, cancer didn’t cross her mind.

"I have two young kids, and no family history. I had all the genetic testing done. Everything came back clear,” said Fannin.

In February 2024, Julia made the decision to get checked out. That decision proved to be lifesaving.

That’s how doctors discovered Julia’s HER2-positive breast cancer, catching it in stage one.

"Had I waited, my staging, my diagnosis, it could have been much worse,” said Fannin.

Julia was treated at Christ Hospital. Her doctor, Dr. Julie Specht, says timing is everything in these cases.

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