{"id":12480,"date":"2025-07-14T17:32:07","date_gmt":"2025-07-14T22:32:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mydensitymatters.org\/pushing-limits-jeff-jones-runs-640-miles-to-raise-awareness-copy\/"},"modified":"2025-07-23T22:49:22","modified_gmt":"2025-07-24T03:49:22","slug":"be-your-own-hero-lorianas-story-of-self-advocacy-survival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mydensitymatters.org\/es\/be-your-own-hero-lorianas-story-of-self-advocacy-survival\/","title":{"rendered":"Be Your Own Hero: Loriana\u2019s Story of Self-Advocacy & Survival"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n \n Be Your Own Hero: Loriana\u2019s Story of Self-Advocacy and Survival <\/span>\n\n \n \n July 14, 2025 <\/span>\n <\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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Loriana is a two-time cancer survivor, a global advocate, and a mother who refused to be silenced. After surviving <\/span>AML leukemia<\/span> and a bone marrow transplant\u2014along with full-body radiation\u2014she was warned that her risk of developing secondary cancers was high. Yet when she asked for a mammogram, she was told no. Too much prior radiation, they said. Too much chemo. \u201cYou\u2019ve had enough,\u201d they told her.<\/span><\/p>\n

But Loriana knew her risks. She knew her history. And she knew that dense breast tissue could hide cancer on a mammogram. She also knew she couldn\u2019t take \u201cno\u201d for an answer.<\/span><\/p>\n

So she lied.<\/span><\/p>\n

She told her provider she was experiencing breast pain, just to qualify for a mammogram. That mammogram didn\u2019t find her cancer\u2014but she didn\u2019t stop there. She pushed harder, insisting on an ultrasound because she knew that mammograms can miss cancer in women with dense breasts. And that\u2019s when it happened.<\/span><\/p>\n

The ultrasound found her cancer. It was stage 1.<\/span><\/p>\n

Had she accepted the \u201cno,\u201d had she not pushed, had she not lied to get in the door\u2014her cancer might have remained hidden. She might not be here. \u201cI had already been without my son for a year fighting for my life,\u201d she says. \u201cI would lie tenfold if it meant I got to stay in his life.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Loriana\u2019s story is not just about survival. It\u2019s about fierce, unapologetic self-advocacy in a system that often doesn\u2019t see the full patient. Even after diagnosis, her providers nearly missed critical parts of her history. They recommended a lumpectomy and radiation\u2014until Loriana and her hematologist reminded them she had already received full-body radiation and could not have more. Eventually, she underwent a double mastectomy. The second breast, too, had cancer.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is why we need to see patients as whole people,\u201d Loriana says. \u201cWe operate in silos in healthcare\u2014and that almost cost me my life.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Her message is urgent and clear: <\/span>Know your breast density. Know your risks. Be your own hero.<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cKnowledge is power,\u201d she says. \u201cGet your mammogram. Find out if you have dense breasts. And if you do\u2014push for the ultrasound. No one\u2019s going to do it for you. You have to do it for yourself, and for the women around you. Early detection matters. Your life matters.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Loriana\u2019s story reminds us all that empowerment isn\u2019t just a nice idea\u2014it\u2019s a survival strategy.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2014—————————————-<\/span><\/p>\n

Mi densidad importa<\/span><\/a> is honored to partner with Loriana to further the public education and self advocacy regarding breast density and its inherent risks. Read more stories like Loriana\u2019s <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Learn more about Loriana and her vitally important work:<\/span><\/p>\n

Loriana Hern\u00e1ndez-Aldama<\/b> is a two-time cancer survivor, international speaker, award-winning journalist, podcast host, and author of <\/span>Becoming the Story: The Power of Prehab.<\/span><\/i> After surviving AML leukemia, a bone marrow transplant, and breast cancer, she became a global advocate and speaker for patient-centered care, health equity, and mental health. As a Latina and founder of ArmorUp for LIFE\u00ae, she champions diversity in clinical trials and empowers underserved communities. Loriana advises leading healthcare organizations, including AACI and the Foundation for the NIH, and uses her podcast <\/span>Stage Free<\/span><\/i> to educate, empower, and activate patients and caregivers to improve outcomes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Please follow Loriana on your favorite social media channels:<\/span><\/p>\n

Instagram: @armorupforlife\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Instagram @Loriana.Hernandez.Aldama<\/span><\/p>\n

TikTok @lorianaArmorUp<\/span><\/p>\n

FB: ArmorUpforLife<\/span><\/p>\n

FB: Loriana Hernandez\u00a0 (former news page)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

LinkedIn: ArmorUp for Life\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

FB Loriana Hernandez-Aldama<\/span><\/p>\n

LinkedIn – Loriana Hernandez-Aldama<\/span><\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Loriana is a two-time cancer survivor, a global advocate, and a mother who refused to be silenced. 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After surviving AML leukemia and a bone marrow transplant\u2014along with full-body radiation\u2014she was warned that her risk of developing secondary cancers was high. Yet when she asked for a mammogram, she was told no. Too much prior radiation, they said. Too much chemo. \u201cYou\u2019ve had enough,\u201d they told her.<\/p> <p>But Loriana knew her risks. She knew her history. And she knew that dense breast tissue could hide cancer on a mammogram. She also knew she couldn\u2019t take \u201cno\u201d for an answer.<\/p> <p>So she lied.<\/p> <p>She told her provider she was experiencing breast pain, just to qualify for a mammogram. That mammogram didn\u2019t find her cancer\u2014but she didn\u2019t stop there. She pushed harder, insisting on an ultrasound because she knew that mammograms can miss cancer in women with dense breasts. And that\u2019s when it happened.<\/p> <p>The ultrasound found her cancer. It was stage 1.<\/p> <p>Had she accepted the \u201cno,\u201d had she not pushed, had she not lied to get in the door\u2014her cancer might have remained hidden. She might not be here. \u201cI had already been without my son for a year fighting for my life,\u201d she says. \u201cI would lie tenfold if it meant I got to stay in his life.\u201d<\/p> <p>Loriana\u2019s story is not just about survival. It\u2019s about fierce, unapologetic self-advocacy in a system that often doesn\u2019t see the full patient. Even after diagnosis, her providers nearly missed critical parts of her history. They recommended a lumpectomy and radiation\u2014until Loriana and her hematologist reminded them she had already received full-body radiation and could not have more. Eventually, she underwent a double mastectomy. The second breast, too, had cancer.<\/p> <p>\u201cThis is why we need to see patients as whole people,\u201d Loriana says. \u201cWe operate in silos in healthcare\u2014and that almost cost me my life.\u201d<\/p> <p>Her message is urgent and clear: <b>Know your breast density. Know your risks. Be your own hero.<\/b><\/p> <p>\u201cKnowledge is power,\u201d she says. \u201cGet your mammogram. Find out if you have dense breasts. And if you do\u2014push for the ultrasound. No one\u2019s going to do it for you. You have to do it for yourself, and for the women around you. Early detection matters. Your life matters.\u201d<\/p> <p>Loriana\u2019s story reminds us all that empowerment isn\u2019t just a nice idea\u2014it\u2019s a survival strategy.<\/p> <p>\u2014----------------------------------------<\/p> <p><a href=\"https:\/\/mydensitymatters.org\/\">My Density Matters<\/a> is honored to partner with Loriana to further the public education and self advocacy regarding breast density and its inherent risks. Read more stories like Loriana\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/mydensitymatters.org\/programs\/my-story-matters\/\">here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p> <p>Learn more about Loriana and her vitally important work:<\/p> <p><b>Loriana Hern\u00e1ndez-Aldama<\/b> is a two-time cancer survivor, international speaker, award-winning journalist, podcast host, and author of <i>Becoming the Story: The Power of Prehab.<\/i> After surviving AML leukemia, a bone marrow transplant, and breast cancer, she became a global advocate and speaker for patient-centered care, health equity, and mental health. As a Latina and founder of ArmorUp for LIFE\u00ae, she champions diversity in clinical trials and empowers underserved communities. Loriana advises leading healthcare organizations, including AACI and the Foundation for the NIH, and uses her podcast <i>Stage Free<\/i> to educate, empower, and activate patients and caregivers to improve outcomes.<\/p> <p>Please follow Loriana on your favorite social media channels:<\/p> <p>Instagram: @armorupforlife\u00a0<\/p> <p>Instagram @Loriana.Hernandez.Aldama<\/p> <p>TikTok @lorianaArmorUp<\/p> <p>FB: ArmorUpforLife<\/p> <p>FB: Loriana Hernandez\u00a0 (former news page)\u00a0<\/p> <p>LinkedIn: ArmorUp for Life\u00a0<\/p> <p>FB Loriana Hernandez-Aldama<\/p> <p>LinkedIn - Loriana Hernandez-Aldama<\/p>","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mydensitymatters.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12480","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mydensitymatters.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mydensitymatters.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mydensitymatters.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mydensitymatters.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12480"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/mydensitymatters.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12480\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12501,"href":"https:\/\/mydensitymatters.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12480\/revisions\/12501"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mydensitymatters.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12406"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mydensitymatters.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12480"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mydensitymatters.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12480"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mydensitymatters.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12480"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}