MANCHESTER, NH – At 40 years old, Lauren Stevens, MSN, RN, of Goffstown, was busy balancing a full-time teaching career at Saint Anselm College as a nursing faculty member and clinical instructor with keeping up with her two children, 7-year-old Molly and 4-year-old Declan. She also works as Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) nurse and recently accepted a per-diem position at Elliot Health System.
In November 2025, she checked a major milestone off her “to-do” list: her very first mammogram. She had no family history. She felt healthy. She got called back for additional imaging which then led to a biopsy on December 22. On Christmas Eve, while celebrating her daughter’s 7th birthday, she received a phone call from the Radiologist who did her biopsy after receiving notification in her patient portal that was concerning. The news was jarring but follow up calls from the Breast Health Center brought some clarity.
Lauren was diagnosed with Stage 0 DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma in Situ). It was Estrogen Positive, meaning the cancer cells were fueled by the body’s natural hormones – a key piece of information that helps doctors “starve” the cancer and prevent it from returning. Because Lauren went for her screening at age 40, her cancer was caught at the earliest detectable stage.
The holidays brought a double test of strength for Lauren and her family. Just a day after Christmas, Lauren’s mother revealed she was facing her own battle with a rare form of melanoma. Despite the weight of two diagnoses in one family, Lauren moved forward with treatment at The Solinsky Center for Cancer Care at Elliot. She proceeded with genetic testing and a panel of 77 genes confirmed she was negative for BRCA and CHEK2, the genes that increase your risk for breast cancer. To help Molly and Declan understand what was happening, Lauren worked with Elliot Child Life specialists, using age-appropriate books to explain her journey in words that a 7-year-old and a 4-year-old could understand.
In early February, Dr. Lana Shikhman performed what she refers to as “Breast Conservation Therapy” (a lumpectomy), preserving as much healthy tissue as possible. “This was my first surgery ever,” Lauren shares. “It has given me a completely different insight and a deep empathy for the patients I’ve spent the last 18 years caring for.”
Lauren is currently undergoing 20 radiation treatments – three weeks targeting the general breast area, followed by a one-week “boost” to the specific area where the cancer was found. Even on treatment days, she stays physically and mentally active, walking at least 30 minutes a day on top of chasing two children around to help maintain her strength and resilience.
To spread awareness and give back to the Solinsky Center for Cancer Care at The Elliot, Lauren is participating in the Walk for Hope and started a team named – Mom & Me! She walks for herself, her mother, and her community. Her story is a vital reminder for all of us. With NH ranking 5th in the nation for breast cancer incidence, early detection through screenings like Lauren’s is critical. Lauren’s journey from a healthcare provider to a patient has fueled her passion for caring for others even more.
Event Details
8 a.m. Arrival
8:45 a.m. Welcome Remarks
9 a.m. Walk Begins
The Walk for Hope will be held rain or shine! Please plan for one hour to complete the walk and feel welcome to stay with us until noon!
SNHU Campus, 2500 No. River Road, Manchester, NH
Your gift to the Walk for Hope will support:
- Transportation assistance: rideshare walkforhope@elliot-hs.org services and gas gift cards helping patients getting to and from cancer treatment.
- Caring Closet: filled with hygiene products available for patients.
- Oral Nutrition Vouchers: provided to patients to pay for Boost and Ensure drinks while on treatment to maintain proper weight and nutrition.
- Children’s Boxes: educational materials that help families explain to children what to expect when a loved one receives a cancer diagnosis and understand how to be brave.
- Survivorship Events and Supplies: local partners offer spa experiences and specialized hair supplies to support changes that occur to Survivors’ physical appearance through their diagnosis.
- Food pantry: An on-site food pantry has been filled to provide sufficient nutrition to cancer patients who experience food insecurity.
- Prevention Events: Solinsky Center for Cancer Care staff host and attend community events to increase awareness for cancer screening opportunities and cancer prevention.
Hope at The Elliot
The Walk for Hope is a 3.1 mile (5K) fundraising walk that offers a meaningful way to honor cancer survivors, remember loved ones lost, and make a difference in Cancer Care. Funds raised by the Walk for Hope support programs & services at the Solinsky Center for Cancer Care at The Elliot.