When Aviana Hajicek went in for her routine six-week postpartum appointment, she didn’t expect her life to change.
“I had my six-week postpartum appointment on December 17th, 2024,” Aviana shared. “I saw Katie Casey, FNP-C, DNP who did a breast exam and she noticed I had a lump to my left breast.”
At first, Aviana thought it was nothing serious.
“She asked me if I'd ever noticed that before, and I did not. I was currently breastfeeding and I thought maybe it was a clogged milk duct, like anybody else would who is breastfeeding.”
But further testing confirmed something no new mother wants to hear.
“It was confirmed with pathology results that I had breast cancer. I’m forever thankful that I was caught early,” Aviana said. “I always think if it was caught in a year or two, if it would've been a worse stage and harder to treat. Hearing the word cancer was terrifying. I didn't know where to start — dealing with the unknowns and the what-ifs. I'm only 28 years old. I was 27 at the time, and you never think it's going to happen to you.”
Facing Cancer at a Young Age
Aviana later learned she carries a genetic mutation that increases her risk for breast cancer.
“Being that it was on my left breast, it could have easily appeared on my right breast at any moment,” she explained. “So I went ahead and did double mastectomies with reconstruction.”
Her treatment also included multiple hyperbaric oxygen therapy sessions.
“It was very hard — there were long appointments — but I was able to find some hope once I saw some progress in meeting with Dr. Hector Campbell at my appointments. Having him tell me, ‘We’re seeing progress here. Keep doing what you’re doing,’ made me keep going to fight for it.”
Through it all, Aviana felt surrounded by support.
“They supported not only me, but my family. Always very comforting to talk with, always there to listen, and answer any of the questions that we had. The entire team is amazing.”
A Team Committed to Care
Dr. Campbell, a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon at Altru and Truyu Aesthethic Center, said Aviana’s courage continues to inspire him.
“The fact that she’s a young mother of two who was courageous enough to fight breast cancer at such a young age,” he said.
He also emphasized the importance of awareness.
“Her story is one which can increase awareness in our younger patients who really think they're not at risk for breast cancer,” Dr. Campbell said. “The lifetime risk is 12 to 13%, which is one in every eight women. When we look at breast cancer under 30, that's approximately 2% of all cases. It's rare. However, what we have found is that these cancers tend to be more aggressive in younger patients.”
Dr. Campbell encourages patients to know their family history, learn what’s normal for their bodies, and speak up if something feels off.
“Start asking about your family history of breast cancer or other cancers that are associated with genetic mutations,” Dr. Cambell added. “Get used to doing self-breast examinations. Define what's normal for you, and if you do feel a lump, talk to your provider.”
Rare cases like Aviana’s can be striking for providers.
“I remember having Aviana on my schedule the first time and seeing her age and what she was coming in for. That really stuck with me,” Laura Olson, FNP-C said. “I felt like she could be my sister or my friend coming in.”
Whenever a patient is cared for at Truyu, the team goes above and beyond to ensure the patient is included in their care and decision-making.
“We’re taking good care of them, and everyone is involved in the decisions we’re making,” Olson said. “Cosmetically, we want to make sure that we get them feeling as best we can — getting back to feeling like themselves again. We help people get through it, and get to the other side of it.”
A Message of Hope
Now, Aviana is grateful to be back to life with her family.
“Happy and healthy and being a family of four again,” Aviana said. “I had an amazing care team including my loving husband, and our family and friends, and our community that helped us get through.”
She also has a message for women who may not be sure if they should reach out for help.
“If you are feeling like something is off, go ahead and get it checked out,” Aviana said. “Mammograms take such a short amount of time, and if something is found, it could potentially save your life.”
Aviana’s story is one of resilience, early detection, and the power of compassionate care.
Early detection can save lives. To schedule your mammogram, call 701.780.6157. To schedule your mammogram in Crookston, call 218.281.9100 or in Devils Lake, call 701.662.2157 option #5.