Valley woman who beat breast cancer works to spread awareness

PHOENIX (KSAZ) - Back in February of 2014, Elizabeth Vines of Seattle noticed a pea-sized lump in her breast.

Without looking, the 35-year-old woman was told by her family doctor that she shouldn't be concerned.

"He actually didn't even think to look at it," Vines said.

But over the next six months, Elizabeth noticed the lump grew to nearly half the size of a lemon, and after several more exams and a misdiagnosis, she took her health into her own hands and came here, to the Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix.

Elizabeth said she knew right away this place was different, crediting the doctors here with saving her life, but they say Elizabeth saved her own life by taking action and getting a second opinion.

They say it's something every woman should do when it comes to breast health.

At Mayo, not only did Elizabeth learn she had Stage 3B breast cancer, but that she was also HER2-positive, which is an aggressive form of the disease that requires immediate treatment, which thankfully worked.

After she was told she had two years to live, Elizabeth is not only around to see her son grow up, but she's also an advocate for other women.