Newswise — In the wake of the just released news that ABC News correspondent Amy Robach has been diagnosed with breast cancer at age 40, Deb Kirkland would be the perfect person to talk to about the physical ramifications and emotional trauma of that kind of diagnosis for young women.

Kirkland, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001 when she was just 32 years old. She can explain how a young woman feels and how they face different challenges and concerns than older women who are diagnosed.

Kirkland had no history of breast cancer, ate right and exercised and was a nurse so she was very educated on the topic. She was shocked when she was told that she had stage II breast cancer. She did not have a double mastectomy, as Amy is having, but that just adds to the fact that there are different of choices out for women.

Now as a nurse navigator at the Herman & Walter Samuelson Breast Care Center at Northwest Hospital, Deb helps women of all ages not only cope but to see a bright future. She is also an active breast cancer advocate in the community and especially works with young women.

Deb is a terrific interview and is living proof that young women can be happy and healthy more than a decade after their diagnosis. I think her words will be inspirational but not sugar coating anything.

Northwest Hospital is part of LifeBridge Health, one of the of the largest, most comprehensive providers of health services in northwest Baltimore. LifeBridge Health also includes Sinai Hospital, Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital, Courtland Gardens Nursing & Rehabilitation Center and related subsidiaries and affiliates. For more information, visit www.lifebridgehealth.org