Too young for routine mammograms, she trusted what her body was telling her

[Allina Health Newsroom, October 16, 2026] Just before turning 33, Gina Bello of Blaine, Minn., was newly engaged and working as a travel nurse in Arizona when she felt it.  

“I thought, ‘Wait, what is that? Wait a second,’” said Gina. “It was the teeny, little lump that changed everything.” 

Gina described the lump in her breast as the size of an almond. Coworkers told her hormonal changes related to her menstrual cycle might be causing the lump. Although Gina said she had never experienced anything like that during her cycle, she waited to see if the lump would disappear when her cycle ended. It didn’t. 

“It kind of hurt. And when I crossed my arms, I felt it more.” 

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends women of average risk for breast cancer begin routine mammograms at age 40. Gina was still in her early 30s and had never had a mammogram. Her first step was to make an appointment with her primary care physician in her home state of Minnesota. 

“It did take a few weeks to get in. But after that, when they put in the orders for the mammogram and ultrasound, it all happened very, very fast,” said Gina. 

The diagnosis 

On June 1, 2022, two days before her 33rd birthday and more than a month after getting engaged, doctors diagnosed Gina with triple-negative breast cancer. 

“Triple-negative breast cancer accounts for 15% of breast cancer cases. It is not driven by estrogen, the female hormone,” said Domingo Perez, MD, PhD, the breast medical oncologist who treats Gina at Allina Health Cancer Institute. “While breast cancer overall is primarily a disease of older women, triple-negative breast cancer is more frequently diagnosed in women younger than 50. In general, breast cancer is more aggressive in younger women.” 

As a medical-surgical nurse, Gina did not typically care for cancer patients. This was all new to her. She prepared as best she could for all that came with it, including losing her hair. 

“I decided I wanted to turn my hair into my own wig,” said Gina. “I reached out to my friend Anthony, who owns a barber lounge. He cut my hair for me, and he turned a hard situation into something beautiful.”

She underwent six months of chemotherapy and immunotherapy with the hope of a complete response, meaning the treatment would destroy all the cancer. But a small amount remained, and a surgeon had to remove it. 

“Women with residual disease after preoperative chemotherapy are more likely to harbor residual cancer cells somewhere else in their bodies and, therefore, are more likely to relapse. The purpose of chemotherapy after preoperative chemotherapy and surgery is to eliminate these cells,” said Dr. Perez. 

The study 

Gina agreed to participate in a randomized clinical trial called ASCENT-05, which compares two treatment approaches for patients with triple-negative breast cancer who still had cancer remaining after chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Allina Health Cancer Institute is one of 11 sites across the United States participating in this phase III trial. Researchers hope the study will identify the most effective way to prevent the cancer from returning. 

“If I could be part of changing the standard of care so that recurrence doesn’t happen, put my name down. Let’s do it,” said Gina. 

Both treatment approaches in the trial included the use of Keytruda, a prescribed immunotherapy medication, and one of two chemotherapy treatments. One group received Xeloda, a chemotherapy pill that is currently the standard treatment for patients with triple-negative breast cancer. The other group was given Trodelvy, a newer type of chemotherapy that researchers believe may be more effective at preventing cancer from returning in patients like Gina. 

“To my great satisfaction, Gina was randomized to the experimental arm of the study and was treated with Trodelvy plus Keytruda,” said Dr. Perez. 

Gina had to go through another six months of chemotherapy, something she considered necessary, but daunting. 

“I'm just young. I was too young. I was like, ‘Let's go!’ Do I want to lose my hair and go through all that again? Absolutely not, but I also don’t want to die before I’m 40. So, let’s do what we have to do,” said Gina. 

What’s next 

Today, Gina describes herself as healthy and is back working as a nurse in Minnesota. Although Gina will continue to be monitored by her care team, her next big milestone comes on Dec. 29, 2026. That’s when she will reach three years since the completion of treatment. 

“The highest risk of relapse is in the first three years after treatment,” said Dr. Perez. “That risk is lower during years four and five, much lower during year six and extremely low after 10 years.” 

Gina’s message 

Gina wants all women to know they’re never too young to pay attention to changes in their breasts. 

“Get your mammograms,” added Dr. Perez. “If you have a lump, don’t ignore it. Let somebody know. It is better to know now than in the future. If you know today, you’re going to be more curable than six months from now.” 

Because Gina paid attention and took action, she’s here today preparing to marry her fiancé on a beach in 2027. 

“I’ve always been very much peace, love and positive thoughts. You have to think positive. That’s been my mindset before cancer. It’s my mindset during and mindset after,” said Gina. “Live day by day and enjoy it.”