RALEIGH, N.C. — Emily Luisana and her family have explored the world together, trekking through caves in Vietnam and hiking the Great Wall of China. But these days, it is the quiet moments at home that mean the most.

What You Need To Know

  • According to the American Cancer Society, one in eight women in the United States develop breast cancer

  • Data compiled by the American Cancer Society shows APAH women experienced a 2.5% to 2.7% annual increase in breast cancer cases since 2000, more than double the overall annual rate

  • Doctors recommend women begin annual mammograms when they turn 40

“Staying in the moment is something I’ve always struggled with, even outside of this diagnosis,” Luisana said. “Certainly now I have a new appreciation for if you’re not in the moment, you might miss it.”

“The kids grow up super fast,” said her husband, John Luisana. “You appreciate that time is fleeting.”

In 2023, life felt full and steady. Emily Luisana had just turned 40, started a new job in veterinary nutrition and had no family history of breast cancer. A routine physical a few months earlier didn’t raise any red flags. But after a trip to Mexico, she fell ill and noticed two lumps. Her doctor initially thought they were likely cysts but a biopsy later confirmed it was cancer.

“This is a photo of my first chemotherapy session,” she said. “I look at this and now it feels like a different life.”

Luisana underwent three surgeries and four rounds of chemotherapy. The toll, she says, wasn't just physical.

“There’s the mental burden, getting through work, worrying about finances, making a lot of choices, even just the logistics of who's picking up the kids today,” she said. “Then there’s the emotional level. I think that's the hardest to see because your life changes so quickly.”

Her daughter Maya Luisana remembers how she tried to help in small ways.

“I know she was really worried about her hair, so I just tried to give her a lot of hugs,” Maya Luisana said.

“They’re a very good support system,” Emily Luisana added.

But Luisana's story isn't just personal. It reflects a broader trend that has doctors paying attention.

According to the National Cancer Institute, breast cancer rates among Asian American and Pacific Islander women under 50 rose from 37 cases per 100,000 in 2000 to 56 cases per 100,000 in 2021, a 51% increase.

Over that same period, rates rose 17% among Hispanic women, 4% among Black women, 18% among white women, and 36% among American Indian women.

Dr. Ton Wang, a surgical oncologist at Duke Health, said the reason for the increase is not entirely clear.

“It’s not really driven by one particular thing,” Wang said. “In general, there are certain hormonal risk factors. Having children at an older age or not having children can increase your risk of certain types of breast cancer.”

To better understand her own diagnosis, Luisana started researching and noticed a lack of data for women who looked like her.

“My demographic just wasn’t the one in most of these studies,” she said. “And knowing that those numbers may not be accurate for me was another layer in decision-making and just the mental burden.”

Asian Americans make up more than 7% of the U.S. population, but less than 1% of the National Institutes of Health's research funding is focused on the APAH group. While data exists from studies conducted in Asian countries, Wang said it does not always apply to patients in the United States.

“There are just environmental influences that are going to change the way those patients are compared to, say, the Chinese patient who immigrated to the United States,” Wang said. “We try to break it down by subgroups, but it's limited based on participation in clinical trials.”

Luisana currently shows no signs of active cancer, but her doctors continue monitoring for microscopic spread that could become metastatic disease years down the line.

Her life now may not be what it was before the diagnosis, but in some ways she's grateful for that.

“I’ve made really amazing friends during this process,” she said. “I see every day as a little bit more valuable. Time with family feels a little bit sweeter. Music sounds better. Food tastes better. You just appreciate the little moments.”

The Luisanas recently welcomed a rescue cavalier puppy into their home. Emily Luisana also has an upcoming trip planned to Barcelona with a friend she met during treatment.

“It’s really natural and normal to mourn your life from before,” she said. “But what I’ve learned is that the after portion doesn’t have to be all negative.”

Wang says breast cancer in young women is still relatively rare, but emphasizes the importance of starting mammograms at age 40.

“Asian Americans are among the lowest group among patient populations of screening for breast cancer,” she said. "And that can certainly be super important in something like this."