Hopeful & Fighting: Jennifer Schmitz Breast Cancer Journey
Published on: October 9, 2025
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and at Mountain West, we are honored that Jennifer Schmitz, MWSBF Portfolio Manager, has chosen to share so much of her fight and breast cancer journey with us. Read on to learn more about Jennifer’s experience and discover how you can support her and breast cancer research.
An Unwelcome & Surprising Start
Imagine finding a lump in your breast and being told by two different doctors that it was likely nothing to worry about. But 24 hours later, after follow-through on the requisite diagnostic test, you are told that you actually have an aggressive form of breast cancer.
Jennifer Schmitz never expected to learn the ins and outs of breast cancer firsthand. But in late February, she was diagnosed with “triple positive invasive ductal carcinoma”—a type of breast cancer that tests positive for three markers: estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2).
Jennifer’s Journey
Every cancer treatment journey is different, but for Jennifer’s diagnosis, her treatment plan began with chemotherapy. On August 20th, she began her 6th (and what we’re hopeful to be) final round of chemotherapy. She’s scheduled for surgery on October 14th. If pathology looks good, she will move to radiation and continue with the immunotherapy that she began in May.
“What a lot of people don’t understand about treatment is the pain that comes with it. With chemotherapy, you think about people losing their hair, you hear about the exhaustion, and the nausea,” (which Jennifer says the science has made tremendous strides in treating), “but you don’t hear about the pain.”
She explains the grueling process of aggravating the bone marrow to produce white blood cells.
“Chemotherapy depletes your blood,” she explains,” so they want to rebuild or replenish your white blood cells. White blood cells are created in your bone marrow, so I would have injections for so many days after chemotherapy to spur the bone marrow to produce white blood cells.”
“It’s funny,” she said, “I had a friend who gave me a shirt with the breast cancer ribbon that said ‘Fighter.’ And I thought, “I’m never going to wear that.” But after experiencing the absolute gut-wrenching, bone-core pain, and side effects from the injections, she proclaimed, “I AM A FIGHTER!”
The Statistics: What We Know
According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, “In 2025, an estimated 316,950 women and 2,800 men will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, and an additional 59,080 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer will be diagnosed. Chances are, you know at least one person who has been personally affected by breast cancer.”
And while the National Breast Cancer Foundation states that an average of 1 in 8 women in the US will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, Jennifer says the oncologists and specialists she’s worked with say that estimate is conservative, as they’re seeing cases closer to 1 in 7 women.
We also know there are a lot of myths surrounding breast cancer: ideas about underwire bras or deodorant as the cause, genetic factors, or even certain symptoms that everyone will experience. But it’s not that simple.
A Hopeful (And Grateful) Heart
When you talk to Jennifer about her cancer journey, all her comments are laced with either hope, gratitude, or a combination of both.
When Mountain West’s marketing team reached out to see if she’d be willing to share some of her journey for a “Breast Cancer Awareness Month” blog post, she responded with an enthusiastic ‘yes’, messaging: “I appreciate how much Mountain West is supporting me through my cancer journey.”
And while no one really wishes to be inducted into the cancer-journey team, Jennifer says she’s “honored to be among such heroic women (and men) that have gone before me.”
She gets emotional over the phone when she talks about how humbled and grateful she is for the research and science, and those who have been on cancer journeys before her, paving the way in research and discoveries that make breast cancer one of the most survivable types of cancer.
She’s grateful for the sisterhood that has been so welcoming, saying people have come out of the woodwork to share their own stories of compassion and hope, which helps provide strength on her journey.
She’s thankful for her family and how her husband has stepped up to take on the extra responsibilities of running the household and caring for their two school-aged children.
What You Can Do
Trust the Science
Jennifer says, “Trust the science!” Personally, she never skipped a mammogram. She encourages people to get their cancer screenings.
Check it Out
Jennifer is also a huge advocate for getting things checked! “If you find something, get it checked!” She says. explaining that everyone’s journey is different. “For some, breast cancer hurts,” explaining that a friend of hers who had breast cancer had pain as one of her symptoms, but for Jennifer, that wasn’t the case. “Mine didn’t hurt until I had the biopsy,” she shared.
Jennifer said that after her diagnosis, she went through additional screenings looking for up to 50 hereditary genetic markers (like the BRCA gene). All of which came back negative. Jennifer says this validates that it’s not always genetic – sometimes it just happens.
Direct Impact
You can also support research, education, and advocacy initiatives through various organizations such as the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, and the American Cancer Society.
A Personal Invitation
We invite you to join us on Tuesday, October 14th, by wearing pink in honor of Jennifer’s surgery. The MWSBF family has rallied around our colleague and friend—ordering pink shirts, sending meals, and finding countless small ways to show support for her and her family. As Jennifer approaches what we all hope will be the end of her cancer journey, we stand with her in strength and optimism. Join us in celebrating Jennifer Schmitz, a true fighter whose courage, humility, and hope continue to inspire us all.
