In the summer of 2017, Denise Horne, a clinical supervisor in the critical care unit at Atrium Health Union, made a discovery that would change her life. During a self-exam, Horne noticed a small lump in her breast.
“I wasn’t doing regular mammograms like I was supposed to, and I wasn’t doing self-exams regularly,” Horne says. “But I just happened to check and felt something there. It was very small—like the size of a BB—so I almost overlooked it.”
At first, Horne wasn’t too concerned. Without a family history of breast cancer and no other symptoms, she delayed seeing a doctor. However, as the lump grew, she decided it was time to schedule a mammogram.
A devastating diagnosis
During her mammogram appointment at Charlotte Radiology in Monroe, Horne says she felt a sense of urgency from the doctor and staff.
“The doctor came right in to talk with me and said we needed to do a biopsy immediately,” Horne says. “It was alarming, but I was glad that they were jumping into action. I was reassured knowing that they were paying attention and working quickly to help me get the biopsy appointment scheduled.”
Horne says she realized how her medical background, particularly as an ICU nurse, added an extra layer of difficulty to the situation.
“My children were 7 and 2 years old at the time, and it was very scary as a mom because I was so attuned to the worst-case scenarios from seeing the patients I worked with each day. I saw firsthand what the families of my patients had to go through,” Horne says. “I had also lost a friend and teammate to the same diagnosis when she was just 35 years old. So that first month was a really dark period because there were so many unknowns.”
On August 14, 2017, Horne learned her biopsy showed invasive carcinoma, a breast cancer starting in the milk ducts and spreading to nearby tissue. An MRI revealed a second area of concern, which another biopsy confirmed as cancerous. Given the combined size of the tumors, Horne was diagnosed with stage 2B triple-negative breast cancer.
The road to remission
On September 17, 2017, Horne began her first round of chemotherapy, a process she describes as both daunting and relieving.
“Chemo was my first step. I knew it was a race against time, and I was just grateful to be doing something to fight back,” Horne says.
Over the next few months, Horne underwent a rigorous treatment regimen: five months of IV chemotherapy, 33 rounds of radiation, and multiple surgeries, including a bilateral mastectomy. Through it all, she found strength in her family and her health care community that rallied around her.
“I knew the team at Union would take care of me,” Horne says. “I believe so much in what we do here. To be treated by the people I trust was so special to me.”
Amidst the treatments and surgeries, Horne continued to work as her body allowed. She cherished time with her children, and celebrated milestones along the way.
“You have to take it in steps,” Horne says. “The bigger celebration for me came three years post-diagnosis. My oncologist explained to me that making it three years is a big step for a triple negative diagnosis. And each month that you survive after that, the better. When I made it to five years, we had a big celebration. That was an exhale for me making it to the five-year mark. At that point, the statistics return to the general population as far as risk.”
A full-circle moment
Horne has been a nurse since 2005, always in the ICU, taking care of the sickest patients in the hospital. But after her cancer experience, she says her approach to patient care has forever changed.
“I’ve always been driven to provide the best care for my patients but going through cancer personally and being on the patient side of things, that changed me,” Horne says. “Now I know firsthand what they’re feeling—the fear, the uncertainty. It’s not just about the physical pain, but the emotional toll, too. Knowing how that truly feels has made me a better nurse.”
That extra layer of care has not gone unnoticed. Horne was recently recognized as one of 28 Atrium Health nurses named North Carolina Great 100 nurses for 2024, a prestigious accolade she accepts with humility.
“Most of us who receive this honor feel undeserving,” Horne says. “There are so many nurses doing incredible things. But when I take a step back, I realize this award is a reflection of how my experience with cancer has changed the way I care for my patients.”
Realizing a vision
Now seven years in remission, Horne continues to reflect on her experience.
"They say throughout the treatment journey to have a vision, and mine was to see my kids grow up,” Horne says. “Now I’m living that vision. I went through treatment at the same time as a close friend, but she didn’t make it past a year. You don’t understand why you survived and someone else didn’t. That’s really hard. But I try to find gratitude in every step.”
As Horne walks into the hospital to care for her patients, she carries with her the lessons of survival, compassion and strength.
“Most days as I’m walking into work, I look at the building and just feel thankful I’m healthy enough to be there,” Horne says. “I’ve seen life from both sides now—as a nurse and as a patient. And it’s made me realize that what matters most is not just the care we provide, but the connection we build with those we care for.”
Horne also advocates for breast cancer awareness, encouraging women to be proactive with self-exams.
“A self-check saved my life,” Horne says. “My oncologist told me if I had waited a few more months, my prognosis would’ve been very different. You can have your annual mammogram and have everything look okay, but you can catch something in between with self-checks before your next mammogram.”
Horne’s journey is a powerful testament to resilience, compassion and unwavering dedication. As a mother, nurse and survivor, she uses her story to inspire and uplift others—setting an example of strength for her children, her patients and the community she serves.
Learn more about breast cancer care at Atrium Heath Levine Cancer.
