From Fear to Hope: How 72-Year-Old Sarah Morse Survived Breast Cancer and Devoted Her Life to Helping Others
At 72, Sarah Morse enjoys a warm and busy life in San Francisco’s Fillmore District. She and her husband raised three children, now adults with families of their own, and together they delight in visiting their restored 1956 Airstream trailer nestled on a friend’s vineyard in Sonoma County. But beyond the peaceful getaways and cherished family time, Sarah carries a powerful story — one of fear, survival, and a heartfelt promise to give back.
Nearly 13 years ago, at age 59, Sarah faced a frightening diagnosis: breast cancer. With a painful family history of the disease, she never believed she would survive. But she made a vow —
If she lived, she would dedicate herself to helping other women through the same journey.
Today, Sarah is cancer-free, thriving, and fulfilling that promise in meaningful ways.
A Family History That Haunted Her
Breast cancer wasn’t new to Sarah’s life — it was something she had feared since childhood.
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Her mother was diagnosed terminally when Sarah was 14.
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Her grandmother also died of breast cancer.
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By 21, Sarah had already lost her mother to the disease.
Growing up with that trauma left her with a lifelong anxiety about her own health.
“By the time I became an adult, the fear was always there,” she recalls.
The Diagnosis That Changed Everything
Sarah discovered her cancer during a routine checkup. Her gynecologist felt a small lump that Sarah couldn’t detect herself. Although her mammogram showed nothing concerning, the doctor had a strong feeling — one she couldn’t shake.
That same night, close to 8:30 pm, the doctor called Sarah personally:
“I’m worried. Please come back for an ultrasound.”
The ultrasound revealed what the mammogram had missed — a tumor hidden deep within her breast.
A needle biopsy confirmed it was malignant.
“With my family history, I was sure this was the end,” Sarah says. “Every memory of my mother came flooding back.”
Years later, on the 10th anniversary of her diagnosis, she wrote a heartfelt letter thanking her doctor for her persistence — a decision that saved her life.
Finding Emotional Strength at UCSF
Terrified and overwhelmed, Sarah began counseling at UCSF with nurse and emotional support specialist Deborah Hamolsky.
“I walked in feeling defeated,” she remembers. “I walked out with tools to cope.”
Alongside counseling, Sarah joined a support group at UCSF’s Patient and Family Cancer Support Center. Talking with other women who had heard the words “You have cancer” gave her a sense of comfort and courage that family alone couldn’t provide.
Choosing a Double Mastectomy — And Never Looking Back
Although cancer was present in only one breast, Sarah’s fear of it spreading — just as her mother’s cancer had — guided her decision.
She opted for a double mastectomy, the most aggressive approach.
“I never regretted it,” she says confidently.
She did not need chemotherapy, but she completed 10 years of hormone-blocking treatment:
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5 years of tamoxifen
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5 years of letrozole
To her, it was a small price to pay to hear:
“You’re doing just fine.”
Choosing Not to Reconstruct — And Embracing Confidence
Sarah had no interest in reconstructive surgery.
“I’ve been married to the same man forever,” she jokes. “He just wanted me alive.”
She made peace with her appearance and even embraces humor about it.
“If a jacket is tight, I just don’t wear a bra.
If I feel like looking like Dolly Parton, I put on my Dolly Parton bra!”
She’s proud of her results and says she’d gladly be “the poster woman for a good mastectomy.”
A Scare — and Another Battle in the Family
Two years after her breast surgery, Sarah faced another frightening moment: a spot appeared on her lung. She feared the worst, but it turned out to be benign and was successfully removed.
On the same day she underwent lung surgery, her husband learned he had prostate cancer.
He received a radical prostatectomy and is now cancer-free as well.
“We joke that we’re missing several body parts,” Sarah laughs. “But we’re incredibly lucky.”
Giving Back: A Promise Fulfilled
Sarah’s commitment to helping others is now a major part of her life.
1. Peer Support Volunteer
She speaks with newly diagnosed breast cancer patients through UCSF’s Peer Support Program.
Some women ask candid questions about mastectomy, body image, and recovery — and Sarah openly shares her experience.
One woman told her,
“I’m shocked you showed me, but I’m so glad you did.”
2. Hospital Volunteer
Every Tuesday, Sarah puts on her volunteer vest and works throughout UCSF:
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serving lunches at the Ida Friend Infusion Center
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guiding patients to appointments
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answering questions in the lobby
She meets people from all walks of life, and her kindness leaves a lasting impact.
“I always tell them, ‘I’ve been in your shoes.’”
Why She Continues to Volunteer
Sarah’s reason is simple and heartfelt:
“I promised that if I survived, I would give back. And I’m here.”
Today, she lives a joyful, grateful life — surrounded by her loving family, supported by her community, and committed to being a ray of hope for others battling cancer.
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