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Daughter, Mother Share Similar Cancer Experience

By Liz Collin, WCCO-TV

(WCCO) --A young Minnesota mother battling breast cancer is sending a message: that you're never too young to be checked for the disease.

It's been the hardest six months LaTasha Robinson has been through. She's just 22 years old and her stage-three breast cancer diagnosis came in June.

"I was just scared, you know, like I don't want to die," said LaTasha. "I got a 2-year-old son."

She did chemotherapy first. However, just days ago at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, she lost both of her breasts to a double mastectomy.

"You have to choose you want your breast or you want your life. You want your life."

The disease didn't single out just one member of the Robinson family. LaTasha's mother is a 15-year breast cancer survivor.

"Let me be the one. Don't take my child," said Cynthia.

Cynthia was diagnosed close to the same age as LaTasha, and as a young mother herself.

"She always tried to stay strong for us -- not wanting to show us she was in too much pain," said LaTasha.

"She's doing lots better than I ever did," said Cynthia.

Cynthia said the cancer treatment has changed dramatically since her fight. She spent three months in the hospital from severe chemo side effects.

"If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be as strong, and I know the reason I'm strong is because of my son," said LaTasha.

LaTasha will start radiation in six weeks and then hopes to get back to a life that she's been missing for six months.

"It hurts like crazy, but it's another step I have to go through and I'm ready to face it," she said.

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