A breast cancer support group came at just the right time for Marcia Erz

When Marcia Erz went in for a routine mammogram in March 2012, she didn’t expect anything out of the ordinary. She had always been diligent about her screenings, and they’d always come back clear. But this time, her care team noticed something different. They followed up with an ultrasound, biopsy, and eventually a lumpectomy.

“I thought when I went home after lumpectomy, it was fine and we'd just go on but it didn't happen that way,” she said. “A few days later, the doctor called and said it was cancer.”

Marcia underwent 33 rounds of radiation, finishing treatment that June. Around the same time, she joined a new breast cancer support group at M Health Fairview Ridges in Burnsville. At first, just a handful of women met in the lobby of the breast center. Over time, the group grew, and when the pandemic hit; they kept meeting virtually.

“It’s one of those clubs you don’t want to be in," she said. “But once you are, you’re so grateful to have people who understand without you having to explain. Everyone just gets it."

For Marcia, those connections extended beyond monthly meetings. She’s formed lasting friendships —joining fellow survivors for scrapbooking retreats, phone check-ins, and walking side by side in breast cancer awareness walks.

That support came at a crucial time for Marcia. Not only was she battling cancer, but she was also going through a divorce.

“It was stressful. When you’re first diagnosed, you’re scared and you don’t know what to expect,” she said. “But the group was always there for me and that’s what makes such a difference. You don’t feel alone.”