Stefanie Uhl was terrified when she heard the news in spring 2002 that she had breast cancer. But, it didn’t take long for Stefanie to convert her fear into energy and advocacy. Now a two-time breast cancer survivor, Stefanie supports other survivors in her community and encourages women to be proactive about their health so they can benefit from early diagnosis.

Stefanie is currently enrolled in two clinical trials – one examining how to better detect the spread of breast cancer and the other observing women at high risk for ovarian cancer. She wasn’t able to find a clinical trial in which to participate as part of her treatment regime. However, she is grateful to all those who participated in clinical trials before her that made her treatments available. She wants to return that favor to the generations to come.

“Clinical studies are the only way the medical community can determine whether new treatments are effective,” Stefanie says. “They are our way of helping those patients that come after us and our hope that one day we will be able to understand how to cure more and more types of cancer. In many cases, clinical studies provide life-saving treatments to patients.”

Stefanie provides encouragement and empowerment to other women facing breast cancer worldwide. Diagnosed while living in Germany, Stefanie immersed herself in the activities of breast cancer support organizations. She’s a co-founder and vice president of Young Empowered Survivors, a Denver-area support group to young women diagnosed with breast cancer and serves as a resource for the concerns and issues that are unique to these young women.

Believing that openness about her personal cancer journey will help others along their paths, Stefanie has told her story to countless women. Being so open about her experience allows Stefanie to reach out to other young women with breast cancer at a time when they most need encouragement and hope.

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Tour of Hope™ will give her an opportunity to take that message to so many more people as she rides across America as a member of the Team. “Proactive patients are better able to deal with their illnesses and to find the information they need, including access to clinical trials,” she says. “This can help save lives.”