Today we’d like to introduce you to Leslie Ferris Yerger
Hi Leslie Ferris, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Leslie was born and raised in Worthington, Indiana. She attended Purdue University and earned degrees in Computer Science and Industrial Management, and was a member of Sigma Kappa Sorority. She also obtained her Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is both a proud Boilermaker and a Tar Heel.
Leslie previously worked as a computer programmer and printed circuit board production supervisor at Data General in Massachusetts and North Carolina. She also worked as a Global Product Manager at United Technologies Carrier in Syracuse, New York, and as a Business Development Manager at DEK Printing Machines in Weymouth, England.
Leslie now lives in Hawthorn Woods, IL with her husband, John. She is the proud mother of 3 children, Evan, Julia, and Megan.
Leslie was diagnosed with Stage IV lobular breast cancer in November, 2017, when abnormalities were found during a routine bone density scan. Unfortunately, her cancer was not visible on either a mammogram or an ultrasound. This is not a failure of anyone, but it is simply a failure of the current technology.
In 2021, Leslie founded the nonprofit My Density Matters. The nonprofit is on a mission to empower women to find out their beast density, learn their additional screening options, and take charge of their breast cancer screening. They envision a world where breast density no longer hinders the early diagnosis of breast cancer, so that MORE women with breast cancer become SURVIVORS.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
For the most part, I have had a charmed and easy life, with an ideal childhood and no major tragedies. However, being diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer was the shock of my life. Cancer changes everything, and for the most part never for the better, but I have found purpose from it.
So much that I wrote a book called Probably Benign, which I never ever thought I would do. It was a therapeutic for me and it was a good way to spread my message. Available at www.probablybenign.com and on Amazon. Great for gifts and book clubs.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
My Density Matters is a labor of love and also it is a calling.
We empower women nationally to find out their breast density, which makes it harder to see cancer on a mammogram, and it is also a significant risk factor. If a woman has dense breasts, mammography alone is not good enough.
They need additional screening to find their cancer early, while still curable. Not many people know that, but it should be common knowledge. It is necessary that all people know these facts so that they can advocate for themselves to get what they need.
My Density Matters is active on social media, and spread our message via our program: Breast Cancer Screening Guide, My Story Matters, and Check Your Chart. All available at www.mydensitymatters.org
What does success mean to you?
Doing the best I can everyday. Not judging others, you never know what others are going through, or what is in their head. Taking one step forward at a time. Continuous improvement. Being kind.
Pricing:
- $16.95
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mydensitymatters.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mydensitymatters/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MyDensityMatters
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/mydensitymatter
