When medical professionals told part-time Steamboat Springs resident Amy Gannon that she had breast cancer at only age 33, her reaction was disbelief and shock.

“There was a nurse who saw me completely fall apart, and she looked at me and told me, ‘You have no idea how strong you are,'” Gannon said of her initial reaction to what would become a long fight against breast cancer.

“I found an amazing care team, and my treatment included the works — chemotherapy, surgeries, radiation, targeted chemotherapy and a sprinkle of other things here and there,” Gannon explained. “It was completely overwhelming.”

After 17 months of treatments, including some time hospitalized in Steamboat from complications from chemotherapy on the Front Range, Gannon finished cancer procedures in early 2023.  

“During this process, I learned a ton, but it was filled with trial and error of what worked well for me and what didn’t,” she said.

After her treatments, people reached out to ask what she recommended they could do for their friends or loved ones fighting breast cancer. Gannon assembled a box of recommended items for a co-worker’s wife.

Now healthy at four years past her diagnosis, Gannon said “stronger than” became the motto for a nonprofit organization she decided to create.

Her nonprofit, Stronger Than Box, kicked off in October 2024 to help support breast cancer patients receiving treatment through three UCHealth locations, including in Steamboat. Through her hard work, monetary donations, several product donations and wholesale pricing negotiated for bulk orders, the organization gives boxes of helpful therapeutic supplies to newly diagnosed breast cancer patients.

The curated boxes are filled with items that may ease symptoms for patients, such as Queasy Drops for waves of nausea from chemotherapy treatments, portable Soothing Scents aromatherapy inhalers and a satin hair scrunchie and pillow case to soothe hair loss. With 450 distributed so far, the boxes also include a letter of support for caregivers of the patient.

“My hope is that my journey helps make others’ just a bit easier, and this little box will be their reminder they are stronger than all of this,” said Gannon, a human resources professional who works in Denver and remotely from Steamboat.

Annie Schwarz, nurse navigator at UCHealth Gloria Gossard Breast Care Center in Steamboat, said the boxes are happily received by patients and are more meaningful because they come from a breast cancer survivor.

“The boxes have brought so much joy to our patients over the last few months, especially on a day when patients might feel stressed or anxious,” Schwarz said.

Multiple stores in Steamboat are partnering with Stronger Than Box to promote Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October by giving out a card with an attached pink ribbon lapel pin that reminds recipients to schedule a mammogram. In addition, Waterside Day Spa and Salon is donating gift cards for a service, and The Adorn Co. is donating a special breast cancer necklace for the nonprofit to sell to raise funds.

Aside from therapeutic items, Gannon also recommends that people give cancer patients and their families restaurant gift cards, entertainment options for movie streaming or books, or gifts of service such as lawn mowing, cleaning, babysitting or dog walking.

“My caretaker (husband) was the most important person in my journey,” Gannon said. “I will forever be grateful for him ordering me sauceless pizza, holding my hand in the middle of the night, walking the dogs when I wasn’t able to, watching episodes of ‘The Office’ with me more than anyone should, getting me coffee on the days I was exhausted and telling me I was beautiful through it all.”

Since Gannon was diagnosed at a younger age — spurred by symptoms and a family history of cancer — she encourages all women to be proactive about their breast health, even before the recommended age of 40 to begin annual mammogram screenings. She advocates that women take a free, quick, online Tyrer-Cuzick Risk Assessment Calculator screening that can be found at Magview.com/ibis-risk-calculator. She encourages people to be aware of family cancer history.

“Genetic testing, appropriate advocating for yourself, especially as a young patient, I think that’s really important,” Gannon said. “I didn’t know all these screenings were available online. I could have made a more informed discussion with primary care of what else I should be doing. You do really have to advocate for yourself with genetic testing, advanced screening and risk factor assessments.”

Doctors at UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center encourage women who complete an online screening to follow the results with a conversation with their medical provider.

Gannon said the mission of her nonprofit is “to be the best part of their worst day.” She said patients and families often donate later after receiving a box, valued at $130, to pay it forward to the next patient undergoing treatment. To learn more, visit Strongerthanbox.org.