A Conversation with Cynthia Yosha-Snyder on Her Breast Cancer Journey
When REALTOR® Cynthia Yosha-Snyder, a fixture in the Indianapolis real estate world, talks about her breast cancer journey, she doesn’t start with fear or frustration. She starts with gratitude.
“I’m grateful for every day,” she says. “That became easier after I got off the couch.”
Cynthia’s story began with an appointment in March 2025— an MRI she delayed by six months. She had been considered high-risk after her mother’s breast cancer and because of that, took Tamoxifen for four years beginning in 2016. But when her gynecologist noticed something suspicious in February 2025, her world shifted.
“The surgeon called and said, ‘I need to see you,’” she recalls.“That was a Thursday night. I saw him Friday. By then, I already knew—something wasn’t right.”
The diagnosis: invasive lobular breast cancer. Because of how easily it spreads, Cynthia opted for a double mastectomy at the end of June. Tests later showed the left breast was clear, but cancer in the other breast. That meant the treatment, after the mastectomy healed, was radiation due to the size of the cancerous cells. In October, Cynthia finished her radiation protocol.
“Everyone has a different journey,” she says. “Mine involved three different surgeries, an infection THEN a leaking expander, radiation, and learning that even when things really suck—you can still find light.”
That light often came from the people around her. Her family each played a role: Daughter Ruthie, interested in medicine, helped doctor’s appointments and unpacking the verdicts; Olivia, another daughter, supported from afar with song playlists and pampered her when in town; son Louie kept her business running and clients happy; and Roger, Cynthia’s husband of 35 years, kept the house afloat by paying attention to the details and cooking her favorite foods.
“They wore so many hats,” she smiles. “I could not have made it through the last five or six months without them.”
Physically, recovery was grueling because the three surgeries were all close together. Healing took a while.
“I couldn’t get in or out of bed easily, so I slept on the couch,” she explains. “I didn’t tell many people at first—I needed to focus on myself ”
Emotionally, she focused on what she could control.
“You just take a deep breath and dig in,” she says. “I didn’t have to do chemo—chemo only had a 1% chance of affecting the cancer so it was an unnecessary treatment. And luckily there is only a 6% chance of recurrence in ten years. Surgery and radiation took care of it. So I powered through. Whatever they told me to do, I did.”
Cynthia credits her medical team—Drs. Schmidt, Sando, Birhiray, and Dugan—for guiding her with compassion and clarity.
“They all told me I had a good path ahead of me. And that helped me believe it.”
She also learned to accept help, something that didn’t come naturally.
“I’m a ‘I’ve got this’ kind of person,” she admits. “Even though my circle was intentionally small, they showed up. They made me food, did my laundry. Sometimes you have to let others carry you.”
Now, Cynthia’s mission is to pay that support forward.
“Women are so used to taking care of everyone else that we forget ourselves. Use the technology. Ask the questions. Don’t be stupid—make good choices.”
And her message to others who have a friend who is newly diagnosed? Sometimes, knowing what to do and when to do it is challenging, especially if you don’t want to interfere.
“Help someone else,” she says simply. “Even if it’s small. Say hi to someone who’s hurting. Every day is a gift—don’t waste it.”
While Cynthia’s doctors have informed her that, now that surgery and radiation are both finished, she is considered cancer-free. However, not everyone is so lucky. If you or someone you know is struggling with breast cancer, know that you don’t have to go through this alone. The Indianapolis area has a number of valuable resources:
Ascension St. Vincent Breast Center
Community Health Network MD Anderson Cancer Center
