In November 2020, a three-word text message changed everything for the Roses. That day, Ryan Rose was working at the family business, Rose Auto Sales, in Van Buren. In any other year, he and his wife Tiffany would have been making happy holiday plans.
But, Tiffany had discovered a lump in her breast. She’d gone to her doctor, who scheduled a mammogram. Ryan says they weren’t overly concerned. With Tiffany’s few risk factors, it was probably a benign cyst. But after the mammogram, her doctor ordered a biopsy.
Life carried on for Ryan and Tiffany. Their children, Kaden, Addison, and Juliana, kept them busy, and the car lot required attention. On top of that, Ryan was an associate pastor at Evangel Temple in Fort Smith, which filled their calendar even more. If Tiffany was especially worried, she kept it to herself. So, Ryan, who took his cues from her, believed their lives would soon return to normal.
Then, Ryan’s phone chimed with a question from Tiffany. “Her text said, ‘What is carcinoma?’ Everything ground to a stop. It felt like I was carrying a 500-pound weight,” remembers Ryan.
Tiffany notes, “I was only thirty-five years old… And I was in complete shock when I saw the report. I was young, healthy, exercised regularly, and had no genetic markers. There was no reason to suspect cancer, yet there it was. It was terrifying, especially as a mom with three young children.”
Tiffany was diagnosed with Stage 2 HER2 – ER+ Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. She underwent chemo treatments, had a bilateral mastectomy, and hormone therapy.
Ryan never missed a single one of Tiffany’s doctors’ appointments or chemo treatments. Her mom came to stay, holding down the fort so Tiffany could focus on getting better. Their church family and friends stepped in with meals, prayers, uplifting messages, and childcare when the Roses needed it.
The Covid pandemic was underway, and because of it, staying at home was the norm. If people ventured out, most were doing so out of necessity, which only added to Tiffany’s feeling of isolation. Her birthday was coming up, and she expected only the smallest of celebrations.
However, Ryan and a close friend had other ideas. They messaged friends to drive by the Roses’ house, honk and wave, and wish Tiffany many happy birthdays to come. “Seeing that long line of cars filled with people who cared so much about me was overwhelming in the best way,” Tiffany says. “That moment reminded me of the kindness and love that still exists in the world, even in the hardest of times.”
A challenge as big as cancer takes a toll. “We learned what it means to truly love one another through the ‘in sickness and in health’ part of our vows,” Tiffany says. “Facing such difficult trials together can either tear you apart or bring you closer together. I’m grateful that my husband is my biggest support.”
The Roses never asked why. Instead, they focused on what they could do to help others. For Tiffany, it meant sharing her story and advice with women who were facing a cancer diagnosis. Those who were loosely connected to her, or were friends of friends, reached out, hoping to find a helping hand. For Ryan, it meant running for Arkansas State Representative for District 48, encompassing Van Buren and Fort Smith, in 2022.
“At first, I thought this is too big for me,” Ryan says. “But as we talked to people who would tell me no, people we trusted immensely, we kept getting the same answer. I should run.” Ryan says one of his goals was to use his legislative power to help those with breast cancer. He won his race and took office in January 2023. By February, the Roses were facing another crisis.
“Just a few weeks before I could celebrate being in remission for two years, the cancer did return, catching me off guard once again,” Tiffany says. “I had finally gotten to a point in life where cancer didn’t consume my thoughts every day. I felt more like myself again when I looked in the mirror, so it was devastating to learn I had to go through such harsh treatment a second time, another surgery, and radiation on top of it all. The first time, there was so much unknown, but the second time, I fully understood just how tough the road ahead would be. However, I knew I didn’t have to fight alone, and that brought me peace and comfort.” Thankfully, in May 2023, Tiffany’s doctors saw no more evidence of disease, and she focused on building her strength once again.
During the Arkansas Legislative session of 2025, Ryan sponsored HB 1309, which does away with all “cost sharing” associated with diagnostic breast cancer screenings. The bill became law, which takes effect ninety days after the session ends.
“I talked to a woman today who was on the House staff, who said her last one [mammogram co-pay] was $230,” Ryan says. “I’d heard from women whose associated costs for a mammogram was a few hundred dollars. And cost was the barrier preventing them from receiving the diagnostic tests they needed.”
HB 1309, now Act 268, waives all cost sharing requirements for women who need a diagnostic breast cancer screening. At the time of this writing, Ryan had sponsored another breast cancer-related bill that was days away from making it to the Senate floor.
Last year, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) updated its guidelines, stating all women should begin getting mammograms at age forty. Of course, the guide is just that. Any woman of any age who is concerned should be tested for breast cancer.
Early detection saves lives, and Act 268 is a piece of the puzzle that makes sure Arkansas women don’t have to delay or avoid mammograms due to the cost. Underserved women in the state have the option of programs like BreastCare, which offers free mammograms to those who qualify. In Fort Smith, the Donald W. Reynolds Cancer Support House offers no-cost support and programs for those fighting cancer. They’re also a wealth of information, especially for the newly diagnosed, and their volunteers offer empathy and comfort, as well as practical advice.
The Roses lives have grown since Tiffany’s three-word text turned their future into a question. Ryan, now the lead pastor of Victory Church in Fort Smith, says he’s more in love with his wife than ever. As a new husband, he adored her. When they became parents, he loved her devotion as a mom, and when she went through cancer treatments twice, he was both heartbroken and awe-inspired by her strength.
Tiffany embraces what’s still to come. “I look forward to passing my two-year cancer-free mark in June of this year. I also look forward to the little things, like watching my kids grow, seeing them chase their dreams, and just embracing every single day I’m gifted. I also hope to continue encouraging others in their own battles, just like so many people encouraged me.”
Mostly, the Roses are grateful. Every new dawn comes in soft as a morning prayer, blooms into sunshine, then darkens each night into a velvet sky. The darkness is not only beautiful but necessary. Without it, you couldn’t see the glittery stars that shine like beacons of hope.
For more on the services of the Donald W. Reynolds Cancer Support House in Fort Smith, visit reynoldscancersupporthouse.org. To see if you or someone you love qualifies for BreastCare services, visit healthy.arkansas.gov.
