A Babylon woman battling stage 4 metastatic breast cancer is using her story to raise awareness about the growing risks Hispanic women face, and the lifesaving importance of early detection.

Nivia Matos was diagnosed in February after months of what she thought was lingering back pain. Doctors later discovered the cancer had spread to her lungs.

“Coming from a Latina background and being first generation, you kind of learn you’re not first, everything else is a priority but you,” Matos told News 12.

Her oncologist, Dr. Kathy Deng at Catholic Health Cancer Institute in West Islip, says breast cancer has become the leading cause of cancer death among Hispanic women, and diagnoses have sharply increased over the last 15 years.

She says barriers such as limited health care access, lack of transportation and fear of cancer itself often lead to delayed screenings.

“Screening is designed to find a cancer before you know it’s there,” Dr. Deng said. “It’s going to be there whether or not you want it to be, so it’s better to find it early.”

While Matos’ cancer is not curable, it is treatable. She now takes two pills daily as part of her ongoing care and continues to pursue her passion for photography, shooting for restaurants across Long Island.

“There are days I just can’t breathe, or my body aches,” she said. “But when I do photography, it gives me clarity in my mind.”

Matos hopes her story reminds women to listen to their bodies, and to never put their health last.