- Megan Johnson, CEO of Intermountain Spanish Fork Hospital, was diagnosed with breast cancer in July.
- Her normal mammogram in September 2024 was followed by a high-risk assessment, which led to the diagnosis.
- Johnson advocates for breast cancer risk assessments, emphasizing early detection's importance.
SPANISH FORK — Megan Johnson has spent her career caring for others. As president and CEO of Intermountain Spanish Fork Hospital, she's used to guiding teams and comforting patients — not becoming one herself.
"The crazy thing about my story is that September of 2024, I had a normal mammogram," she said. "I didn't have a lump, I didn't have symptoms, I didn't have pain."
During a follow-up appointment, her doctor brought up the results of her lifetime risk assessment, a tool that estimates a woman's chances of developing breast cancer. Johnson's results flagged her as high-risk, prompting an ultrasound and MRI.
"It's something that I've never heard of, never even considered before," the 46-year-old said.
Then in July came the call that no one wants to receive.
"Not a moment that I ever want to relive," she said. "And your 12-year-old saying, 'Mom, are you going to die?'"
Because her cancer was caught early, Johnson didn't need chemotherapy or radiation. She underwent a double mastectomy and is preparing for another surgery later this year.
"Not to say that it didn't come with some mental struggles as well," she said. "Could I really call myself a breast cancer survivor? Because I didn't have to do the hard things. I didn't have to do the really hard things."
Still, she admits the experience was humbling.
"They always say that nurses, doctors, make the worst patients. I would say that's probably true," she laughed.
Johnson has been with Intermountain Health for 23 years. She started by cleaning rooms, then became a registered nurse, a chief nursing officer, and is now running Spanish Fork Hospital.
She's using her platform to encourage women to stay on top of their health and to ask their doctors about breast cancer risk assessments, especially if they have dense breast tissue or a family history.
"Early detection really is what saved me," Johnson said. "This whole journey was based on a negative mammogram, but a high lifetime risk assessment."
She also wants women to know that they're not alone.
"Surrounding yourself with good people, you can do anything," she said. "If you don't have that, I can be that for you. Reach out — I would love to be that support. Don't feel like you have to fight this alone."
Health experts recommend that women begin annual mammograms at age 40.
