On Bainbridge Island, widower reunites with journalist who told late wife's cancer story 30 years ago

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a chance to educate people about the disease and the importance of high-quality care.

Public awareness of breast cancer has greatly improved over the past few decades. For a long time, people diagnosed with the disease tended to keep their experiences to themselves. That's why it was groundbreaking 30 years ago when NPR health reporter Joanne Silberner profiled a woman named Toby Quitslund, who was experiencing a reoccurrence of breast cancer.

Her story not only helped build awareness of the disease, but it also helped create a special bond between Joanne and Toby's family. Toby's husband, John, recently discovered that he and Joanne now live on Bainbridge Island. He heard her being interviewed on KUOW and decided to mail a letter to the station in hopes of reaching out to her. They reconnected, and in this story reflect on Toby’s experience with breast cancer.