[6 min read]
In this article:
- Angie Stubblefield has dedicated her life to serving the Auburn and Enumclaw communities, but that sometimes meant prioritizing the needs of others over her own.
- After years of cancelled mammograms, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her immediate connection with Christine A. Lee, M.D., FACS, breast surgeon and medical director of the breast program at Swedish Issaquah was life-changing.
- Grateful for the expert and committed care she received at Providence Swedish, Stubblefield planned a generous donation to the Swedish Foundation that will help ensure care for patients like her.
- Read more about this remarkable woman's determination to thrive. And to help others do the same.
Angie Stubblefield was nearing the end of a 42-year career in education with the Auburn School District. She had also spent 18 years serving as an emergency medical technician/firefighter and 12 years as an elected Fire Commissioner for the Enumclaw Fire Department — a lifetime dedicated to serving others.
“I was just coming to the end of my careers and finally getting a chance to experience the other side,” Stubblefield recalls. “And then the cancer came.”
Regular mammograms had remained on her to-do list, but they never seemed to make it to the top.
“I kept pushing it off to the side,” says Stubblefield. “It was on my list of things to do, but my list was really long because I had so many other priority-based things to do. I wasn’t taking care of myself the way I should have.”
What began with canceling one mammogram turned into a nine-year gap between screenings. Then in May 2025, Angie was diagnosed with breast cancer. Looking back, she recognizes how easy it was to devote her energy to serving others while neglecting her own health.
“I spent my life helping other people,” she affirms. “The lesson for me is that taking care of yourself has to be part of taking care of everyone else — and how important it is to get regular mammograms. I have literally become a walking billboard with that message.”
Soon afterward, Stubblefield met Christine A. Lee, M.D., FACS, breast surgeon and medical director of the breast program at Swedish Issaquah. The connection was immediate.
“I chose life over time. I want to live fully, with purpose, gratitude, peace, love, joy, hope, and intention. Life is not measured only by the number of years we have, but by how deeply we choose to live them.”
Dr. Lee represented for Stubblefield the rare combination of exceptional surgical skill, clinical expertise, and compassionate leadership that every patient hopes to find during one of the most frightening moments of their life.
“I said, ‘I’m a balls-and-strikes person, so I prefer you just tell me straight up how things are,’” Stubblefield says plainly. “Dr. Lee told me what it was, what it wasn’t, and what we could do. She was always honest, but she always kept hope in the conversation.”
Together, they developed a detailed treatment plan, with Dr. Lee providing steady guidance and support throughout the process. Stubblefield's cancer presented additional complexity, with multiple overlapping cancer sites in her breast. Through meticulous surgical planning and precision, Dr. Lee successfully removed the cancer with clear margins, meaning no remaining cancer cells were detected, while preserving Angie’s lymph nodes.
“Dr. Lee’s skilled hands, experience, and thoughtful approach got all of the cancer out,” she says. “For that, I will always be grateful.”
Dr. Lee later connected Stubblefield with Wandra K. Miles, M.D., a Providence Swedish reconstructive plastic surgeon specializing in aesthetics and oncoplastic breast reconstruction.
Dr. Miles brought an equally exceptional level of expertise and artistry to Stubblefield's reconstructive journey. Her oncoplastic approach required not only advanced technical skill but also a deep understanding of how to restore form, symmetry, and confidence following breast cancer surgery.
“Aesthetically, Dr. Miles’ work was transformative and life-altering in the most remarkable way,” she says. “She restored far more than my physical appearance — she helped restore my sense of wholeness and confidence after cancer.”
“Dr. Miles was amazing, and I immediately felt comfortable with her,” Stubblefield adds. “Both Dr. Lee and Dr. Miles are in a league of their own. They are exceptionally talented surgeons, but they also take the time to make sure someone like me feels supported and cared for throughout the process. That is extraordinarily important for all patients, particularly breast cancer patients.
Their combination of surgical excellence, compassion, and genuine commitment to their patients made an incredibly difficult journey much easier to navigate. Stubblefield was so grateful for the compassionate, skilled care she received that she felt compelled to give back.
“Giving is a really important part of life because everything you give goes straight into helping other people,” she says. “Dr. Lee and Dr. Miles stepped up for me, and if we want people like them to continue helping others, someone has to support that. I said to myself, ‘I can do better.’ I can give.”
As Stubblefield was redrafting her will in light of her cancer diagnosis, she chose to designate a $100,000 charitable bequest to Providence Swedish Cancer Institute in honor of Dr. Lee and Dr. Miles.
In a letter notifying the Swedish Foundation of her planned gift, she wrote: “Their care was life changing. This gift exists because of them. It is my way of saying thank you and ensuring that the kind of care they embody continues to flourish at Swedish. To those reading this article, please consider supporting this foundation that helps so many people like me.”
Today, she s intentionally making time for herself. Stubblefield is no longer keeping plates spinning in the air. She journals, spends time reflecting, and dreams of future travels — perhaps to Greece or the Virgin Islands. She has affirmed that life is not about living to survive; it is about living to thrive.
Her cancer diagnosis became what she calls a “moment of reckoning,” an opportunity to stop, reflect, and consider how she wanted to spend her remaining years and what legacy she hoped to leave behind.
“I chose life over time,” she says. “I want to live fully, with purpose, gratitude, peace, love, joy, hope, and intention. Life is not measured only by the number of years we have, but by how deeply we choose to live them.”
“I had a great life beforehand, and it’s still a great life,” she explains. “But now I’m working toward an amazing life filled with great sunrises and sunsets. That’s why I chose to give after my death. It’s my way of giving life back and breathing hope into a space that helps others.”
Learn more and find a physician or advanced practice clinician (APC)
If you or a loved one have questions about cancer diagnosis, treatment or care, the experts at the Providence Swedish Cancer Institute are here for you. We can accommodate both in-person and virtual visits. To talk to someone or make an appointment, call 1-855-XCANCER.
You can also learn more about available clinical trials. Our physician investigators and researchers are involved in hundreds of ongoing trials involving most types of cancer.
Whether you require an in-person visit or want to consult a doctor virtually, you have options. Swedish Virtual Care connects you face-to-face with a nurse practitioner who can review your symptoms, provide instruction and follow up as needed. If you need to find a doctor, you can use our provider directory.
About the Swedish Foundation
Your generous gift helps support a healthy tomorrow for everyone in every community we serve. Learn about more ways to give to the Swedish Foundation or make a direct donation online at swedishfoundation.org. You can also contact the Foundation at 206-368-2738 or email foundation@swedish.org. Thank you for helping us shape the future of health care. We can’t do it without you.
Additional resources
Small cell and non-small cell lung cancer: What you should know.
Providence Swedish researchers receive grant to explore new frontier of precision oncology
Providence Swedish is revolutionizing lung cancer care with robotic bronchoscopy
Harnessing the power of the body’s own immune system to treat (and defeat) cancer
Melanoma is a common cancer. Learn about signs and treatments.
This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your health care professional's instructions.
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