It just didn't make any sense.

Michel and Darren Sproles just had their second daughter, Rhyan. Shortly after she was born, Michel noticed that an area of her right breast was thicker than the rest.

She went for an ultrasound, and it showed obstructed milk ducts. That could have made sense, except for the fact that she wasn't breastfeeding.

Michel knew something wasn't right. She pleaded to get a mammogram and on October 17, 2012 doctors delivered the news that no one ever wants to hear – Michel had ductal carcinoma (DCIS), a non-invasive form of breast cancer.

"That's my best friend. It was tough for me to see her going through that time. It was rough for me, but I knew I had to stay strong for her," Darren says. "There were times when I would cry, but I wouldn't let her see me."

Michel was only 28 years old at the time. She remained in good shape after her track and field success in high school helped earn a full scholarship to UNLV. There was no history of breast cancer in her family. The typical warning signs didn't apply to her.

Fortunately, Michel was in Stage 0 when the cancer was discovered. She didn't mess around. Michel decided to undergo a double mastectomy and remove any trace of the predator.

There was a bout of depression that followed. It was Darren who provided a much-needed lift for his wife.

"He was just like, 'You've got to snap out of this. It is what it is. You experienced it. It's over. It's done with. The test is over. Whatever reason God had you go through this we may not know now. We may find out later, we may never know, but it's over. You're fine, you're healthy, the doctor said you're healthy, you're not about to die, you're not going anywhere. I need you to snap out of it,'" Michele recalls Darren saying.

"And that was the turning point for me."

The reason may have been a simple one – to provide support for others. Michel realizes that she was fortunate to catch the disease early. She also recognizes that she had access to resources that other women don't have.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mortality rates in black women are 39 percent higher than for white women. Furthermore, research from the National Cancer Institute showed that not only are minorities diagnosed with breast cancer at a younger age, but it's typically at a more advanced stage.