Patient stories: Joy Zhu faced breast cancer in a new country, but she didn’t face it alone.

Chinese-born student Joy Zhu came to the United States to study teaching english as a second language at Columbia International University. A busy college student, she spent her time studying and making friends with a variety of other students from nations throughout the world.

In September 2024, just over a year after she had started studying in the USA, Joy Zhu was struck by another vehicle while trying to move through an intersection with a broken stoplight. While she wasn’t seriously injured, she noticed afterward that she had a lump in her breast.

“I thought the safety belt was too tight during the car accident,” said Zhu. “So I went to the hospital to do the check. I didn’t think too much. I just thought maybe that’s just blood inside. Then they told me I needed to do a further exam.”

After undergoing a mammogram and ultrasound, Zhu was told what she had thought might be a bruise was in fact breast cancer. As an international student, Zhu had never had to navigate the American health care system and wasn’t sure where to turn. She worked with surgical oncologist Julian Kim, MD, on a plan for treatment that involved chemotherapy and systemic therapy first before turning to surgery if needed.

With her treatment plan in place, Zhu needed assistance with understanding what organizations and programs might be in place to help her. Social worker Sarah Steinmeyer stepped in.

“Joy was referred to me by one of our breast cancer nurse navigators,” said Steinmeyer. “The nurse navigator explained to me that she was an international student that didn’t have any family here, didn’t have a lot of support, and she was going to be in need of some financial assistance.”

Steinmeyer worked with Zhu to get her access to the National Breast Cancer Foundation‘s patient relief fund, designed to help those going through active treatment for breast cancer who are under a certain income limit. The fund might help to cover the costs of medication, provide assistance with affording groceries or other basic living supplies or even transportation. The NBCF provides funding to the Prisma Health Cancer Institute, and Steinmeyer was able to get Joy approved to receive financial assistance.

Joy Zhu finished her breast cancer treatment in October of 2025. She was able to begin focusing on her studies again and graduated from her college program in May of 2026.

“All of Joy’s cancer had been eliminated by the systemic therapy,” said Dr. Kim. “This is what we call a complete response, and this is the best possible outcome. Not only did the therapy treat the cancer in the breast and in any lymph nodes, but it also treated any other small areas of cancer that might be in other organs. So, she has the best chance of a long life.”

“I’m really grateful for the care team at Prisma Health,” Zhu said. “They treated me really well. They cared not only for my physical health, but also for me as a person, as a family.”

Sarah Steinmeyer remembers Joy Zhu fondly, too. “Oh, Joy was a joy to work with,” she said. “She was just always very positive from the very beginning, and she always handled it with grace and I think that speaks a lot to her faith.”

When Joy Zhu needed help not just with treating her cancer but also in navigating the realities of health care in an unfamiliar nation, Prisma Health was there. Dr. Kim, Sarah Steinmeyer and the rest of her care team saw her through cancer care, worked with her to find the financing she needed and supported her as she fought to return to her studies and build the foundation of her future.

After all, Prisma Health isn’t just here to heal… we’re here for good.