. >> reporter: two years ago during a self-breast examination, darlene smith found a lump. >> when youirst get diagnosed and that information is given to you, you're in, i call it, a fog. >> reporter: and like other women in the community, darlene called on denise. >> so you talk to another woman that has gone through what you're going through, and have been there, the most comfort that you can get out of anything that happens to you, other than standing on your feet. >> reporter: denise roberts is a two-time cancer survivor. first diagnosed at the age of 34 with breast cancer which she thought was her hardest test, but 11 years later, he reality was rocked again by a diagnosis of uterine cancer. >> it was detected early, as the breast cancer, but both of them were the same. same, meaning that they were not regular symptoms. so i had to know my body. i had to know that something was wrong. >> reporter: and after staring cancer in the face twice, denise decided it was time to help other black women and men. she founded the denise roberts breast cancer foundation in the greater los angel