One Long Island woman with breast cancer is on a mission to raise awareness about the growing risk for Hispanic women.

Nivia Matos learned in February that her lingering back pain was stage four breast cancer.

The disease had also spread to her lungs.

Matos’ oncologist at the Catholic Health Cancer Institute says breast cancer is now the leading cause of death among Hispanic women.

Doctors emphasize that early detection is the best tool to bring that rate down.

But for Matos, that screening came too late -- her cancer is not curable.

"Coming from a Latina background, in your first generation, you kind of learn you're not first. Everything else is a priority but you,” the Babylon woman says.

She hopes her story will remind women to listen to their bodies and never put their own health last.