Little did I know last October when I wrote about Breast Cancer Awareness Month that I would be undergoing two minor surgeries a short time later to remove early-stage breast cancer cells. Everything went well, and I feel grateful for advanced medical care. The experience hammered home for me again the importance of early detection, which makes the difference between life and death when it comes to breast cancer.
The good news about breast cancer is that death rates have been declining steadily since 1989, according to the American Cancer Society, likely because of early detection, thanks to improved screening techniques and treatment methods. Still, one in 8 women will develop breast cancer during her lifetime, and the risk grows with age. That’s why regular screenings are so important.
Next week I will be heading in to see my breast specialist and have my first annual mammogram since my surgeries. Assuming all goes well, I’ll go back six months later for my second-ever annual breast MRI screening, which is indicated for women like me who are at high risk for breast cancer, and it is how my early-stage cancer cells were identified earlier this year. All of these appointments are time-consuming and a pain in the neck, frankly, but far less life-altering or -threatening than a late-stage breast cancer diagnosis, so I will continue to be vigilant about my screenings. I urge you to do the same.
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