National Cancer Prevention Month #CTCA

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post, however all opinions expressed are my own

I have not been public about my diagnosis until now. I did not want anyone to feel sorry for me. I needed time to deal with treatment and getting better all on my own. However now that I am on remision and just have to do follow ups I want to share my story because it might help someone to look for a doctor and start being checked on time

I was not 40 yet, so it was not really time for the regular recommended mammogram. One morning I woke up with pain and sensitivity on my left breast. I had a pink mark that looked like a spider bite. After a few days instead of getting better it got worse. It became really painful. I was not able to feel a lump or a mass on the self exam. But I knew something was not right. So I went to see a doctor.

They sent me for a mammogram. I can tell you the test is not as bad as the make it look. Is it comfortable? No, it is not. But it is not painful. The new mammogram machines have padding that make the test more comfortable. Mind you I was having a diagnostic mammogram and they needed to take lots of pictures.

The results were abnormal. I had a biopsy and there it was. A tiny abnormal mass. Yes, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. The good news is that it is not spread and right now I am on remision.

The main reason I am writing this post is to motivate you to go have a mammogram. Insurances will help you pay for it and if you cannot afford it look in your community for resources. A simple test can pretty much save your life.

Dr. David Boyd, Director of Wellness, Prevention and Primary Care at Cancer Treatment Centers of America at Western Regional Medical Center says that “There are a number of factors that go into deciding when a woman should start screening for breast cancer, including family history and current lifestyle choices. However, it is critical that these conversations start happening so that women can be armed with the information they need to live a healthy lifestyle that may prevent cancer or take steps that might catch it in an early stage.”

Do not delay scheduling either your doctor appointment or your mammogram. There are several ways to treat breast cancer and the highest rate of success is when you get earlier treatmetn.

For more information about mammograms and breast cancer please visit Cancer Treatment Centers of America®