Poster Child

I have a friend named Marilyn. She has a strong family history of breast cancer, not the least of whom was her father. She had her mammograms-every six months. From one six month visit to the next, she had a huge mass. Her mastectomy involved 28 lymph nodes as well.

I'm happy to report she had a successful surgery and reconstruction. She is one of the strongest women I know. I walk every year in honor of her. She is my hero! Why?

Because her experience was the kick in the butt I needed to get my over due mammogram.

At that time, I was found to have intra ductal carcinoma in situ. Mine was an abnormal calcification and luckily, all I needed was a lumpectomy.

What if I had waited any longer to get my mammogram?