As an extremely active, healthy and ?young? 42-year-old single woman, I felt nothing could stop me. That changed when I read the words on my online Alberta Health portal: Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, at that moment, my entire world came crumbling down.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer at 42 years old in October 2023, but the circumstances surrounding how I was diagnosed were a complete fluke (or divine intervention?) I want to tell my incredibly positive story on how ?early? screening detected my aggressive breast cancer early.

My regular doctor was on maternity leave and at my yearly check-up the fill in doctor insisted that I go for a mammogram. Like many other women, I had zero breast cancer in my family, so I did not think I had to get a mammogram until 50? That wonderful doctor said ?I firmly believe the guidelines should be over 40, so I am sending you for one.? I do have to point out that my regular GP followed screening guidelines to a fault; therefore, I had never been sent for a mammogram, as the Alberta guidelines were 50.

One month later, after 2 scans and a biopsy, I was diagnosed with Stage 1, triple positive, Invasive Ductal Carcinoma Breast Cancer. I had a lumpectomy December 2023, the tumor was 11mm, 1.1 cm and no lymph nodes were involved. Even though they found it very early, because I was HER2+, I would need chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapy. I had 12 rounds of chemo, 5 rounds of hypo-fractionated radiation, 17 Herceptin and 5 -10 years of Tamoxifen.

I consider myself lucky to have found it before even finding a lump, especially since HER2+ is such an aggressive form of cancer. Even luckier that with dense breasts, somehow that little 1.1cm mass showed up on the mammogram. Because of that one doctor?s beliefs and perhaps some guardian angels looking out for me, it was found at Stage 1.

I want to help spread the word and help make the change so that the guideline starts at 40 across Canada and increase awareness about dense breasts. I also want to help women advocate for themselves, not only for screening, but also for treatment and care. I believe if you do not advocate for yourself, you will fall through the cracks.

DBC Note: Cynthia, thank you so much for your willingness to share your story- it truly shows the importance of screening in the 40s and early detection. We are very grateful for your help with advocacy to get the screening age lowered from 45 to 40 in Alberta. Let’s get it done! Thank you.