When talking with a friend about my breast cancer diagnosis, I commented \u201cwhy not me\u2026\u201d
\nI had a wonderful support network, I was healthy, I exercised regularly, and I was conscious
\nof how my state of mind could shape my journey, I knew I would survive this. But let\u2019s be
\nhonest, it sucked. It was scary. No one wants to get that call \u201cIt\u2019s cancer,\u201d my world flipped
\nupside down and I got ready for battle.<\/p>\n
I look back and I think if only I was more aware of what my breast density meant, I would
\nhave pushed harder, sourced additional screening. How could I have a clear mammogram
\n5 months prior and be in this position now? I learned that my breast density of C masked cancerous cells in my mammogram.<\/p>\n
My name is Carla and 2 months before my diagnosis (at age 48) I saw my doctor about
\nfirmness I would experience around my monthly cycle. She did an exam, looked at my last
\nmammogram and all seemed well, until it wasn\u2019t. I noticed a change in my nipple and my
\ngut dropped. Another visit and a very quick set of urgent appointments followed.<\/p>\n
The technician who did my urgent screening mammogram got me into an ultrasound that
\nsame morning. The ultrasound technician saw what the mammogram could not. The next
\nday the doctor doing the biopsy told me they suspected cancer, and my doctor confirmed
\n24 hours later: Stage 3.<\/p>\n
2024 I had eight rounds of chemo every 2 weeks, followed by a double mastectomy, and an
\nintense course of radiation. I was able to do cold capping and although I wasn\u2019t able to
\nmake it to my daughter\u2019s graduation ceremony, I was there after my last chemo treatment
\nfor the graduation dinner to celebrate. She was so incredibly supportive as was my son,
\nboth were so thoughtful and helpful. My husband was my rock, there for every
\nappointment, holding my hand as we waited for results like the bone scan (so hard to wait
\nfor results, but thankfully clear!).<\/p>\n
So now a year after my last radiation appointment, I sit here knowing I have raised this with
\nmy network, and my dear friends talk about how they\u2019ve talked to their friends who now
\nlook more closely at their mammogram report to check breast density. Education is key,
\nawareness is key, and I\u2019m not afraid to share my story as I know it will help others.<\/p>\n
I went back to my family doctor and upon speaking more about the journey she checked all
\nher files to see who else in her practice had C & D densities, wishing supplemental
\nscreening access was not limited in BC. So yes, why not me, because I will forever raise
\nawareness about dense breasts. I\u2019ll be on hormone therapy for many years, but I thank my
\nlucky stars my diagnosis happened when it did and that the margins were clear following
\nmy surgery. My life still got flipped upside down, my employer at the time didn\u2019t walk the
\ntalk of holding my position, but I\u2019ve learned that sometimes when things come crashing
\ndown, you\u2019re meant to build them back up in a way that serves you even better.<\/p>\n
My message to anyone reading: know your density, advocate for your rights, and send the DBC
\nadvocacy letter today to increase access for supplemental screening for women with
\ndense breasts in BC.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
When talking with a friend about my breast cancer diagnosis, I commented \u201cwhy not me\u2026\u201d I had a wonderful support network, I was healthy, I exercised regularly, and I was conscious of how my state of mind could shape my journey, I knew I would survive this. But let\u2019s be honest, it sucked. It was…<\/p>","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":98050,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[83],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-98041","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stories"],"yoast_head":"\n