Living Proof: A Mammogram Can Save Your LifeAfter nearly two decades of working with breast cancer patients and survivors, she admits she should have known better. But 71-year-old Little Rock resident Patsy Thurman had a feeling something was wrong, so she did something that millions of women do. She put off her annual mammogram. “I decided I didn’t want to know,” she said. Thurman was working for Baptist Health’s Breast Center and Women’s Resource Center, and volunteering for the American Cancer Society, working with breast cancer patients and survivors. So six months after her mammogram was due, she had a little talk with herself and decided it was high time she faced her fears and got that mammogram. Sure enough, her “feeling” was right on target. The mammogram revealed a small mass that turned out to be cancer. The "C" word: Conquerable“It was about as big as the end of my little finger,” Thurman said. Luckily — and thanks to her timely change of heart about getting a mammogram — the tumor was treatable. A core biopsy showed that her cancer was in the early stages, and she wasted no more time. “I just said, this is what is happening and I’m not going to let it dominate my life,” Thurman said. “I went in for my mammogram on a Thursday afternoon. On Friday, I had a core biopsy to be sure what type of cancer it was, because there are many different kinds and stages of breast cancer. I went to a surgeon and actually had my surgery on Monday morning, and I went back to work the following Friday.” She had a lumpectomy, which involves removing the mass and the surrounding tissue but leaving the rest of her breast intact. She had five lymph nodes removed to see if the cancer had spread; it hadn’t. She also had 32 radiation treatments, but did not have to undergo chemotherapy. Life after cancerToday, she is a three-year survivor and a gently outspoken believer in breast care and women’s health. Though she calls herself “semi-retired,” she is an active volunteer for the American Cancer Society and works two days a week at Baptist Health Medical Center’s Women’s Resource Center, which offers a wide range of services and products for women. She stays active and walks up to 10 miles a week to keep fit, upbeat and full of energy. She has a husband and two grown children with families of their own in Little Rock, and she enjoys spending time with them. Thurman advises women and girls of all ages to learn about breast health, do monthly breast self-examination and keep up with the recommended guidelines for getting mammograms. She advises selecting a good breast center and sticking with that center year after year if possible. Men can get breast cancerThurman is quick to remind men that they also need to be aware of changes in their own breasts, because men can get breast cancer, although it is fairly rare. Men can also remind the women they love to check their breasts and get their mammograms. In fact, Thurman pointed out that in many cases, men find lumps in their wives’ breasts and encourage them to seek treatment. Follow up and keep livingThurman is well aware of the risk that the cancer could return, and she sees her doctors regularly to make sure any recurrence is caught early. “Of course, there’s no guarantees that there won’t be a recurrence. That’s a little disconcerting if you let yourself stop and dwell on it, but I try to stay positive and do positive things,” she said. “There’s people in so much worse circumstances than mine have been. I have to be thankful every day that I’ve come this far.” Medicare coverageIf you’re age 40 or older and on Medicare, your annual mammograms are paid for. You can also get a baseline mammogram between ages 35 and 39. (Medicare only pays for Medicare enrollees.) Medicare also covers digital mammograms. Breast care resources American Cancer Society •www.cancer.org/docroot/lrn/lrn_0.asp (breast cancer section) •1-800-ACS-2345 (1-800-227-2345) •501-664-3480 Examples of American Cancer Society’s breast cancer programs: •Look Good, Feel Better •Bosom Buddies National Cancer Institute •www.cancer.gov/cancer_information/cancer_type/breast/ (breast cancer section) •1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237) •TTY 1-800-332-8615
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