‘I never thought I’d get cancer’
February is National Cancer Prevention Month. It is vitally important to pay attention to this. Why? Because you really do not want to get cancer. I know because last June I was diagnosed with Stage 2A breast cancer.
Like many women, I had delayed my mammogram for a few months because of COVID concerns. I never thought I’d get cancer. After all, I’m not that old (56 years old now) and I lead a healthy lifestyle. But cancer is wily, sometimes it affects people who are otherwise healthy, and it’s far too common. One in eight women in America gets breast cancer. And in Connecticut alone, an estimated 22,810 people will be diagnosed and 6,400 will die of cancer this year. These are scary numbers. The important thing to remember is that 50 percent of cancer diagnoses and about 50 percent of cancer deaths can be prevented! And early detection is a key part of the strategy to keep people healthy.
You could say I was lucky with that. One warm spring night in June, I woke up, shifted my body position, and felt a pea-sized lump in my left breast. It was a terrifying moment. The big C word loomed in front of me. I tried to pretend that I didn’t feel that lump. The temptation to deny its existence was huge. I went immediately to get that delayed mammogram and it confirmed that the lump was Stage 2A breast cancer, a fairly early stage of cancer. The treatments I’ve been given, even for this early stage cancer, have been really hard on my body and soul. In my case, both have been irreparably changed by the chemo, immunotherapy, surgery, and radiation. And the more advanced the cancer, the more challenging the treatments. It would have been much easier if I had found out earlier, if I’d gotten my mammogram on schedule.
In addition to screenings, vaccines can also prevent certain cancers. The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine can ultimately protect against at least six types of cancer and could prevent nearly all cervical cancer cases. It is recommended for girls and boys ages 9-12; teens and young adults up to age 26 can receive a catch-up series. Hepatitis B, which is a leading cause of liver cancer, can also be prevented with a vaccine. The vaccine is usually given at birth with the series completed at six to 18 months. Children up to age 18 and adults at high risk should also receive the vaccine if they have not already received it.
And finally, a healthy lifestyle goes a long way to reducing the likelihood that you’ll get cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 18 percent of cancer cases and 16 percent of cancer deaths are attributable to the combined effects of excess body weight, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, and consuming an unhealthy diet. As a member of the bipartisan Prevent Cancer Foundation’s Congressional Families Cancer Prevention Program, I am sharing my personal story and highlighting this vital information to urge you to take preventative action. Make an appointment with your health care provider today to get your recommended cancer screenings and vaccinations against certain viruses. If you want to learn more, please visit www.preventcancer.org.