October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month—a time when pink ribbons fill our feeds and reminders to "get checked" echo everywhere.
This year, I want to share why those reminders matter. I want to tell you how a simple well check—one I almost skipped—saved my life.
It Started with a Gut Feeling
I was healthy. No symptoms, no red flags, just a gut feeling that I should go in for a check-up while my kids were getting their own well checks.
That visit changed everything.
During the exam, my doctor found a lump on my thyroid. It didn’t seem urgent—biopsy came back benign. Still, my surgeon left the decision up to me: remove it or watch and wait. I chose to remove it, even as I questioned myself and wondered if I was overreacting.
It turned out to be cancer. That decision—the one I nearly dismissed—was the first that saved my life.
Then Came the Mammogram
I was over 40 and due for a routine mammogram. No symptoms. I was feeling strong after the thyroid surgery, but that quiet voice told me to follow through.
They found a lump. The biopsy came back benign. Again—but something didn’t sit right. I got a second opinion from Dr. Jennifer Tittensor, a gifted cancer surgeon, who recommended a lumpectomy just to be safe.
That “benign” lump turned out to be an aggressive form of DCIS—grade 3. We had no idea how far it had spread. What followed was the hardest chapter of my life.
What Cancer Took—and Gave
I underwent a double mastectomy, thyroidectomy - five total surgeries in seven months, and nearly two years of treatment and recovery. The pain was unimaginable. The healing was slow. But I had the best team around me—Dr. Tittensor, Dr. Mark Jensen, and Dr. Todd Hamilton, alongside every incredible nurse and caregiver at IHC who treated me with so much compassion and dignity.
It was overwhelming. It was terrifying. And it was also life-saving.
Why I’m Sharing This
Because a mammogram saved my life.
Because early detection saved my life.
Because choosing to advocate for myself—getting a second opinion, trusting my gut, and saying yes to surgery when I didn’t have to—saved my life.
You matter. Your health matters. And when you’re used to caring for everyone else, it’s easy to let your own well-being take a back seat. But I’m here to say: don’t wait. Make the appointment. Ask the questions. Listen to your intuition. You are your best advocate.
Take the Time—You’re Worth It
You are not overreacting. You are not too busy. You are not alone.
You are worth it.
