Sarah is fighting began 38 years striving mammogram a few years previously recommended by the American Cancer Society.

E ‘was only as a precautionary measure.

Fibrocystic breast and his mother was diagnosed last year, 80 years old, with breast cancer very early. He fought in dense breast tissue so her gynecologist suggested that she get a mammogram basis to give a comparison of forecasts healthy future.

“For me it was like to go to the dentist,” to fight, now 50, said lives in Chevy Chase, Maryland, and her first mammogram. “I do not want to do. And uncomfortable. But I found annoying as some women find him.” He is not funny, but it quickly. ”

And it was a good thing he started early.

When he entered his annual screening at age 42, a radiologist found something of her mammogram. “Radiologist called me while I was still there, say something looks suspicious [and] we have further testing to” fight, said. She would ultrasound at this visit, and showed what looked like a node to be in the chest.

“I was shocked,” recalls the fighting. “I could not believe it. It was on Wednesday. We want to go to town on weekends.”

Today’s surprises were not over, though.

Fought that night decided to do the breast self-examination. She found that it discovered a mammogram. “So I have a lump in the context of mammography not found an account,” he said. The second block is a different quadrant of the breast first, very, very deep.

Cancer analyst Tom met two days after her mammogram. Within 30 seconds of the visit, the doctor said there was bread, jam and a half in fact – that was it.

They were sent to the needle in the afternoon. Radiologist who performed the test, said he thought it looked like cancer. It was the final approval should moisture.

“I remember the foot,” he said. “My husband was in the waiting room. We have just such a collapse.”

The diagnosis was Stage 2 breast cancer, in particular, he said that there were two tumors were different district. He later fought with a mastectomy reconstructive surgery a month.

Operation went well, but during sentinel lymph node biopsy showed microscopic evidence of metastatic potential. She also said her doctor not feel comfortable with the level of the margin between the chest wall and its tissue cancer. For these reasons, he said, has struggled to chemotherapy and radiotherapy after the surgery.

“For me, my treatment of my work was,” recalls the fighting. “My job was to undergo cancer control and treatment, which was pleasant enough.” She said she had severe burns from radiation, many of the side effects of chemotherapy, as usual, from wounds including heartburn, mouth, fatigue, hair loss.

But the treatment, he said it was worth. It still takes medication for cancer, but remained free of cancer.

“It made me realize that life is fragile,” he said said, looking back on his struggle. “Who can say how can a person’s life to turn on a dime? You have to appreciate the little things and not sweat the small stuff.”

Tom now volunteers with John Susan Komen for the Cure Breast Cancer Foundation, tells his story in hopes that more women have regular breast examinations.

“I love all the reasons why very important mammography for women 40 years,” he said. “For a few moments of discomfort or pain, you can save your life.”