Name: |
Cheri |
State: | Nebraska |
Date of diagnosis: |
7/25/14 |
Age at time of diagnosis: | 57 |
Stage of diagnosis: |
Stage 4 |
NORMAL mammogram: | Eight months prior to diagnosis |
How was cancer diagnosed: | Palpable lumpUltrasound |
Cheri's Story:
After discovering a lump in my breast, I went for my already scheduled annual mammogram which was NORMAL. I had annual mammograms for 15 years and was NEVER informed that I had DENSE BREAST TISSUE - not even after I reported the lump. Eight months after my NORMAL mammogram, I noticed the lump was growing and was visibly. Since my mammo was normal and I knew nothing about MY dense breast tissue, I assumed it was a blocked duct. I decided to have it checked out.
My OBGYN ordered an ultrasound and immediately, the same imaging office where my mammo 8 months prior was NORMAL, ordered biopsy which confirmed INVASIVE breast cancer with mets to lungs, lymph nodes and bones. The radiologist showed me my previous mammogram and said that I have VERY dense breasts - but because I do not have a FAMILY HISTORY no ultrasound was recommended EVEN though I had a palpable lump.
My husband and I are now advocating that women MUST be informed of their dense breast tissue. We can't help to think how different our lives would be had the radiologist told me of my dense breast tissue back in 2013.
Post Script: Cheri's Law Introduced by Senator Craighead of Nebraska One Year after Cheri's passing on January 10, 2017 to protect women of Nebraska from missed, delayed and advanced cancer and unnecessary death from breast cancer. Press Release Here.
Tragically, Cheri passed on January 10, 2016. Our hearts are broken for Cheri's husband, Bill and her family and loved ones. We are saddened that Cheri, like 40-50% of women across the globe NEVER had equal access to an Early Diagnosis because of the masking of dense breast tissue by mammography. If breast cancer screening reduces death from the disease, we must change this fatal flaw in breast cancer screening and give ALL women an opportunity to find cancer at its earliest stage.
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