LANCASTER, Pa. — Thursday, Oct. 18 is National Mammography Day and doctors are reminding women how important it is to schedule annual mammograms.
“I think I was saved because of early screening, “said Jolie McMullen, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in October of 2021.
She says she didn’t feel any lumps in her breasts before her exam, but her mammogram picked up what was yet to show up on the surface.
“I thought that I was dying because it had metastasized from the breast into my lymph node and my armpit,” said McMullen.
Staff at UPMC says it’s common for women to not think they will get a breast cancer diagnosis at an early age.
But Dr. Abby Geletzke, a breast surgical oncologist, says it does happen.
“Breast awareness is so important. And by that, I mean, just having a good idea of what your natural breast is so that you would notice things, a change like a mass, a skin change, new nipple inversion, or discharge,” said Dr. Geletzke.
Dr. Geletzke says there are ways to prevent breast cancer, and no one is too young to start protecting themselves from the disease.
“Some of the easiest things to do are maintaining a healthy diet, having a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, avoiding alcohol and tobacco and being active,” said Dr. Geletzke.
Her former patient, McMullen, who is now cancer-free, says her husband and mother died from cancer.
Which was another reason for her to stay up to date on screenings.
McMullen says regardless of family history, early mammograms are necessary.
“A lot of people say they don’t like it because it’s uncomfortable, but it’s just a short amount of time that you’re uncomfortable, to you know save your life,” said McMullen.
The American Cancer Society says women can begin early screenings at the age of 40 and begin scheduling yearly mammograms between the ages of 45 and 55.