After my dear mom passed from breast cancer in 1988, I have diligently had mammograms each year. This past year I kept being called back to the Imaging Center every 3-4 months for another mammogram on my right breast. In December I was notified that I needed to have my left breast examined also before the year ended. While there, the technician decided to take a picture of the right side again. I'm so thankful that she did. The following week I received a call stating I needed to come in for a biopsy. Since we were going away for three weeks over Christmas, when I returned I went in for the biopsy. Several days later, my primary doctor called to tell me it was cancer, and that she would make an appointment for me with a surgeon. The end result was that, on February 17th of this year, I had a lumpectomy. A small estrogen-fed tumor was found in my right breast, plus cancer in two of my lymph nodes. I have healed very nicely and will see the radiologist tomorrow. He will then determine the amount of radiation I will need for treatments. When those treatments are finished, I will be taking a cancer pill probably for rest of my life! As I am now 80 years of age, there will be no chemotherapy, for which I am grateful! A N D, I have become a very enthusiastic spokesperson for yearly mammograms! Just ask my family - daughters, daughters-in-law, and granddaughters as well. Because of the mammograms, my cancer was found before it became more invasive, and for that I am truly thankful!

Muriel Haedike
Dunnellon, FL