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My Journey of Strength and Perseverance!

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My Journey of Strength and Perseverance!

There are so many things that are scary during this pandemic: how is the virus transmitted? What if I have no symptoms but I came into contact with someone who tested positive? What if people around me won’t wear a mask?

All of these fears can lead people to decide not to attend their annual doctors appointments for mammograms, colon health, dentistry and yearly doctor visits.

Don’t skip these important health checks! Recently I was diagnosed with breast cancer. The way I found out was with a rescheduled mammogram, having missed my yearly March mammogram due to COVID-19.

I preface this by mentioning that I’ve never been in better muscular shape in my life, while approaching my 55th birthday. I continued my four times per week weightlifting at my house throughout the COVID lockdown. An in-fit body test confirmed my evaluations of my muscle and water results.

After my mammogram, the radiologist asked for a follow up sonogram. I’ve had a mass in my left breast for several years that never threw up a red flag through these yearly mammograms. I have dense breast tissue, which makes the mammograms more difficult to read. After the sonogram they said they wanted a biopsy. I figured they were just being overly cautious. They took 5 samples and determined I had Invasive Lobular Cancer.

I am adamant about my yearly pap smears and mammograms. I even had a diagnostic mammogram two years ago. But lobular cancer is ‘sneaky’ and often doesn’t show up during routine mammograms. We are treating the cancer aggressively, and with the help of a top-notch doctor team and the love and support that I’ve received from my family and friends, I know I will prevail. Why am I sharing such a personal trauma? Because if people push back or skip routine checks for health conditions, their issues may go unresolved or possible get worse.

Ned Sharpless, head of the National Cancer Institute, wrote an article in the journal Science on the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on cancer. Sharpless said that fear of contracting the virus has dissuaded people from getting screening, diagnosis and treatment for non-COVID-19 diseases.

“There has already been a steep drop in cancer diagnoses in the United States since the start of the pandemic, but there is no reason to believe the actual incidence of cancer has dropped,” Sharpless wrote. “Cancers being missed now will still come to light eventually but at a later stage (‘upstaging’) and with worse prognoses.”

The need to address people’s fears, especially older adults, is critical to remaining on top of disease before it gets more severe! Sharpless added that the institute’s analysis of excess cancer deaths is conservative and doesn’t factor in other cancer types. He also said that the effects could be less severe in parts of the country with a shorter or less extensive lockdown.

Many doctors have virtual appointments available that can help you evaluate your risks and come up with a plan that is COVID safe and helps promote better long term health.

I wish a year of health and wellness for us all.

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