My Breast Cancer Journey: Why Early Detection is Everything

Shortly before Christmas in 2019, my doctor insisted I get a mammogram. Like a lot of women, I had been pretty relaxed about scheduling these. I was busy, healthy, and took really good care of myself. Not me, I thought.

But my doctor knew my family history. Both of my grandmothers had died from breast cancer, and my mom had barely survived her own diagnosis in 2018. She wasn’t taking no for an answer, so I went.

The week before Christmas, she called. “There are some anomalies,” she said, and they wanted me to come in for more tests. I don’t even think she used the word “biopsy.” You know, dense breasts and all. I asked if we could schedule it after the holidays. “We can see you tomorrow,” she said. In that moment, I knew.

The Importance of Early Detection

Two days before Christmas, I went to the hospital, and they took seven biopsies from different parts of my breast tissue. It’s not easy to reach some areas of the chest, so it was pretty invasive. They had to maneuver my body into all kinds of awkward positions. But everyone was so nice, gently touching my shoulder or arm—not in a creepy way, but in a “you’ll be okay” way. I could tell they knew too.

I went home, bruised and bandaged. “How was the doctor?” my husband asked. “All good,” I said. But I knew.

Here’s the thing about being a mom: we’re the pace car for the whole family. Our mood, our energy—it sets the tone for everyone. So I spent the entire holiday season doing what moms do. “All good,” I kept saying.

On January 2nd at 9 a.m., my doctor called. The kids were home, and we have a small house. Since I had a pretty good idea why she was calling, I took the call in the garage. The words I dreaded hearing: I had breast cancer. Afterward, I sat there alone and sobbed. And then, I knew it was time to finally tell my family.

I called my husband, my sister, and my closest friend, Jess. We all sobbed.

You see, my mom had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018. It was horrible and harrowing, and she almost didn’t make it. We knew firsthand what this might look like moving forward.

In March 2020, the same week the world shut down, I had a mastectomy. My husband and sister were by my side when we entered the hospital, and we left the day California shut down. We were the last group of patients allowed to have our families with us, and I’m so grateful for that.

I could go on and tell you what happened next, but I won’t. I’m here. I’m healthy. And what really happened next was a global pandemic that we all went through together. My husband lovingly jokes that I didn’t have time for cancer, and he’s right. I didn’t. We had kids to care for, aging parents to help, and our livelihoods to manage. So, like every mom across the world, I just kept going.

1 in 8 Women Are Diagnosed with Breast Cancer

But here’s what I do want you to know: Did you know that 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime? And 1 in 20 won’t survive. Before my doctor insisted on that mammogram, I had no symptoms. No lumps, no pain, nothing. The cancer would have kept spreading if we hadn’t caught it early. And not all breast cancers present as lumps. Mine was actually described as “mucus.”

There’s a good chance I would have put off that mammogram until things opened up again. Would it have been a year? Two years? I shudder to think.

Early Detection is Everything

So please, prioritize your mammograms. Early detection is everything. If you’re reading this, why don’t you call right now and get it scheduled? It only takes a minute, but it could save your life.

Prevention, prevention, prevention. There’s a reason I talk so much about food, air quality, water, fragrance, personal care products, exercise, self-care, mindfulness... the list goes on. We have to fight for our health every day in a world that doesn’t always make it easy. 

Support Breast Cancer Charities

Supporting breast cancer research and prevention is crucial. My personal favorite charity is Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, who work to find the causes and focus on prevention. Their motto is “exposing the cause is the cure.” But there are many great organizations out there that could use your support.

You can also support the cause by purchasing one of our Olivia Necklaces. I hand-make these necklaces and sell them during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, with proceeds going to Breast Cancer Prevention Partners. It’s a way to honor those we’ve lost, celebrate survivors, and contribute to the fight for prevention.