Now that I’m on the mend and feeling tons better, I wanted to write about something near and dear to my heart.  As I’ve mentioned previously, my sister, Lisa, has been battling breast cancer for quite a while.  What I haven’t explained is the history or severity of her illness.

At the age of 31, Lisa felt a small lump on her breast during a routine self-exam (something all of you ladies better be doing!).  Naturally, we didn’t think much of it – she was only 31 after all.  But, with a history of breast cancer in our family (my grandmother lost her battle over a decade ago), Lisa saw a doctor immediately.  A mammogram, ultrasound, and eventual biopsy confirmed a diagnosis of breast cancer.

She underwent a lumpectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation.  It was a hard road, but she fought it like a champ.  After her treatments were finished, she was pronounced cancer-free, each year celebrating a Cancerversary.  

Just before her five year celebration, she felt a small bump on her clavicle.  None of us really thought it could be cancer; she’d had regular check-ups every six months, which included PET scans and bloodwork.  So how could it come back so quickly?

But, it did.  More surgery, biopsy, and PET and bone scans confirmed a diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer.  The dreaded Stage IV.  I couldn’t believe it.  Sometimes, I still can’t.  I keep expecting the doctors to say “whoops, we made a mistake – it’s not cancer.”  Unfortunately, that’s not going to happen.

Lisa’s most recent tests show lots of progression to her bones and, now, her liver.  She’ll be starting a more aggressive chemo regimen ASAP, which will (hopefully) keep the cancer at bay for a while.  She’s got a great attitude about it all (far better than the rest of us), and she’ll fight as long and as hard as she can.  She recently (along with my mom) moved to Destin, FL.  A warmer climate is just what the doctor ordered.

Some days it absolutely breaks my heart to watch my only sibling go through such pain.  It’s not fair, and for some, a Stage IV diagnosis is preventable.  How?  By getting regular mammograms. 

<stepping onto soapbox for a moment>

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recently published new guidelines that consider annual mammogram screenings for women under 50 unnecessary.  This is not only wrong, it is also incredibly irresponsible.  There is a very common misconception that young women don’t get breast cancer.  These guidelines only perpetuate that misconception.  And it pisses me off.   Young women get breast cancer everyday.

I’m 35 and have been getting a mammogram every year since I was 28.  I’m lucky that I’ve got an OB/GYN who believes in “better safe than sorry.”  But, if these guidelines are adopted as a standard practice (especially in government-run healthcare), we’re going to see an increase in Stage IV diagnoses.  That is unacceptable.

So, I’d like to offer a great, big LADAdeeda “Fuck You” to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.  I dearly hope none of you ever has to watch someone you love (who is also under 50) fight breast cancer.

<stepping off soapbox>