My mom is 72 and recently been diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma breast cancer. She has been healthy all her life and looks no where near 72. Never liked going to the doctor. Making a career change to the medical field, I started to realize the importance of routine check ups, to catch things before they get out of control. I urged my mom to get a check up and a pap smear and mammogram as she has none on record. She finally went and got the pap but put the mammogram off. About six months later she noticed her nipple becoming inverted and just thought her bra or clothing was pressing on it causing it to stick inward. When a week or two went by and it was not changing she decided to go to her primary doc who immediately ordered a mammogram. It was positive. She then had her biopsy and mri and then her mastectomy. It appears that the cancer had just developed and had not spread. If she did not detect this so early her prognosis may not have been so favorable as she has a very invasive and aggresive form of cancer. I just turned 35 this year and my doctor had also advised me to get a baseline mammo and I went immediatley after learning of my mom, luckily my insurance covers it beginning age 35. She is so positve and she is still working part time to stay active and to keep her insurance. She puts on her wig everyday and her make up and dresses up and you would not even know all of what she is enduring if she didn't tell you! She is my mom and my rock. I have become stronger just watching her endure this all.

Patricia Sattaur
Orlando, FL