A few uncomfortable seconds during a mammogram can save your life, breast cancer survivor Samantha Fouts, RT, RDMS, RVT, said.
Fouts, an ultrasound/vascular lab supervisor at TidalHealth Peninsula Regional, encourages women to not only get their annual mammograms, but also to do their self-examinations. For those worried about getting their mammogram done, she suggests going with a friend. Make a day of it and go to lunch or shopping afterward.
Fouts wasn’t due for her annual mammogram until May when she found a lump in her breast in February that turned out to be breast cancer.
It was 2020, so she had to go through treatment — a double mastectomy and then chemotherapy — without family or friends there in person because of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, she made connections with other survivors through a large group chat.
Fouts also was able to communicate with people virtually, and the infusion nurses made her feel comfortable in-person.
With many treatments and medications available, breast cancer is almost always treatable if caught early. If invasive breast cancer is localized to the breast, the five-year relative survival rate is more than 99 percent, according to the American Cancer Society.
“It’s not a death sentence,” Fouts said. “You have to stay strong and beat it.”
Fouts recommends giving yourself a better chance to fight cancer by doing regular screenings — not just mammograms, but other recommended screenings, like colonoscopies.
You can make a difference
Help save lives in our community by supporting the Sheila Zimmer Breast Screenings Fund. Created in memory of Sheila Zimmer, a Salisbury native who bravely battled breast cancer twice after a lifetime of giving back to others, this fund helps provide access to life-saving breast screenings and care up to diagnosis for patients in need. Through this effort, Sheila’s legacy of compassion and generosity will continue to touch lives.
Visit the TidalHealth Foundation page to support and help continue Sheila’s legacy.
