The Mammogram That Changed Everything: My Breast Cancer Story

Ladies, Go Get That Mammogram: Why I’m Taking My Own Story to the Mic

Welcome back to “Dishing with the DE Divah,” where we celebrate real life, real reinvention, and real Delaware pride. This week, there’s no guest in the chair. It’s just me and you, keeping it honest, because this is the one story I couldn’t let October end without telling out loud.

Last August, a routine mammogram found DCIS, Stage 0 breast cancer. I had a lumpectomy. I went through radiation. And I rang that bell. Earlier this month I wrote about my DCIS story here on the blog, but some things land differently when you hear them in someone’s own voice. So I sat down and recorded the whole thing.

The Appointment We Keep Moving

If you’re in my age group, you know the drill. The doctor’s appointment slides to the bottom of the list, under the kids, the grandkids, the job, the house, the church committee, and everybody else’s needs. We tell ourselves we feel fine. We tell ourselves next month. I’ve done it too.

In this episode, I talk about how easy it is to let our own health become the last thing on the to-do list, and why that one routine screening changed the entire trajectory of my year.

Early Detection Changes the Outcome

Stage 0 means it was caught before it had the chance to become something harder to treat. That isn’t luck. That’s exactly what a mammogram is for. It’s not a box you check once a year. It’s the tool that catches a problem while it’s still small, quiet, and manageable.

I’m not going to pretend the process was easy, and I’m not going to pretend hearing the word “cancer” next to my name didn’t shake me. But what scared me more was thinking about what could have happened if I’d put that appointment off.

What I’m Asking You to Do

– If you’re overdue for a mammogram, call and get it on the calendar this week. Not next month.
– If you’re behind on other screenings, like a colonoscopy, ask your doctor what you’re due for and book it.
– If someone you love is going through treatment, show up in practical ways. Offer a ride to an appointment, drop off a meal, or simply check in. It matters more than you know.
– Share this episode with a sister, a friend, a church member, or anyone in your circle who needs the nudge.

Your Wellness Is Worth Making Time For

I’m not sharing this for sympathy. I’m sharing it because one appointment made all the difference for me, and I want yours to be the appointment that gives you peace of mind.

Press play above to hear the full episode, and if it means something to you, pass it on to somebody who needs to hear it.

Want to read more of my journey? Check out From DCIS to Discovery: My Breast Cancer Journey and the Power of Early Detection.

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Find new episodes every Wednesday, and keep living, learning, and laughing with the DE Divah!