06/07/2026
Thank you, Holly, for sharing your story and for being an inspiration to our UFCW Local 655 family.
"Turning 40 felt like a milestone birthday. One that my primary care doctor said came with a new item on my health checklist: my first mammogram. Honestly, I almost put it off, I’m a busy mom with 2 young kids, both heavily involved in activities, a husband, 3 pets, and a full-time job. I felt perfectly healthy, and didn't have any lumps or other symptoms. It just felt like another routine check-up, something preventative but not urgent.
I went in for the screening, expecting it to be uneventful. So, when the call came asking me to come back for more tests, I was surprised, but still not overly worried. Even when they scheduled a biopsy, a small part of me thought it was just precautionary.
But then I got another call and the words "You have breast cancer" was surreal. It felt like the world tilted. I was 40, healthy, and active.
My diagnosis was Stage 1 and because it was found so early, before it had a chance to spread, my treatment path was much less aggressive than it could have been. I needed surgery and radiation and will need medication for the next 5 years for prevention of recurrence, but I avoided chemotherapy. More importantly, my prognosis is excellent, and I get to continue to enjoy my busy life with my family.
That preventive screening, the one I thought about putting off, likely saved my life or at least saved me from a much more difficult battle. It wasn't family history or a lump that led to my diagnosis; it was simply following the screening guidelines for my age.
I share my story not to scare anyone, but to empower you. Don't wait for symptoms. Don't assume it can't happen to you because you don't have a family history. Talk to your doctor about when you should start screening mammograms. Taking that proactive step, even when you feel fine, can make all the difference. Early detection turned a potentially devastating diagnosis into a manageable challenge for me. Please, don't delay your screening."