Almost 13,000 women faced a cervical cancer diagnosis in the U.S. in 2019, the most recent stats. For good reason, January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, with emphasis on the awareness part.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017 and again in 2021. Both times, I was under 40 years old and considered to be among the 9% of women under 45 who were diagnosed.
I thought I was “too young,” “too health-conscious,” and “too busy” for breast cancer. I was a mom of four with an infant the first time I was diagnosed. I exercised every day, ate a mostly organic and healthy diet, didn’t smoke, and rarely drank alcohol. My BRCA genetic testing was negative, and at the time, I had no history of breast cancer in my biological family.
In essence, I shouldn’t have become part of the one in eight women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in her lifetime. But cancer doesn’t play favorites. Cancer shows up when it pleases, often without regard for a woman’s schedule, education, income level, race, motherhood status, or career goals.
Just because you are deemed "healthy" in the eyes of society and in the medical community, you absolutely must still do your annual cancer screenings. The 13,000 new cervical cancer patients are real women with real lives. According to MD Anderson, one of the best cancer treatment facilities in the world, there are routine screenings women of “average” cancer risk need to be aware of.
Starting in your early twenties, you need a pap test to check for cervical cancer. At 40, you need a yearly breast exam and mammogram to screen for breast cancer. If you’re 50 or older, you need a standard colonoscopy every decade.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, skin cancer is also quite common. The organization shares that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. They recommend “regular self-skin exams” as well as “regular examinations by a dermatologist” who can do a skin check to help patients find “early skin cancers.”
As a busy mom, I'm sure you think you don’t have time for cancer screenings. But if you don’t make time for your health, you may be forced to. Getting screened early and often (or as recommended based on your health status and history), can make a life or death difference.
Costs can hinder some women from being screened. Luckily, there are traveling mammogram vans offering free or low-cost mammograms, free dermatology screening clinics, and facilities that offer no- or low-cost cervical cancer screenings. Do your research. Reach out to local hospitals and ask what they offer.
Take it from me, a two-time breast cancer survivor: You are your own best health advocate. Don’t procrastinate when it comes to important cancer screenings.
*Disclaimer: The advice on Mom.com is not a substitute for consultation with a medical professional or treatment for a specific condition. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem without consulting a qualified professional. Please contact your health-care provider with questions and concerns.
