INDIANAPOLIS — Amy Howard is 54-years-old and sharing the importance of getting a mammogram.
Last year, she learned she had stage 2 invasive breast cancer. The discovery came after she had missed her mammogram for six years in a row.
Howard admits, she always had an excuse.
"I'm too busy. I have to work all the time. I don't have time to schedule that. I worked in so many different places that were always so busy. And I just got used to saying in my head," Howard said. "Uh, well, you know, just didn't care. I don't know why. I don't know why that was. I don't know. But again, I I've changed drastically."
She went through chemotherapy, surgery, radiation – and then got to ring the bell at the end of her treatment.
Her doctor is optimistic about her prognosis, but understands it is common for women to have regrets for not staying up on their screening.
"Of course, 'woulda, shoulda, coulda.' We don't have that conversation at the new diagnosis. The woman has already been beating herself up that she missed her mammogram for X number of years," said Dr. Erica Giblin with Ascension St. Vincent. "That is now in the past – what happened...happened. Obviously, once again, the goal is to not be in that situation of having that happen."
That's why it is important to get back on track if you've missed a year or more on getting a mammogram.
As for Howard, she said it's been an arduous journey but has made her realize her inner strength. Now she feels like a superhero who can do anything – like helping other women survive by encouraging them to act and get an annual screening.
For more information on a screening, click here.