Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
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Shelley Osterloh reporting More than a thousand Utah women will be diagnosed this year with breast cancer. Their treatment and survival is based on how early the disease is detected.
52 year old Becky Loveless says she is grateful to have the chance to play with her grandchildren. She has a sister who was diagnosed with breast cancer ten years ago... so she was careful to get a yearly mammogram. In 2001, the radiologist discovered a tiny spot that didn't look right.
Becky Loveless, Breast Cancer Survivor: "THEY FOUND A VERY SMALL TUMOR... ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE MOON ON YOUR THUMBNAIL."
On the day this portrait was taken... she told her family she had breast cancer.
Carrie Brinton, Becky's Daughter: "THE MOMENT SHE TOLD US... I REMEMBER I GASPED AND I WAS VERY SCARED.. BUT HER NEXT WORDS WERE, IT'S SO SMALL, WE CAUGHT IT EARLY, I'M GOING TO BE FINE"
She had a mastectomy... and because the tumor was small, had only radiation instead of chemotherapy.
Shelley Osterloh, reporter: " BECKY'S CANCER WAS DETECTED EARLY.. AND NOW SHE IS CANCER FREE, BUT OTHERS ARE NOT SO LUCKY. THIS YEAR 39-THOUSAND AMERICAN WOMEN WILL DIE FROM BREAST CANCER "
Becky Loveless, Breast Cancer Survivor: "EARLY DETECTION MAKES A MAJOR DIFFERENCE IN HOW INVASIVE YOUR TREATMENTS NEED TO BE. IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN WHETHER OR NOT YOU'LL BE CURED. AND MANY WOMEN ARE BEING CURED OF BREAST CANCER THESE DAYS AND THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR WOMEN TO KNOW. "
Becky Loveless says it saddens her to hear that women are diagnosed with advanced forms of breast cancer because they put off having a mammogram. She is grateful she is not one of them
Becky Loveless, Breast Cancer Survivor: "I'M AM SO THANKFUL EVERY DAY... TO HAVE ANOTHER DAY. "
And during this month of Breast Cancer Awareness... Becky hopes her story will encourage others to be pro active in their health care and that early detection is the key to survival.
The American Cancer Society, recommends women in their 40's have a mammogram, at least every 2- years. Women over 50 should have one, every year.
