To the Editor:

As most of us know October was Breast Cancer Awareness month, and I wanted to follow up by sharing my story with other women.

When I first became established with Dr. Andrew Janssen, he requested that I have a mammogram. I can still clearly remember him writing this down on a slip of green paper which I put in my purse and tried to ignore for about a month. But every time I opened my purse this green slip of paper seemed to jump out at me.

I must admit that I felt guilty. I felt as though I was betraying my doctor and his request. After all, doctors spend many years training and learning how to save our lives and we need to respect this. Finally I “bit the bullet” and went in for my mammogram which came back abnormal. After an ultrasound and a biopsy, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.

My first thoughts were, “This can’t be happening to me,” “Gosh, I thought I was invincible,” but none of us are.

If you haven’t had your mammogram, please do so. Breast cancer doesn’t “get better” nor does it just “go away.” It has to be treated.

Every day I thank God for tapping me on the shoulder every time I opened my purse and saw that slip of green paper. In my heart I know for sure that Dr. Andrew Janssen, Dr. Keith Thomas and a mammogram saved my life. Hopefully my story will save someone else’s.

Nancy Morgan

Long Creek