Kalie Adler, radiologist and breast imaging specialist at St. Unfortunately, it’s only becoming more common. In the field for more than 30 years, Dugan-Laemmle has witnessed the ways breast cancer impacts every life, but especially women in their 40s. And I think to myself, what would happen if they didn’t start their mammogram at 40, if those ladies wouldn’t have came in, their diagnosis would’ve been completely different. So if we can intervene early, that is the best offense,” said Ella Dugan-Laemmle, Breast Health Navigator and psychotherapist for breast cancer patients at St. “In the last 10 days here at the center, we’ve diagnosed 10 people with breast cancer, three of them were under 45 years old. Making an appointment to be screened without any symptoms can be a lifesaver.Īccording to The Society of Breast Imaging, annual screening starting at the age of 40 saves approximately 6,500 more women’s lives each year in the U.S., than screening every other year starting at 50. I didn’t want to mess with it, I wanted the cancer out and immediately,” Lefever said. “I have five kids and whenever you have five kids, you don’t play around. It’s something she always told herself she would do if she was ever diagnosed with breast cancer. Lefever was able to skip chemotherapy and opted to have a double mastectomy. “The fact that I went in when I did, it changed everything for me. My treatment was easier because I went in,” Lefever said. The wife and mother of five has been going in for her mammogram every year since she was 40. That shock came to Lefever last year when she was 43. “When I went in for mine, it was a shock because I didn’t have any symptoms and I couldn’t feel a lump and I don’t think I would’ve been able to feel a lump for a long time,” Lefever said. The chances greatly increase when they reach their 40s to 1 in 65. Owens, a wife and mother to two boys, was diagnosed in March of 2021 when she was 40.Īccording to the website, women in their 30s have a 1 in 204 chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer. My primary care physician Dr. Malody recommended I do a screening once I turn 40. “I didn’t have any symptoms, I didn’t have any reason to be suspicious. Owens and Lefever are complete strangers, both in their 40s and giving the upper hand to breast cancer thanks to early detection. “You think of getting a cancer diagnosis, it’s something that happens to other people, and it’s scary,” said Kim Lefever, 44, who is also receiving care at St. I think that’s a hard thing because it’s something that happens to other people until it happens to you,” said Becky Owens, 41, and a patient at St. “It’s not something I don’t think anybody really imagines they’ll ever get cancer. BILLINGS – As Breast Cancer Awareness month comes to an end, two local women are sharing their experience with the importance of early screenings and detection.
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