CINCINNATI (WKRC) – We’ve continued sharing concerns from health care providers about getting care for medical needs not related to COVID-19 in recent weeks.
Breast cancer survivor, Gretchen Hooker, said when it comes to breast cancer care, waiting could have cost her her life.
“It was just a routine mammogram,” said Hooker. “The first one I had at 40 was clean. The second one showed some DCIS.”
DCIS, or ductal carcinoms in situ, is the presence of abnormal cells inside a milk duct in the breast. At a Facebook Live education event at TriHealth’s Thomas Center, she told us, “It was the early detection what’s putting me on the right path right now.”
Hooker had surgery and continued treatment throughout this pandemic.
“I think it’s definitely a different experience for cancer patients,” said Hooker. “Now with COVID, it's a different experience for everybody. I've felt very at peace throughout this entire diagnosis through where I am today.”
Much of that peace, she said, came from finding her cancer early, which is why she is asking women to schedule a mammogram, if needed, now. Especially if they have noticed breast changes or delayed that screening test.
“For a while, we were completely shut down for those screening mammograms,” said Kelli Bothe, a breast health nurse navigator at TriHealth. “I think that was a big concern of all of our staff. When we eventually started up, that we were going to find things that were a little more progressed than we would have. That was a huge concern.”
If you’re not sure who to contact because you’ve noticed a change, especially related to breast care, you can start with your primary care doctor, a women’s health specialist or you can call the mammography center at TriHealth at 513-569-6777 to schedule a mammogram.
