“I cannot stress enough how important it is to get your mammogram. And, if you think something is not right, you need to get it checked out.”
By Jacqueline Trzyna-Ciekurs’ account, “I was the healthiest person you would ever meet.” She was extremely physically active and watched her diet. Because she felt she took great physical care of herself, she admittedly neglected her mammogram for several years. Then while on a skiing trip, she felt a burning sensation in her breast and discovered a lump. Having a physical for her new job, she mentioned the lump to her doctor and was sent for additional testing. She was diagnosed with cancer which required a mastectomy followed by chemotherapy and reconstruction.
Ten months after her diagnosis, she completed her first 5K. It was an emotional milestone and an accomplishment she cherishes. “As part of my treatment, I chose to participate in a clinical trial because I wanted to lessen any chance of this recurring. I hope it never returns but I want to hedge my bets and do all that I can do to ensure that it won’t come back,” she explains.
Today, she is back to normal and as active as ever. “I am certainly more conscious about eating fresher more wholesome food and doing all that I can do to avoid cancer,” she explains. “I cannot stress enough how important it is to get your mammogram. And, if you think something is not right, you need to get it checked out.”