Breast Cancer Awareness - Local Events in Manasota | Anderson & Associates Insurance

It’s October which is widely known as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Every year, we here at Anderson and Associates like to find one survivor’s story that we can really draw from. There are so many strong breast cancer survivors among the Manatee County area, but one story in particular stuck out. This one involves 7-year breast cancer survivor, 64-year old Sharon Carlson, sharing her story with the boys on the Manatee High School Junior Varsity football team.

Carlson explained how the process works to the team of young men and went through how the doctors found the lump in her left breast that was 1.1 centimeters.

“Every year I get my mammogram done and it is stressful for me as there are 12 women in my family that have had or have breast cancer, including my younger sisters,” Carlson told the team. “I am always nervous as I wait for the results. In January 2007, I had a clear mammogram and was relieved once again. The relief was short-lived. In April of that year, I found a lump in my left breast during a monthly exam. “My breasts are lumpy. It might be easier for people with more open breasts.” But finding the bad lump wasn’t the whole story. She pointed out how agonizing the whole breast cancer process can be. From finding the lump to getting a diagnosis of cancer took more than a month. She explained to the team how she had to wait two weeks for a diagnostic mammogram after showing her regular doctor the lump. “My doctor couldn’t feel it but, because of my family history, agreed to get a diagnostic mammogram,” Carlson said. “They squish your breast into a machine and it’s not that comfortable, but it’s well worth it,” Carlson told the boys. After the diagnostic mammogram revealed something “suspicious,” Carlson had to make an appointment with a surgeon to have a biopsy of the lump, which took another one-and-a-half weeks. “Then, I had to wait another two weeks for results as the doctor was out of town,” Carlson said. The team could hear the anxiety in her voice. The players finally learned she had “estrogen-fed breast cancer. Luckily, my tumor was very small and caught very early due to my self-checking,” Carlson said. “I did, however, choose to have a mastectomy because of my family history. After the surgery, my husband and I spoke extensively to the oncologist about all the options. I was very, very lucky as there was a new test just out that could test your tumor and see if chemotherapy was necessary. I was prepared to do whatever I needed to beat this.” It took about a month to get the results from a lab in California, which showed she had a very low chance of reoccurrence and did not need chemotherapy. “Throughout this journey I have had so much love and support from my family and friends, some of whom are in this,” Carlson told the players regarding her own battle. “I think that is why I have been able to keep such a positive attitude. I never let it get me down and I knew everything would be OK. I just want to remind everyone to check your breasts every month. ””

Thanks to Richard Dymond at the Bradenton Herald for this story. You can read more here