In 2000, I was blindsided with a stage 1 breast cancer diagnosis. I never in a million years worried about breast cancer. I had always been active.  I was one of those people that actually went to the gym 3-4 times a week.  I ran. Heck, sometimes I would run in New York City’s Central Park in the morning and take a cardio class after work. Yes, I enjoyed two-a-days. Working out made me feel good. Plus, I had stopped eating steak and pork in 1997. From a health standpoint, I thought I was doing everything right.  

Wrong. 

Most of the time no matter what you do, crap just might happen.  Rest assured you will never be ready for bad news.  When bad things happen it always blindsides its victims. I guess I never even thought about getting breast cancer. I did not think I was a candidate for it. I supported and empathized with women who were battling the disease; but I never considered that I would get breast cancer; especially, at such a young age.

Breast cancer did not run in my family. I falsely believed that since it did not run in my family, I would not get it. 

 Fact:   American Cancer Society says 85% of women diagnosed have no family history. 

I was so blindsided that I was searching for a reason that I got it; so, I had the gene testing. 

 Fact:   Breastcancer.org says that about 5-10% of breast cancers can be linked to known gene mutations inherited from one’s mother or father. Mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are the most common.

 I was negative for BRACA1 and BRACA2 gene mutation.  Okay, that was not it!

When I was diagnosed, I was younger than the recommended age to get your first baseline mammogram   The current recommended age for a mammogram is 40 years old. I was younger than that when I was diagnosed. 

 Fact:   Cleveland Clinic reports that approximately 5% of women with breast cancer are diagnosed before the age of 40.

My doctors recommended a lumpectomy. I was apprehensive and considered a mastectomy. They told me that it was not necessary. I followed their recommendation. It took me a good year to feel comfortable about my decision. A friend helped me. She said she was grateful that she had a lumpectomy. I thought that is a good way to be … grateful. 

The cancer diagnosis I received in 2000, blindsided me.  It can happen to anyone. Do your manual exams each month; and, not only schedule your annual mammogram – follow through on the appointment!  If you have dense breast tissue, get an ultrasound too. Do not be afraid. Please take active care of your breasts. Early detection matters. 

Sonya Ruff Jarvis, a life-long marketer, has been a corporate executive, bible study teacher, organizer of events with tens of thousands attendees and now a successful small business owner. And through all of this, Sonya has run the New York City Marathon, survived breast cancer and created an innovative business-to-business customer relationship model. She and her husband live in Connecticut with their daughter and their Havanese dog, Sadie, who completes their family.