JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Amy Terry never expected a routine mammogram to change her life.
Terry, in her mid-40s, was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer in 2022. The diagnosis meant chemotherapy, radiation and surgery — a treatment course she described as “very terrifying.”
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“I was diagnosed in 2022 after a routine mammogram, and I was blindsided by the results,” Terry said. “Being and dealing with breast cancer, you hear the word ‘fight’ a lot. Once I gave myself permission to lean into the process of healing and letting the medications do what they were targeted to do, I feel like it became a little easier for me to wrap my head around.”
Terry said her experience has convinced her that women should start screening earlier.
According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 27,000 women under 45 were diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States in 2022.
“Even since my diagnosis, I just feel like it’s becoming younger and younger,” she said. “I definitely think that women need to start getting scanned a lot earlier in age.”
Now in remission, Terry uses her experience to help others.
She volunteers with the Donna Foundation and advocates for women to take charge of their health, encouraging routine screening and supporting patients through treatment decisions.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time when survivors, advocates and health organizations promote early detection and support services for people affected by the disease.