In Sandra's Shoes

Whenever I get a chance to talk to a group of women about health care, I emphasize that early detection of breast cancer is the key to saving lives.

Last Saturday, I talked with women attending the Camden County Women's Health Fair, an annual event that has lots of vendors and workshops on all aspects of physical and mental health.

I talked about life lessons I learned over the last year as I went through treatment and recovery from breast cancer.

The best part came at the end of my speech when a woman came up to me and said she he'd had a biopsy done but hadn't followed up. After listening to me, she planned to follow up.

That made my day. One more woman who is taking care of herself and will fight to continue to be there for her family.

As I told the women attending the conference, life is good.

Whenever I run into a friend or colleague I haven't seen for several months, they ask about my health and whether or not I'm feeling okay. And I do appreciate it. And for the record, I feel great.

But one woman hesitated a little longer today to tell me she had just visited the doctor. She seemed to be feeling a little guilty because it had been about 10 years. She knew it was too long and felt very lucky that she was given a clean bill of health.

I remembered she had told me months earlier she was going to get a mammogram after learning I had breast cancer and she had finally had followed up on that promise.

I'm glad you went, I said. Just keep following up. And don't wait another decade.