NEW YORK STATE — Regardless of whether one is bringing a new life into the world, recovering from an unexpected injury or getting a routine health screening, residents may feel anxious checking into the hospital during a global health pandemic. However, even as the world continues to battle COVID-19, the magnitude of keeping up-to-date with routine health screenings remains just as important as it was before the coronavirus first made headlines.
Just recently diagnosed with breast cancer, New York State Senator Sue Serino (R-41) has taken it upon herself to share her diagnosis in hopes of reminding her constituents of the importance of maintaining their routine health screenings, even in these uncertain and frightening times.
It was during her scheduled mammogram in February that Serino first learned something was amiss. She said her doctors told her that they saw something during the mammogram, though she was told that it could be attributed to a fall she previously had. Keeping that in mind, Serino said she “[put] it in her head not to worry about it.” Though her biopsy was originally scheduled for March, the COVID-19 pandemic postponed the procedure until May 7. It was a good thing she didn’t wait much longer.
Serino’s cancer diagnosis came on Wednesday, May 13. She was told by her doctors that the cancer was contained but had started to break free to where the cells could travel. According to a release from her office, Serino’s official diagnosis is for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), a form of non-invasive breast cancer. Serino had a lumpectomy on Tuesday, June 2, and the surgery was deemed a success. While her doctor believes all of the cancer cells were removed, Serino said she’s been having radiation treatments to prevent other cells from spreading.
When asked whether she was scared about going into a hospital for treatment during the COVID-19 health crisis, Serino replied, “I didn’t think about it — I think because I was so confused with my thoughts about cancer, when your doctor gives you that prognosis, your world falls out. I just thought I have to get this out, I have to take care of it — I wasn’t thinking about the COVID-19.”
What especially moved Serino was the fact that, had she waited to go in for her routine health screening, the outcome may have been very different. In talking with other women who have had received the same diagnosis and are currently going through cancer treatment, Serino gained a clearer understanding of how important it is to schedule and keep cancer screening appointments. Don’t procrastinate, she warned.
“It’s just amazing, the stories that you hear,” Serino said. “I know we’ve come a long way, definitely, but you wonder if there’s even more that we can do.”
Regarding her plans to raise awareness, the senator said, “I always say our personal stories compel us forward and this is going to going to be another focus of mine.”
Driven to inspire others with her personal story and to increase awareness about keeping up with health screenings, Serino went public with her cancer diagnosis mid-July. In the weeks following her announcement, she said she’s been thrilled to learn that hundreds of people have made their appointments for their health screenings.
On Monday, July 13, Serino began her first week of radiation treatment. As announced by her office, she will be undergoing the treatments five days a week for the next four weeks, but will continue to maintain her public schedule and update the community on her progress. Even in the wake of the unexpected diagnosis, Serino has maintained her positive spirit, which she believes is key to getting healthy.
According to the American Cancer Society website at www.cancer.org, “screening tests are used to find cancer before a person has symptoms.” By going in for these tests, people increase their chances of having certain cancers detected early — when they are easier to treat.
When it comes to detecting breast cancer, the American Cancer Society recommends that women ages 40 to 44 have the choice to start their annual breast cancer screenings with x-rays of the breast (or mammograms) while women ages 45 to 54 should get mammograms every year and women ages 55 and older should either switch to mammograms every two years or continue with yearly screenings.
Emphasizing how important it is to know how their breasts normally look and feel, the American Cancer Society has urged women to immediately report any changes to their breasts to a health care provider. For those with a family history of breast cancer, a genetic tendency and other like factors, the society recommends that they be screened by a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine along with mammograms.
For more information about screening for breast cancer as well as other cancers that should be checked for regularly, including colon and rectal cancer, cervical cancer, endometrial cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer and other forms of cancer, go to the American Cancer Society website at www.cancer.org.
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July 22, 2020 at 11:03PM
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Sue Serino reveals breast cancer diagnosis: Senator urges keeping up with cancer checks - Tri Corner News
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