Nancy can personally speak to the power of early detection. She was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer on a screening mammogram in November 2020. She was no stranger to screening mammography, though; it had been a regular part of Nancy’s life since she was 34 years old, when she was diagnosed with a fibrocystic condition of the breast.
“Sometimes I think fear holds us in place and causes us to avoid taking actions that scare us. When it comes to preventive cancer screening, that just simply isn’t acceptable. Decades of research show that early detection saves lives, and there are scientifically backed tests to find cancers early. What a gift! As a breast cancer survivor, I want everyone to hear my direct message: Just do it! Push the fear aside and be proactive with your cancer screening because early detection saves lives.”
She says she is incredibly grateful that her cancer was caught in its earliest stages, when it was most treatable. She underwent a lumpectomy of the right breast, followed by five treatments of prone, accelerated partial-breast irradiation (APBI) to reduce the risk of recurrence. APBI is an option for women with certain types of early-stage breast cancer and others the benefit of highly focused therapy in a shorter time.
Nancy says having her radiation therapy in a shorter, higher-dose regimen was helpful in getting her back to normal life faster — and reducing trips to the hospital during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
When her daughter asked her what she would like for Christmas, Nancy said she wanted just one thing for the rest of her life: for her daughter, then age 40, to get her annual screening mammogram. Nancy takes every opportunity to encourage people in her life to get timely cancer screenings — breast, colon, prostate, skin and lung, if applicable.
“Early detection saves lives, and I feel so very fortunate to have benefited from this in my own life,” she adds.
Nancy stays busy as a professor emeritus in The Ohio State University Department of Human Sciences. She teaches part time in the freshman seminar program in Ohio State’s College of Arts & Sciences, and she conducts research on human behavior specifically related to culture, body image and personal aesthetics. She enjoys spending time with her family, which includes her husband, three adult children and five furry feline friends.
Why cancer screening should be a priority, despite pandemic
Data from the American Cancer Society and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network — two leading cancer organizations — shows a concerning and significant drop in recommended cancer screening and treatment in 2020 compared to previous years. Experts say this side effect of the pandemic could lead to a staggering number of preventable cancer deaths over the next 10 years and beyond. Oncology experts agree that people should not delay any necessary prevention or care.
“We have reliable cancer screening tools available for colorectal, cervical, breast and prostate cancer, as well as lung cancer screening protocols for individuals who are at increased risk for this disease, based on smoking history. It is so important that people continue to get timely cancer screenings to improve chances of detecting cancer in its earliest — if not precancerous — stages,” says David E. Cohn, MD, MBA, a gynecologic oncologist and chief medical officer at the OSUCCC – James.
“The last thing we want is for people to avoid seeking medical help and to present with advanced-stage disease that is more difficult to treat,” adds William Farrar, MD, a surgical oncologist and CEO of the OSUCCC – James.
Cancer screening and diagnostic testing information
Cancer screening exams are available through The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James) and can be made by calling 1-800-293-5066.
In addition, the OSUCCC – James has launched a Cancer Diagnostic Center to give individuals direct, expedited access to diagnostic testing for cancer. The goal is to provide immediate, community-wide patient access to cancer providers for anyone with a suspected cancer, especially in communities where access to health care is limited and has become even more challenging during the COVID-19 pandemic. To learn more, visit cancer.osu.edu/diagnosticcenter.
“Every day, we work to make our hospitals and clinics a safe haven for our patients to obtain cancer care,” says Cohn.