As October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, one survivor said the new breast cancer screening guidelines changed her life.
In April 2024, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force changed the starting age for breast cancer screening mammograms from 50 to 40.
Megan Fleming told KNX News’ Nataly Tavidian she went in for a mammogram when she was 41 years old.
“And technically, I should have gone in at 40,” she said. “With no family history and whatnot, I was diagnosed with stage two.”
Still, she believes it saved her life.
“A thousand percent. No doubt about it,” she said. “I mean, for so many women, they have to advocate for their own just kind of medical treatment sometimes, and I think just having someone to kind of be the voice and say, ‘Hey, we need to bring the age down…’ I mean, honestly, I feel like it should even go even lower to like 35. It's amazing the number of women who are getting diagnosed at a young age now when it comes to telling women who are 40 go get a mammogram.”
Fleming added that she continues to be vocal when it comes to awareness.
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“I've been incredibly vocal especially at school about women getting their mammograms because the school that my kids go to was incredible about kind of partnering with me and doing bake sales and just kind of getting awareness out,” she said.
“I think it's so important too, not just about going once but being diligent about going.”
Her 10-year-old son Jack is also a passionate advocate.
“Well, when I found out I was really sad and I wanted to do something and I wanted to tell people that they should donate, they should fund, they should help fundraise,” he said.
Her son made a video about breast cancer research, which inspired Megan’s youngest son, Max, to organize a bake sale at their school. According to Susan G. Komen, they raised nearly $2,000. The family has continued to do more fundraising, surpassing their goal of $5,000 to $11,000.
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