Aubrey Espinoza: When Aubrey Espinoza thinks about the last two years, she can’t hold back her tears. This period is called a whirlwind by her.
Espinoza beat breast cancer and is now a happy wife and mother of two. In line with the American Cancer Society’s pessimistic predictions, she was diagnosed shockingly young, at age 30. This was a stark reminder that she is just one of thousands of women who hear the terrible news of breast cancer.
Espinoza faced the sad truth in May 2022, the most critical month. She remembers the intense emotions and thoughts that overcame her during those hard times.
She first became worried when she felt something strange and rough while nursing her baby. She was naturally concerned even after she stopped breastfeeding, and when the pain didn’t go away, she chose to see a doctor.
She said, “I noticed that this lump was just extremely hard; it wasn’t like a soft kind of tissue feeling like it was when I first noticed it.”
On the other hand, Espinoza had constant support during her journey with breast cancer. When they told her in May 2022 that she was pregnant, she was only a few weeks along with her daughter Kynlee.
At that critical moment, she became narrow-minded and resolved to get through it. Her daughter wasn’t just there to show support; she stayed with her mom through the first four rounds of chemotherapy, which were very hard.
Espinoza’s medical journey took place at the Baptist Health System. It was marked by the complicated way that surgery and treatment worked together. It was scary initially, but she got through it and came out on top. Going from having cancer to not having it was not easy for her, mostly because she was pregnant while facing it.
Dr. Morton Kahlenberg, the medical head of the Baptist Network for Cancer Care, stressed how important it is to get specialized care when dealing with breast cancer. It shows that medical technology and cutting-edge treatment methods are always getting better, which has helped more people survive.
A breast radiology expert at Baptist, Dr. Marc Erian, stresses how important it is to get regular screenings to keep your health in good shape. He says not getting a mammogram could mean missing essential puzzle parts. Early recognition is directly linked to a higher chance of therapy working.
Traditionally, women over 40 are told to get a breast cancer test once a year. On the other hand, the American College of Radiology has a new idea. All women should get a risk assessment when they turn 25. This way, doctors can figure out if early screening is needed. The goal is to find more cases like Espinoza’s when they are younger and more accessible to treat.
And Espinoza strongly believes that “If you feel something, just keep pushing until you have answers.” Survivors have a brave spirit because they keep looking for answers even when life is unclear.
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