after difficult treatments that included a double mastectomy, months of chemotherapy and radiation, cosgrove says she is confident if she had been given a mammogram when she initially asked for one, her cancer would have been discovered significantly earlier and that would have meant less harsh treatment.
dr. jean seely, head of breast imaging at the ottawa hospital and professor at uottawa’s faculty of medicine, said she is delighted with this week’s announcement. ‘i have been advocating for this for over 20 years. this is going to save lives.’
julie oliver
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postmedia
“i feel pretty strongly that i probably wouldn’t have had to go through chemotherapy if the screening was open.”
she and other patients, and advocates applauded ontario’s move this week.
“it is overdue, but really a welcome announcement,” said ottawa’s carolyn holland, 45, who was also diagnosed with breast cancer in her 40s. “my hope is this will mean many women in their 40s will not go through what i went through.”
when she was 43, holland discovered lumps in both breasts. her doctor’s first assessment was that it was probably not breast cancer, in part because of her age.
despite that, she sent holland for testing, which, after months-long waits, revealed she had two different types of cancer, including invasive ductal carcinoma in the left breast.
holland began chemo immediately and then, after eight sessions, underwent a double mastectomy and removal of some lymph glands. she later underwent radiation treatment and remains on the drug tamoxifen, which is a hormone suppressant aimed at preventing a recurrence.