Listen to Your Body

It’s #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth — a cause that’s incredibly close to my heart. I lost my beloved aunt to this awful disease, and just this month… I had my own scare.

I wasn’t going to share this story. But if it encourages even one woman to be more proactive about her health, then it’s worth it.

Let’s start from the beginning. I have dense breasts. I’ve known this for 25 years, but many women don’t — and that’s part of the problem. Your doctor can tell you if you do.

Last fall, my incredible breast surgeon — who has been following me for years — looked at me and said, “I want to make sure we’re not missing anything with mammogram and ultrasound alone. I’d like to order a breast MRI.”

He reassured me that MRIs can sometimes lead to false positives — and sure enough, that’s exactly what happened. A few days later, I went for an ultrasound. All clear. The plan: repeat the MRI in six months as a follow-up.

Fast forward to September. Follow-up MRI. Another callback. This time, a mammogram — and then came the words no woman ever wants to hear from a radiologist: “I’d like to order a biopsy. We don’t see any mass, but there’s a spot we’d like to check. I think it’s just fibrocystic changes, but the only way to know for sure is to sample the tissue.”

Holy sh*t. I was scared. Really scared.

Two weeks ago, I went for an MRI-guided biopsy with contrast — IV and all — with my husband and mom by my side. Try lying face-down with your breast compressed for 45 minutes while a needle samples tissue. Not exactly my idea of fun.

Then came the waiting. Nine long days. I leaned into every tool I teach and practice — meditation, self-talk, visualization, and a whole lot of deep breathing.

And then, last past Friday, the call I’d been praying for:

“You’re perfect. No cancer. It’s what we thought — fibrocystic. Go live your life. We can stop bothering you.”

I cried. I cried so hard. Tears of pure relief.

Feeling your boobs saves lives. Or in my case, having a doctor air on the side of caution also does. If you have dense breasts, even more important to be vigilant.

So here’s my message to you: Know your body. Know your breasts. Get checked. Advocate for yourself. Don’t wait. Early detection truly saves lives.