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Back in March I shared on my Facebook page photos from my visit to Murray Hill Radiology and Mammography for my yearly mammogram. Women 40 and over should get a Mammogram done every year. I know that it can be a scary and intimidating process to go through, and I hope that by sharing my experience I can lessen some of those fears and even be a reminder to you to get yours done. Yes, I am telling you to please take the time to get your mammogram. It’s just as important to take care of yourself as you do for all of your loved ones.

One of the many things that make getting a mammogram intimidating is waiting for the results. You experience a roller coaster of emotions ranging from anxiety to fear. I too experienced these feelings, and was pushed even further emotionally when I received the results: my doctor found a few clusters that needed a closer look. While it was still too soon to draw any conclusions, my heart and mind began racing towards the worst of them. An immediate biopsy was done on one of them, and the results came back negative. Surgery would be needed in order to remove the rest. I made an appointment for the surgery and tried my best to carry on in the ‘real world’ with on-air appearances, design meetings and business appointments in the meantime. The surgery was on a Thursday, a day before my next appearance on Fashionably Early. As crazy as it sounds, after my surgery was completed I headed down to QVC and spent some quality time with Jayne & Pat.

I leaned on my friends and loved ones for support, and my QVC family was there as always. Nancy Hornback was as supportive and comforting as always; we should all be so lucky to have someone to speak to who has experience with the same challenges we face and it was a blessing to have Nancy in my corner. In addition to the emotional comfort from friends and family, I received physical comfort from my Genie Bra thanks to Meghan Murray after undergoing my biopsy. The Genie Bra was such a relief from the restrictive feeling I usually get from underwires and padding. It was wonderful to have that additional source of comfort.

 Today, I am thankful to say that the results came in the form of good news. Even after experiencing this scare, I’m still glad that I went and got screened. Early detection is vital, and regular mammograms are the best way to obtain them.

I hope that by sharing my story with you, you will feel empowered to go and get a mammogram and to encourage your loved ones to do the same. It is through open conversation that we can comfort each other, and give each other the strength to face the numerous challenges we each face in our lives.