October is designated as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Women may ask themselves, “What does that mean to me?” Or they may say, “My girls are just fine. I’m still young!” I don’t want to know. Or, I don’t have any symptoms! Well, I say, if you love your girls, check them regularly!
Last month, I wrote an article on healthy aging. I discussed the importance of getting annual medical check-ups as we age. Check-ups include self-examination and breast cancer screening. Writing from the perspective of a 65-year-old, some would think breast cancer only affects older women. Yes, as you age, the risk of getting breast cancer increases; however, the age at which someone is diagnosed with breast cancer is getting younger. Women in their 20s and 30s are being diagnosed.
I should also note that the risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer is higher if people related to you by blood (such as your mother, sister, or daughter) have had breast cancer.
To my point, my dearest friend’s granddaughter, Charisma, was diagnosed at the age of 28. I spoke with Charisma, and here is her story.
Life Interrupted
Charisma shared that in 2019, when she was 27, she began experiencing chest pain. She would take Tylenol because she thought it was that she was getting older, or the pain was attributed to the onset of her period. She didn’t pay it any mind, thinking it would go away. However, her period came and went, and the chest pain still existed. As time went on, the pain got worse.
Charisma decided it was time to seek medical attention. After multiple doctor’s visits and ultrasounds, she was informed that what she was experiencing was the result of six cysts in her right breast. Additionally, she was told, “You’re young. These things come and go. There’s no need for concern.”
Months passed, but not the pain. Charisma went to the hospital and saw a specialist who performed an ultrasound. There were no cysts, but there was a lump. From that point, a biopsy was taken, and on January 2, 2020, Charisma received the results indicating she had Triple Negative Cancer stage 2, but because of the size of the lump the cancer was identified as stage 3. Triple Negative Cancer is an aggressive form of breast cancer. It was evident a few months earlier when she was told she had cysts, but it was cancer.
The Next Steps
I asked Charisma what or who guided her treatment decision. She said that the doctor was straightforward when discussing recurrence. Although the cancer was in one breast, she made the painful decision to get both removed.
Of course, all this occurred during the height of COVID, and as Charisma showed up for chemotherapy, she was alone. She didn’t know anyone her age who had breast cancer, increasing the feeling of loneliness. During these sessions and after, she said, “I had to start thinking about things that women my age didn’t need to think about, like life after cancer, being less established, not married, no children, and life insurance.” Charisma added that “women in their 40s and 50s with the disease may be more established versus women in their late twenties, early 30s.”
Charisma’s journey wasn’t an easy one by any means. I am so proud of Charisma because she didn’t victimize herself by allowing fear to run the show. She took the cancer bully by the horns and continued to press forward towards her healing. Fast forward, 5 years later, Charisma is cancer-free!
For Your Information
According to the Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc., Breast cancer death rates in the United States have dropped by 44% since 1989. The American Cancer Society (ACS) adds that during the last decade, death rates declined similarly for women of all racial/ethnic groups across the US except for American Indians/Alaska Natives (AIANs), who had stable rates. However, Black women are still more likely to die from breast cancer than White women across the US, even though Black women have lower breast cancer incidence rates.
That’s not a coincidence. For 40 years, Breast Cancer Awareness Month has helped raise awareness of breast cancer across the nation. It has encouraged millions to take action, resulting in increased early detection and advancements in treatment that have saved more than half a million lives.
In Washington, D.C., breast cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women, with outcomes often depending on how quickly residents can access timely care. Mayor Muriel Bowser urges residents to take advantage of breast cancer screenings during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Screening can help find cancer early, when it’s easier to treat. It can save lives by lowering the chances of dying from cancer.
Early detection, patient navigation, and timely follow-up are key to saving lives, and the Bowser Administration remains committed to improving health outcomes for women in Washington, D.C.; fiscal year 2026 Grow DC Budget includes $290,000 to expand breast and cervical cancer screening activities across all eight wards. Uninsured and Underinsured DC residents are eligible for free breast cancer and cervical screenings through DC Health’s Project WISH Program. Project WISH is removing barriers and ensuring every woman in D.C. has access to timely, high-quality care.
Here are the Facts
According to The American Cancer Society, reasons why you should pay attention to your breasts when it matters most are:
- 1 in 8 women in your life will be diagnosed with breast cancer.
- Breast cancer screening is increasingly common in women under 50.
- 1 in 2 women don’t get their annual breast screenings that can catch cancer early, when it’s most treatable.
- If caught early, breast cancer patients have over a 99% survival rate.
- Women of color are more often diagnosed with an advanced stage of breast cancer.
If you’re 40 and over, make annual screenings a priority. If you’re under 40, now’s the time to find out your breast cancer risk and discuss with your doctor whether you should start screening.
Moving Forward: The Fight Continues
A cancer diagnosis does not have to put the brakes on your dreams, aspirations, and life. As a breast cancer survivor, Charisma lives her life, travels, and does what makes her happy. She added that she keeps a positive attitude and upbeat personality because being sick is miserable enough.
Every Step Counts in the Battle Against Breast Cancer. Even though Charisma may have been alone as she received treatment during COVID, she is not alone today. She has her fabulous team of doctors, family and friends who support her, as well as her special team of fellow survivors that partner with her every year at the Annual Breast Cancer Walk.
Early detection is key. Love your girls. check them regularly!
For more on Charisma’s journey, go to:
Too Young for This: The Silent Rise of Cancer in Young Adults
More Young Women are Getting Breast Cancer
For more information on Mayor Bowser’s FY26 Grow DC Budget release, visit DC Health.
For more information on Project WISH, visit Project WISH and Breast Cancer or email project.wish@dc.gov.
Featured image/photo by Angiola Harry on Unsplash.