A relative of mine was diagnosed with breast cancer, and I have had the privilege of accompanying her on her journey. I saw the uncertainty that comes with a diagnosis, the difficult decisions that follow and the toll treatment can take.  

But what stands out most is her courage.  She opened up about  the hardest parts: the fear, the moments of feeling terrible, and the concern about how her illness would affect the people she loved. She spoke openly about the challenges of body image and the ways treatment can change how you see yourself.  Through it all, she has faced the reality of it with strength, determination and an incredible resilience that I will never forget.

Her experience also reinforced something I believe deeply in: early detection matters. In her case, it helped to save her life.

For women ages 40 to 74, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends a mammogram every two years. For women over 75, screening is more individualized and should take into account overall health, life expectancy, prior screening and personal preferences. The American Cancer Society recommends continuing screening as long as a woman is in good health and expected to live at least another 10 years.

Navigating cancer is hard. 

People facing cancer need people in their lives who are willing to accompany them, to lean in, listen honestly, show up consistently and remain present even when there are no easy answers.  

And the same is true for patients living with other serious medical conditions like advanced congestive heart failure, COPD, and dementia.

This is one of the reasons the work we do at ConcertoCare matters so much to me.

Caring for older adults isn’t just about treating the conditions they already have. It is about seeing the whole person, staying ahead of health risks and making sure important primary and secondary preventive care doesn’t get lost in the complexity of the healthcare system. That includes cancer screening. And it includes supporting patients and families when they are facing a serious diagnosis.

I recently did a ride-along with one of our Advanced Practice providers and watched how she comforted a patient with a range of other medical conditions as she processed a new cancer diagnosis. Our ConcertoCare provider knew when to listen, when to offer comforting words or guidance, and when to sit in silence and hold the patient’s hand.

One more reminder: men can get breast cancer, too. It is uncommon, but new breast lumps or other changes should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.

So this month, schedule the screening you’ve been putting off. Remind someone you love to do the same. And if someone close to you is facing cancer or another serious medical condition, let them know they don’t have to navigate the journey alone.  And, support the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.