Ronellyn Junius knew something wasn’t quite right, so she scheduled a mammogram at the Carol Ann Read Breast Health Center at Sutter Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Oakland. 

A few weeks after her 38th birthday, Ronellyn Junius felt pain in her left breast that radiated under her arm. She called her doctor, made an appointment, and scheduled the mammogram on her lunch break.

She was a little nervous because she had never had a mammogram. She got the biopsy the next day after the mammogram and ultrasound, and the diagnosis was triple positive invasive ductal carcinoma stage 2B. She was extremely afraid, because she did not know if she was going to make it or not. Her care team points out that a lot of people do not think of women who are 38 as possibly having breast cancer.

The team describes mammograms as the best way to catch breast cancer early. The Carol Ann Read breast health program offers 3D digital mammography, for better detection and fewer false positives. A mobile mammography van funded by donors brings the same imaging out into the East Bay, and the program has provided over 2,000 mobile mammograms since 2020 to women across the East Bay, regardless of their ability to pay.

Patients also work with a nurse navigator, the point of contact between the patient and their treatment team. Navigators address patients' needs to make sure things happen on time and the patient feels cared for along the way, advocate so patients can be a part of the treatment decision, and help to maintain continuity of care and provide support.

Ronellyn says that in that year and a half her body went through a lot, and that early detection saves lives. She says it is very important to have these services available locally, near work and near home.

Chapters
0:00 Breast pain a few weeks after turning 38
0:18 Mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy
0:44 3D and mobile mammography at Carol Ann Read
1:21 What a nurse navigator does
1:49 Treatment, family and recovery
2:30 Why local access matters

To learn more about breast cancer care at Sutter Health, visit https://www.sutterhealth.org/services/breast-cancer.

This video is educational and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.

#BreastCancer #Mammogram #EarlyDetection

Breast Cancer at 38: Breast Pain, Mammogram and Diagnosis

Breast health is part of your overall well-being. If you're dealing with a breast concern or due for screening, our specialists can provide exams, imaging and care to keep you healthy and informed.

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Video: East Bay Mom Advocates for Early Detection, Treatment

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