KWWL.com - News & Weather for Waterloo, Dubuque, Cedar Rapids & Iowa City, Iowa | Health Plus: Self breast exam importance

Health Plus: Self breast exam importance

Posted:
Written by Tara Thomas, Anchor - bio | email

  • Health Connections - Featured Health SpecialistsHealth Partners

  •  Cedar Valley Hospice is a not-for-profit multi-service agency that provides home care services to those with a life threatening illness, hospice services to those with a six month or less prognosis.
     Cedar Valley Hospice is a not-for-profit multi-service agency that provides home care services to those with a life threatening illness, hospice services to those with a six month or less prognosis, grief support services and case management services.

  •  Nestled on 17 acres in the metropolitan community of Cedar Falls, in Northeast Iowa, NewAldaya is not just a home but a place to live for nearly 300 independent living.
     Nestled on 17 acres in the metropolitan community of Cedar Falls, in Northeast Iowa, NewAldaya is not just a home but a place to live for nearly 300 independent living, assisted living and acute and extended care residents.

  •  As caring and considerate dentists, we can transform routine dental care into a truly pleasant experience. We are working to provide dentistry the way you want - rather than the way it has always been done.
     As caring and considerate dentists, we can transform routine dental care into a truly pleasant experience. We are working to provide dentistry the way you want - rather than the way it has always been done.


  • Scott Pharmacy, Inc. is a privately owned and operated business that has served the residents of Fayette County for more than 30 years. We are loyal to our patients.

    Scott Pharmacy, Inc. is a privately owned and operated business that has served the residents of Fayette County for more than 30 years. We are loyal to our patients and will ensure that your order is filled quickly and correctly.
JESUP (KWWL) -

As breast cancer awareness month comes to a close, one eastern Iowa woman wants to remind you that doing self breast exams should be a year-round priority. Feeling a lump likely saved her life.

Stacy Allers discovered a lump in her breast by accident.

"Actually, I got out of the shower in January. I was toweling off and I felt a lump," Allers said.

The 40-year-old went to Covenant Clinic in Jesup when it didn't go away.

"Let's just get the testing first and we'll go from there and see what happens from there," said Stefani Pitkin, her physician assistant.

Pitkin says Stacy did the right thing by just coming in. She referred Stacy for a mammogram the same day.

"Three days later is when I had a biopsy and Doctor Savereide called me on March 8 at 9 o'clock in the morning at work and said that is was positive," explains Allers.

"That point of not knowing is very difficult, as you can imagine. So I think getting then in and just taking care of the patient as soon as we can is the best," said Pitkin.

Following a mastectomy and chemotherapy, radiation treatments will wrap up for Stacy next week.

"If you feel anything strange, do self exams," she said.

Stacy is an admissions advisor for Kaplan University and says she'd like to thank her employer and co-workers for being so supportive.

Powered by WorldNow
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2012 WorldNow and KWWL. All Rights Reserved.
For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.