Inspiring Hope, Spreading Awareness: Personal Breast Cancer Journeys from Aylo Health Staff
October 17 • 2023
It takes strength and courage to talk about breast cancer, the journey to overcome it, and to keep fighting. We’ve got two incredibly strong Aylo Health team members who wanted to share their breast cancer journeys to help spread awareness. Amy Huber and LaQuecia Jones took the brave step to tell the world their stories to make sure that women take their risk factor seriously and to be open to their doctor if something is not feeling right.
The decisions you make in your life are what cost you your future. Make the decision to have your annual mammogram.
The first team member to tell her story is Amy Huber, she’s one of Aylo Health’s Administrative Assistants. Amy was living a busy life, with a husband and 3 small children when she was diagnosed with stage 2, Triple Negative Breast Cancer at the age of 39 — one year before most people would typically receive their first mammogram. But due to her family history, she decided to be proactive and take preventive measures early. Because of that wise and bold decision, she is now a survivor of 11 years!
When Amy was asked about the advice she would give to a woman hesitant to book their first mammogram, she said “Be strong, be brave, be courageous. Get that mammogram, and get it done early. Had I not, things would have been much worse, and I may not have been able to watch my kids grow up.”
Amy’s story is very powerful and shows that if you have breast cancer in your family, or if you know something is wrong, you should schedule that mammogram. It’s better to know than to guess.
Our second team member is one of our Patient Service Representatives, LaQuecia Jones. LaQuecia was diagnosed in 2012 with Stage 2 Triple Negative Breast Cancer at the age of 37. Boom, LaQuecia’s life flashed before her eyes and an instant fear set in and tears dropped. With the thought of her children being so young, LaQuecia took preventable measures right away. Due to her action to take measures early, she is now 10 years cancer free. One of her biggest regrets is not practicing self-examinations, she says “If I would have done regular self-examinations, I could have had Stage 1 instead of Stage 2 cancer”.
LaQuecia wants all women to know, “Take a deep breath, do your self-examinations, and schedule that mammogram. I am so glad I did it because I am now able to see my kids grown and my four grandchildren.”
Mammograms are a simple life-saving diagnostic. LaQuecia puts it as “knowing early enough to fight is better than not knowing. Let’s encourage all women in our lives to schedule a mammogram to live the best and healthiest life they can.”
LaQuecia also brought up the importance of self-examinations. If you’d like to learn more on how to best do a breast self-exam, then check out this article written by the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
So, what are you waiting for?
Take a deep breath and schedule your mammogram with Aylo Health today!