A silent warning: The breast lump that led to a lifesaving discovery

Early detection saved me

At 41, I was living the life I had always dreamed of — a new home, a fulfilling career, and just days away from marrying the love of my life.

A moment that changed everything

It was the week before my wedding—when life should’ve been a whirlwind of final fittings, seating charts, and joyful anticipation. Instead, I found myself standing still, fingertips pressed against a small, hard lump beneath the skin of my right breast.

It was painless. The size of a pea. Tucked away just enough to escape notice…until it didn’t.

How long had it been there? Had it grown quickly, or had I simply missed it in the chaos of planning and life? I didn’t have answers, but I knew enough to be afraid.

The quiet signs that speak loudly

A painless lump in the breast or underarm is one of the most common signs of breast cancer.

Other symptoms can include swelling, thickening, or redness of the skin; changes in the nipple; discharge; or a persistent feeling of heaviness. But it’s the quiet ones—the ones that don’t hurt—that often speak the loudest.

I was about to walk down the aisle. But first, I had to walk into a doctor’s office.

Family history and vigilance

Breast cancer runs in my family. My grandmother and aunt were both diagnosed, and my mother warned me early on that our family history increased my risk.

Because of my family history, I asked for my first mammogram at 35, five years earlier than the standard recommendation. I did regular self-checks. I stayed vigilant.

About one in eight US women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Roughly 15% of those diagnosed have a family history.

For those who have a first-degree relative, such as a mother, sister or daughter with breast cancer, the risk nearly doubles.

Grief and perspective

Just months earlier, I lost my lifelong best friend to breast cancer. She was brilliant, strong, and full of life. She should have been standing beside me at my wedding, laughing through tears and adjusting my veil.

Instead, I carried her photo attached to my bouquet—her memory woven into every step I took down the aisle.

This reminded me that even when life feels perfect, your health can throw you a curveball that changes everything.

Fact is, almost 30 percent of our Health Plan members between the ages of 40-50 do not get screened for breast cancer.

Screening numbers improve as the members age, but vital time and better health outcomes are being lost because more are not seeking screenings sooner.

The American Cancer Society reports that the five-year survival rate is 99% when breast cancer is caught early and localized.

Early action saved me

I found my lump on a Sunday. By Monday morning, I was in my OB-GYN’s office. They saw me within the hour and sent me for a mammogram and ultrasound that same afternoon. Time mattered and my providers understood that.

My lump was benign, but it did lead to discovering other trouble areas with precancerous cells and I underwent a lumpectomy two months later.

I was lucky. But not everyone gets that chance.

A call to action

I often wonder what might have happened if my best friend received the screening she asked for sooner or the treatment she needed without delay. Her absence is a reminder that breast cancer doesn’t knock—it just enters. Screenings allow us to act swiftly.

Since 1989, the breast cancer death rate has dropped by 44%, thanks to earlier detection and improved treatment.

That’s an estimated 517,900 lives saved. But behind every statistic is a story—of someone’s mother, sister, friend, or daughter.

My plea for you

Know your risk. Do your self-checks. Check with your insurance plan on coverage for screenings and preventive care wellness visits. Speak up when something feels wrong. Encourage your loved ones to do the same.

Because early detection saves lives. And your life is worth fighting for.

Contact:
Kimberlee Hickok kimberlee.hickok@univerahealthcare.com