Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women. According to the American Cancer Society, more than 2,000 women will be diagnosed in Mississippi this year.
Katrina Myricks is a breast cancer survivor of 2 years. She says the disease took her by surprise.
"I actually just went in for a routine mammogram, and then I was called back just for an additional test. So, I went in and left there with two words that flipped my world upside down. That was that I had breast cancer," says Myrick.
Dr. Sophy Mangana is a radiation oncologist at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. She is encouraging more women to get breast cancer screenings. She says, "the earlier the detection, the better".
"The state itself has one of the higher rates of death. Breast cancer is one of those that is asymptomatic, meaning you don't feel any pain. The biggest thing is the early detection means your chances of cure are higher, and following your doctor's recommendations for screening is important because of that reason," says Mangana.
Denise Krause is currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer that she would've never guessed she had until getting a mammogram. She says it changed her life.
"It could have been much worse. I would not have known about this cancer until much later. I was very fortunate because of the screening mammogram to have more options available, and to get through it," Krause says.
It's recommended that women in their 40s and older should get a mammogram every 1 to 2 years.
