Linda Pruin is 2018 Butler Relay for Life's Honored Survivor

My journey started in May of 2016 after having a mammogram. I had been very faithful about having an annual physical exam and mammogram. During my exam in 2014, my doctor stated that at my age, I could wait two years before having another mammogram. Therefore, I skipped having my “picture” taken in 2015. 
 
A couple days after having my mammogram in May of 2016, I received a phone call from the radiology department asking if I would come back for another picture. This did not alarm me as I had gone through this same scenario in previous years where the image was too grainy or not clear enough only to find that all was well. This time, however, after re-taking the images they told me they wanted to have an ultra-sound. The ultra-sound showed a black mass in my right breast. I had no lump, no pain, and no indication that anything was wrong. Ladies – schedule a mammogram every year!
 
The first step was to take a biopsy to determine if the mass was malignant. When the results of the biopsy came back, I was reading the results and it said “something” – negative, another something – negative, and a third something - negative. Seeing “negative”, I was sure that meant the mass was benign. WRONG! The radiologist told me that the biopsy results were positive for Cancer. My husband, Harlan, was with me and we looked at each other rather shocked and said – okay what do we do now?
 
At that time, the Waverly Health Center had a Cancer Navigator named Rachel Stone who was fabulous! She stepped in and scheduled all of the necessary appointments for surgery and to see an oncologist. I am very sorry to tell you that Rachel, a young mother of two, has since passed away from a massive stroke. 
 
Read more in the June 28 edition of the STAR or TRIBUNE.