A local woman says she was inspired by a SteinbachOnline story last year to get a mammogram, and it may have just saved her life.

Carol Wieler says she heard the story of Audrey Goertzen last year and how early detection saved her life. Wieler notes she decided to set up a mammogram appointment after she and her husband Tom came back from their winter holiday. She says, during the holiday, she was noticing physical changes and was further intent on getting herself tested when she returned home.

"In March when we came back there was a letter waiting for me that I needed to make my breast check appointment," recalls Wieler. "June the 5th was the earliest I could get in."

She says her daughter had asked her to fly out to Salmon Arm and their flight was booked for June 20th. Meanwhile, Wieler says she went for her mammogram which was followed up with by a biopsy on June 13th. When she was waiting at the gate to board the plane to British Columbia, Wieler says her daughter went to get some juice for her children and that's when she got a call from her doctor's office.

"So I answered the call and she wanted me to come in that morning to see my doctor. I told her I can't, I'm at the gate here waiting to board my plane and I wouldn't be able to come until next week. So, then she put me on hold, the doctor came on the line and he was very apologetic, he didn't want to tell me the results of my test on the phone. Then he was very, very sorry to tell me that [I had breast cancer].

Carol WielerWieler says at that point she had many thoughts running through her mind adding at that moment her husband was on a motorcycle trip with the boys.

"We're getting into our seats, my daughter is behind me with my granddaughter, my seat is empty next to me. I'm thinking, I will not be very sociable to whoever happens to be sitting here," notes Wieler. "We're sitting there for a bit and waiting to see who is going to be sitting next to me and there comes my sister."

She adds her sister had too many colleagues who were gone from work at the same time, however, there were two people who came back early and so she quickly booked a flight to join Wieler and her daughter.

"That's when I lost it, I could not handle it any longer. I told her what was happening. Seeing she's in the medical field, it was very helpful. She's been a strong support for me and it's been very helpful."

Wieler says she had her surgery on June 27th and then went to the Health Sciences Centre for many tests including a full body scan, bone scan, heart test, and CT scan. She notes her first chemotherapy session was scheduled for September 6 and the Wednesday before she received an unexpected call from her surgeon.

"My surgeon calls me and tells me that the CT scan I had has another indication of a spot of the upper lobe. I'm thinking the lobe? She says, yes, the lung."

Wieler notes because of this spot her radiation, which was planned for the end of September, was pushed until the new year and her next CT scan will determine whether it has disappeared or if there are further tests which need to be done.

"So, had I not done the early detection for the breast cancer, which was always downplayed - it may be nothing, it may be nothing. Now the surgery, when I had the surgery, the lymph nodes detected that there was cancer in there as well."

She says when it comes to early detection, timing is everything.

"It's not just women of my age, the age of 50 that should have these routine mammograms, but anyone can have a mammogram by calling your breast check health number. Women as young as 37 have had breast cancer, or even younger. You just have to know your body and you have to know if there's something that looks or feels not normal."

According to the Canadian Cancer Society, about 230 men and 26,300 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in Canada. This represents 25% of all new cancer cases in women. In Manitoba, approximately 860 women are diagnosed with breast cancer on a yearly basis.

Read More:
Audrey Goertzen Helps Us Bring Awareness To The Fact That October Is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Early Detection Saved A Local Women's Life
A Mammogram Saved Her Life