Sacramento area breast cancer survivors raise awareness at Making Strides Walk
More than 20,000 people united in downtown Sacramento for the American Cancer Society’s 2022 Making Strides 5K Walk. The event brings the community together and gives hope to women who have been recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Walk organizers said they raised $375,000 for breast cancer programs and research. KCRA 3 spoke with several survivors at the march about their journey and mission to spread awareness and save lives. Monica Burley, who found out she had breast cancer at age 40, said, “I thought I was going to die, I was like who is going to take care of my children.”Her diagnosis had her fearing the worst but she said doctors took an aggressive approach and it saved her life. “So many people didn’t make it but I did and I thank God for that,” she said. Survivors say mammograms don’t always detect cancer so if you suspect something is wrong you should advocate for yourself. | MORE | ‘You can’t take life for granted’: Cancer survivor encourages breast self-checksSome walkers came out to remember loved ones who have died from cancer. Helen Bontelps was among them.” We walked for my mother, a grandmother and my great grandmother,” she said. “She passed away 20 years ago from breast cancer.” Bontelps said her mother’s death has prompted her to make her health screening a top priority. “I go every six months to a year and I get my breast exam,” she said. “I do my mammogram because they are very important to us now as a family.”Early detection is key. The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 31,000 California women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year and nearly 4,700 will die from the disease. A recent study showed that during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a 6% drop in the number of women being screened for breast cancer. Survivor Diana Comouche said that anyone who is newly diagnosed shouldn’t treat the news as a death sentence. Stay positive and be open to receiving support, she said. “You will really be amazed by the amount of people that support you along the way, what they have to give, so be open to receive it all. It is great,” Comouche said.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
More than 20,000 people united in downtown Sacramento for the American Cancer Society’s 2022 Making Strides 5K Walk.
The event brings the community together and gives hope to women who have been recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Walk organizers said they raised $375,000 for breast cancer programs and research.
KCRA 3 spoke with several survivors at the march about their journey and mission to spread awareness and save lives.
Monica Burley, who found out she had breast cancer at age 40, said, “I thought I was going to die, I was like who is going to take care of my children.”
Her diagnosis had her fearing the worst but she said doctors took an aggressive approach and it saved her life.
“So many people didn’t make it but I did and I thank God for that,” she said.
Survivors say mammograms don’t always detect cancer so if you suspect something is wrong you should advocate for yourself.
| MORE | ‘You can’t take life for granted’: Cancer survivor encourages breast self-checks
Some walkers came out to remember loved ones who have died from cancer.
Helen Bontelps was among them.
“We walked for my mother, a grandmother and my great grandmother,” she said. “She passed away 20 years ago from breast cancer.”
Bontelps said her mother’s death has prompted her to make her health screening a top priority.
“I go every six months to a year and I get my breast exam,” she said. “I do my mammogram because they are very important to us now as a family.”
Early detection is key. The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 31,000 California women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year and nearly 4,700 will die from the disease.
A recent study showed that during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a 6% drop in the number of women being screened for breast cancer.
Survivor Diana Comouche said that anyone who is newly diagnosed shouldn’t treat the news as a death sentence. Stay positive and be open to receiving support, she said.
“You will really be amazed by the amount of people that support you along the way, what they have to give, so be open to receive it all. It is great,” Comouche said.