Little did Dianne Norton of Clarksville know that a fall from 2021 which resulted in a broken arm, could have potentially saved her life in 2024. Due to her broken arm, Dianne needed to schedule her mammogram in May instead of her normal time in November.
Dianne had always been consistent about scheduling her yearly appointments, including mammograms, with her primary care provider Dr. Bochmann in the Christophel Clinic. Having multiple family members diagnosed with breast cancer made her aware of the importance of early detection and preventative care.
After recovering from her broken arm, Dianne scheduled a mammogram at Waverly Health Center (WHC). Emily Schut, WHC breast care navigator, followed up to let her know that further imaging was needed. Emily helped her set up a return visit to do a magnified or 3D mammogram the following week. The radiologist determined a biopsy was needed.
She received a call that changed her life: the diagnosis was cancer. This news brought a mix of shock, fear and uncertainty about what lay ahead. The next few weeks were full of doctor appointments and information gathering. Dianne had a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction surgery two months after hearing the news.
Dianne is now cancer free. “Hearing the oncologist say, ‘I don’t need to see you again,’ were just the words I needed to hear,” she said.
Receiving a diagnosis of breast cancer can be incredibly overwhelming. Dianne’s family was by her side the entire journey and so was Emily. “Emily was just there for me and provided help with scheduling my appointments,” said Dianne. “She is so compassionate and caring.”
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends every woman have a yearly mammogram beginning at age 40. To schedule your annual mammogram, contact your primary health care provider. For more information, visit our website at waverlyhealthcenter.org.