Imagine dedicating your career to helping women as a mammogram technician and then years later fighting the same fight as some of your patients yourself. That’s Tammy Whitt’s story.“My best friend’s mother has had breast cancer,” said Whitt. “As her mom became diagnosed with breast cancer I just really felt like my calling was something more than just X-rays so I just felt like I needed to do something more and mammography felt like it should be my next step.” “It led to a biopsy. Which led to a diagnosis of Ductal carcinoma in situ which is a very early stage,” said Whitt. After her own diagnosis and treatment in 2023, she’s driven by her personal experience to make a difference one mammogram at a time. “I believe that when you yourself know how to interact with others through personal experiences that just brings you a whole new outlook on how to interact with others,” said Whitt. Whitt said she emphasizes the importance of getting an annual mammogram because that is how she got her early detection.“It’s very, very important just to continue getting your annual mammograms even with no family history,” said Whitt. UofL Medical Oncology Dr. Brian Dong agrees. “Last year alone, there were over 300,000 new diagnoses and if you add on stage 0 breast cancers that’s another 40 to 50,000. So the numbers show one in eight women are going to get breast cancer in the United States regardless of other risk factors like family history or genetic testing. So, it’s so important that everyone gets their mammogram,” said Dong. As Whitt steps into the doors of the Brown Cancer Center each day, she’s offering hope, awareness, and a connection for those fighting the same battle she once was.“I’m able to just give them so much more information and knowledge now and compassion in a new way and new light that I wasn’t able to provide to them prior to a year ago,” said Whitt.
Imagine dedicating your career to helping women as a mammogram technician and then years later fighting the same fight as some of your patients yourself. That’s Tammy Whitt’s story.
“My best friend’s mother has had breast cancer,” said Whitt. “As her mom became diagnosed with breast cancer I just really felt like my calling was something more than just X-rays so I just felt like I needed to do something more and mammography felt like it should be my next step.”
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“It led to a biopsy. Which led to a diagnosis of Ductal carcinoma in situ which is a very early stage,” said Whitt.
After her own diagnosis and treatment in 2023, she’s driven by her personal experience to make a difference one mammogram at a time.
“I believe that when you yourself know how to interact with others through personal experiences that just brings you a whole new outlook on how to interact with others,” said Whitt.
Whitt said she emphasizes the importance of getting an annual mammogram because that is how she got her early detection.
“It’s very, very important just to continue getting your annual mammograms even with no family history,” said Whitt.
UofL Medical Oncology Dr. Brian Dong agrees.
“Last year alone, there were over 300,000 new diagnoses and if you add on stage 0 breast cancers that’s another 40 to 50,000. So the numbers show one in eight women are going to get breast cancer in the United States regardless of other risk factors like family history or genetic testing. So, it’s so important that everyone gets their mammogram,” said Dong.
As Whitt steps into the doors of the Brown Cancer Center each day, she’s offering hope, awareness, and a connection for those fighting the same battle she once was.
“I’m able to just give them so much more information and knowledge now and compassion in a new way and new light that I wasn’t able to provide to them prior to a year ago,” said Whitt.
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