NC breast cancer survivor reveals the moment her world changed at 28
Lorelei Colbert was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer in September of 2020.
"My entire world stopped," she said. "The day that they found my lump was really when my world changed."
The newlywed was just 28 years old at the time.
"On multiple occasions, I was told not to worry," said Colbert, who lives in Southern Pines. "I had no symptoms; I had no idea breast cancer was living inside me."
The North Carolina Health and Human Services Department projects more than 6,000 North Carolina women will be diagnosed with breast cancer each year. However, according to the American Cancer Society, there have been more than 10,000 new cases just this year.
On Tuesday, news circulated that women should start getting every-other-year mammograms at age 40 instead of waiting until 50, according to a draft recommendation from a federal task force.
"It feels like there are more women getting breast cancer than ever before," said Dr. Maggie DiNome, Chief of Breast Surgery with Duke Health.
DiNome said the U.S. Preventative Service Task Force’s recommendation is welcome news.
"It always surprises me how many young women that we see with breast cancer," DiNome said.
Both Dr. DiNome and Colbert agree that more could be done.
"I think the next steps are going to be to get insurance coverage for these supplemental screenings," DiNome said.
"To see that they were recommending every other year, I don’t think is enough," Colbert said.
Now, Colbert is using her own experience to spread awareness.
"We are not too young to not get a breast cancer diagnosis," Colbert said.
The draft recommendation applies to women at average risk of breast cancer. It is open for public comment through June 5.
