Mary's Story

An excerpt in her own words

My excuse for not getting a mammogram? I was employed, but unable to afford health insurance.

In 2010 my cousins and I decided to register for the inaugural Komen Eugene Race for the Cure on 10/10/10. It was during Race weekend activities that we came across the Breast & Cervical Cancer Program (BCCP) table - a free-screening program for uninsured women that exists because of Komen funding. It was there that my dear cousins asked me to look into this program and see if I qualified, so I could obtain a free mammogram. I agreed.

After making a few calls I discovered I did indeed qualify for Komen's free screening program! My mammogram took place on November 3, 2010, followed by a biopsy. When the doctor came in she immediately and compassionately gave me the news that the biopsy was positive. I had breast cancer. She told me it was a very small tumor. caught early. It was Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, very small, and most likely my choices could be either a lumpectomy or mastectomy, it was up to me. (Pictured above: Mary O'Dell (right) with her cousins at the 2011 Portland Race for the Cure.)

Waking up the next morning I spent some time in prayer and found a peace about the whole situation that I can’t put into words; it was like God simply took my “what if's” away and I was able to go through the weekend without any fear whatsoever. The doctor walked me through many of the possible treatments, and the choices I could make. I didn't cry, but the dollar signs kept clicking in my head, all the expenses that would come from this diagnosis; we had no insurance and not a lot of money to work with.

At that point I asked, “How much of this is covered by the plan?” to which the doctor said, “All of it." And that is when I cried - the fear of the financial burden had been completely removed.
 
After my diagnosis I called my cousins. The emotions were all over the place - the fact that I had to be talked into going for a mammogram, the fact that I was now the 4th first cousin to be diagnosed, the fact that their loving nagging saved my life. It was surreal!

The next few months were amazing - the support of my family, friends, and the medical staff was incredible! The BCCP was such an amazing help, there are no words that can describe the joy of not having the financial burden that would have built up with all the doctor appointments and treatments. Because of the early detection of my cancer, I am now an advocate for early detection for all.

Because of Komen's free screening program, I had access to life-saving treatment and did not have to pay steep medical bills. Because of early detection, I was able to have a lumpectomy,  no chemotherapy, a mammosite radiation therapy, follow-up medication, and most importantly, a whole new outlook on life.