Marlette Regional Hospital

Jill Thomas was 26 when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer. She started yearly mammogram screenings when she was in her early 20s due to a family history of breast cancer. Her maternal grandmother had breast cancer, her mother was a victim of breast cancer at the age of 31, and both of her aunts are breast cancer survivors. She knew that breast cancer can be hereditary and that it doesn't discriminate based on age. In her early 20s, Jill took advantage of Marlette Regional Hospital's $55 mammogram screening specials, because she didn't meet the age requirement for insurance to pay for the screening. Between screenings in just one year's time, she noticed a lump on her breast. Through a mammogram, diagnostic mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy, it was determined that the lump was breast cancer. Having breast cancer at age 26, Jill was taking no risks and made the decision to proceed with a double mastectomy and chemotherapy. After being cancer-free for 10 years, Jill consulted with her primary care provider because she was experiencing chronic lower back pain, shortness of breath, decreased appetite, weight loss and fatigue. These symptoms persisted for four months until an ultrasound revealed that she had a mass on her liver and a bone scan revealed that she had spots on her bones. Jill went through chemotherapy again and had a tumor removed from her brain. Today, she has a CT scan on her chest, abdomen and pelvis and a scan of her bones and brain every three months at Marlette Regional Hospital. She also has a follow-up regimen that she does through St. Mary's Seton Cancer Institute in Marlette. Jill credits her ability to survive breast cancer to: • Early detection through mammogram screening • Being an advocate for her own health and not ignoring subtle health changes • Knowing her family health history and being proactive • The support of her friends, family and community • Her faith and positive mindset Jill's story is nothing short of a miracle. She, along with many other breast cancer survivors, is the reason why the B.C.U.P.S. program is in place – to ensure our Thumb Area communities have access to these life-saving screenings and to help them throughout their journey to recovery. Jill was one of our first B.C.U.P.S. grant fund recipients, and she hopes that by sharing her story she can provide encouragement to others to get screened, because early detection is key to survival. B.C.U.P.S. PROGRAM GRANT FUNDS New! AVAILABLE TO LOCAL BREAST CANCER PATIENTS The B.C.U.P.S. program provides free mammogram screenings for uninsured and underinsured patients, and full or partial financial assistance to those who qualify and need additional diagnostic testing services. The program recently expanded to award limited grant funding to patients who have been diagnosed with breast cancer to use however they choose and wherever it will help the most. The application process is simple, and applicants need to be residents of Sanilac, Huron, Tuscola or Lapeer County. MRH HEARTBEAT | 11 #ThasSg

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