The Conversation With a Bossier Nurse That Changed My Family Forever
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and as I reflect on what this month truly means, I am convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that a compassionate nurse practitioner right here in Bossier saved my sister’s life.
Having lost our mother to cancer and seeing aunts battle the disease, my family’s history was heavy. But it was Nurse Practitioner Nancy Wells who stepped in and strongly urged me to get BRCA gene testing. That single conversation set off a life-saving chain reaction. When my results came back concerning, my sisters immediately followed suit and got tested, too.
Because of those results, my sisters and I began receiving annual mammograms, and that proactive step is what caught my oldest sister Coco’s diagnosis: Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC).
TNBC is an aggressive, invasive form of breast cancer that grows and spreads faster than hormone-receptor-positive or HER2-positive cancers. It is most frequently diagnosed in women under 40, Black women, and individuals carrying inherited BRCA1 gene mutations.
Following her diagnosis, Coco endured 16 rigorous weeks of treatment before ringing the bell, followed by a double mastectomy. In just four short months, she will undergo reconstructive surgery and will be closely monitored over the next five years.
I shudder to think what might have happened if cancer hadn't been caught in time. It all goes back to Nurse Practitioner Nancy Wells pushing for that initial BRCA test.
Why Early Detection and Awareness Matter
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is held every October to promote early detection, increase education, and support families navigating this journey.
October 1st–31st: Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October 13th: Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day
October 15th: Global Lobular Breast Cancer Awareness Day
October 16th: National Mammography Day
October 17th–23rd: Men’s Breast Cancer Awareness Week
The core goal of this month, is emphasizing annual mammograms and regular self-exams. If you have a family history of cancer, don't wait. Talk to your healthcare provider about genetic testing. That one appointment could truly save a life.