Keep Getting Mammograms: Overman says support helped her deal with cancer

Overman

Breast cancer survivor Karen Overman's advice to women is to not do what she did and wait 10 years between mammograms.

"My insurance kept changing, my doctor quit, and I guess I was just frustrated," said Overman of Bloomfield.

It was early in 2009 that Overman felt a lump and some soreness in one of her breasts but didn't think much about it because it went away. However, when it came back the next month, she knew she had to see about it, but there was a problem. She didn't have a family doctor.

It took some time for her to get an appointment at a clinic to see a doctor for a mammogram referral.

The results of the mammogram showed not only one lump but three lumps in one breast and suspicious cells in the other breast.

After the mammogram, digital scan, biopsies and full body scan, Overman was told she had four different kinds of cancer in both breasts and should have a radical mastectomy.

"My doctor thought I had been exposed to something that caused the cancers, but I couldn't think of anything that I had done or anything that I had been exposed to," Overman said.

She added that none of the females in her family had ever had breast cancer, only some great aunts.

"I didn't think it would happen to me, either," she said.

Overman was on different types of chemotherapy from February 2009 to May 2010.

Taking the situation in stride, she said, "When my hair began falling out, I went to my beautician and told her to give me a buzz. Around the house I wore a cap, and when I went out, I wore a wig. When my hair came back, it was curly."

Overman noted that during her treatments she was able to attend work most of the time. She would have treatments near the end of the week so she could rest over the weekend. She was fortunate that she could do some of her work at home.

She noted that one thing that helped keep her spirits up were the wonderful people at the clinic where she received the chemo treatments, her caring family, neighbors, and the kind and generous people with whom she worked.

When the treatments were over, Overman had another worry. Were the types of cancer she had carried in her genes? She wanted to know for the sake of her sons and sisters, but the BRAC test was very expensive -- several thousand dollars. Insurance would only pay a few hundred.

Then she heard good news. Her co-workers had taken up a collection to help pay for the test.

The other good news was that the types of cancers she had were not hereditary.

"I always knew people had good hearts, but this has made me more sensitive and caring," noted Overman. "I have been there and want to be there to help other people."

Karen says she has now started a health regiment and feels great. She has a family physician and is examined every three months.

"I advise people to have checkups," she explained. "I have told my sisters to be sure and have mammograms."

Karen added that she has heard people say they would never have chemotherapy, but she tells them not to throw their life away when there are chances to get better.

"I can never thank everybody enough for all the support and for just being there," Overman said.