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October 1st marks the beginning of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
It's a disease that--when caught early--can be one of the most curable cancers. And one Sherwood woman is living proof of that.
Five years ago, Anita Hill heard what no one wants to hear.
(Anita Hill, Breast Cancer Survivor) “The radiologist comes back in and he says, ‘Ms. Hill, I hate to tell you this, but you have breast cancer.’”
It was discovered during a routine mammogram, which Anita made sure to have every year because her sister had been diagnosed with breast cancer several years earlier.
Anita had to go through six weeks of radiation, and her doctor gave her a prescription to take for five years, which she thinks may have caused her to gain weight.
(Hill) “I had to go back every six months for follow-ups, and it seemed like every time I had gained 2,3,4 pounds--every six months. So I was just really getting discouraged by that. I didn't like myself very much--just tired and not a lot of energy.”
Thirty-five pounds later, she decided to change her lifestyle. After a few months of eating healthy and exercising regularly, the excess weight melted away--and has stayed off.
(Hill) “I try to maintain, eating the small meals throughout the day, because that seems to help me from getting hungry and binging. And then still doing the lean and green--and then, when we go out to eat, not eating the rolls.”
Now thinner and healthier, she feels better and wants everyone to know: Catching breast cancer early is the key to beating it.
(Hill) “I want them to know they need to take it seriously and to get their mammograms every year and just always follow up.”
And she hopes one day a cure will be found.
Anita and her sister have been participating in the Race for the Cure for more than a decade, and will again this year on October 11th in downtown Little Rock.
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