Kelly first noticed a relatively large lump in her breast when she was showering one day. “It wasn’t painful, and I felt perfectly healthy otherwise,” she recalls. “Given my age, I assumed it was likely a cyst or fibroadenoma, which is common in younger women.”

Perhaps most important factor is the care team you have in your corner, the surgeons said.

Dr. Peters added for the average woman with no family history of breast cancer or other risks, they should start getting mammograms at 40. However, if a woman is at higher risk and depending on their age, they may have to start up to 10 years earlier.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death among women in the United States. Breast cancer now tops the list as the most common cancer type in women, based on estimated new cancer cases in 2024, which is why screening is essential.

More than 310,000 women will be told they have breast cancer this year. This month we’re turning our focus to survivors and asking them about the most surprising things they learned after their diagnosis.