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April 15, 2010

In March of 2007, Trish Lannon, an assistant principal at the West Friendship Elementary School in Elkridge, Maryland, was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer, according to ExploreHoward.com.

However, after a long road to recovery which included extensive chemotherapy, Lannon though that she was in the clear.

Unfortunately, last spring, after the survivor had her first mammogram, she received a call from her doctor informing her that she had breast cancer.

"I completely fell apart," the 42-year-old told the news provider. However, she credits her survival with how early her tumor was detected. "Getting a mammogram when I did saved my life."

The American Cancer Society recommends that women over the age of 40 begin receiving annual mammograms, and those as young as 20 may begin performing breast self-exams.

Individuals who have a high risk of breast cancer, because of a family history or genetic predisposition, may consider having more frequent screenings.

The National Cancer Institute suggests that more than 190,000 Americans were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009.

Organizations such as the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation work to spread breast cancer awareness, raise funds for medical research and help survivors live thriving lives.

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