I live by the motto that life is 20 percent what happens to you and 80 percent how you respond. In healthcare, there will always be things that we fear, but educating ourselves about our bodies and family health history can help ease those fears and possibly save our life. After I underwent my double mastectomy last October for Ductoral Carcinoma In-Situ (DCIS), my surgeon shared with me that in most cases when breast cancer is found in its earliest stages, it is usually detected by the patient. He expressed that if you pay attention to your body you will know when something is wrong before the doctor does.
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I will never forget those words when he said to me how blessed I was to have caught this disease in its earliest form. He smiled and said, “Wow you’re so young and caught it so early that you won’t need to worry about this when you’re older.” That gave me confirmation that I had done my part in being diligent in my health. With that said, please see below my top ways to being proactive with your healthcare.
- Make sure to have yearly physical exams
- If something abnormal occurs with your body and persists for more than two weeks, get it checked by your doctor
- Make sure to attend all follow up appointments scheduled by your doctor
- Don’t allow fear to keep you from going to the doctor
- Seek answers until you feel some resolve
- Get more than one opinion
- Follow your gut, it’s always right!
About Michel Sproles:
Michel Sproles is a businesswoman, mother of two and wife of New Orleans Saints Running Back, Darren Sproles. She is also an advocate for healthcare and encourages African Americans to get routine check ups in order to be and stay healthy. She believes that early detection saves lives and shares her testimony to urge others in her community to stay on top of their healthcare.
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