Peggy O’Neill had no history of breast cancer in her family. As a healthcare worker, she was aware of the importance of preventive care, and she always got an annual mammogram. “As a single parent, I need to be healthy for my kids,” explains Peggy. “So, I have always been pretty good about taking care of myself and doing all my preventive care.”

Then, in 2001 during a routine annual mammogram, a lump was discovered. Peggy underwent a bilateral mastectomy at Billings Clinic, and then returned home to Livingston for treatment. “My family and friends were so supportive, and my best friend, who was also my oncology nurse, was really there for me,” recalls Peggy. “And, I got so much support from other breast cancer survivors.”

For Peggy, being able to see the oncologist and get her treatments at Livingston Memorial Hospital also made the process of treatment a little easier. “It meant that I didn’t have to travel while I was going through treatment, and it made a big difference for me,” she says.

Once Peggy had gotten through the recovery process, she was ready to do some things that she had previously put off. “The breast cancer experience changes the way you see your life. It made me slow down and look at other things I was interested in doing,” she recalls. “I had always wanted to be a foster parent, so I finished that process and started doing foster care.”

She began to enjoy her life a little more. “It might sound crazy,” she says, “but if I could go back and change anything, it wouldn’t be my experience with breast cancer because it changed my life.”

That doesn’t mean that Peggy wishes breast cancer on anyone else. In fact, she has become a real advocate for breast cancer awareness. “I have seen what can happen when people don’t get the care that they need,” Peggy says. “For some, the results are tragic. Every woman should do whatever she can to promote her own health, and if she is concerned about something, she should address it. Never put off taking care of yourself!”