Betty Leonard knows about breast cancer. “Nearly every woman in my family has had breast cancer,” she says. “My mother, aunts, great aunt, me, and now my niece has been diagnosed as well.” As a result, she scheduled regular mammograms every six months.

When she went in for her biannual mammogram in February, the radiologist saw something and asked that Betty come back for a diagnostic mammogram. “You can see it on their faces,” she recalls. “I knew what that meant.”

This time, it meant that the mammogram had detected cancer. The good news was that they had caught it early. Betty had surgery and daily radiation treatments. Chemotherapy was not needed because the cancer was detected so early.

“No one wants to hear that they have breast cancer,” Betty says. “The news is really shocking at first, but you can get through it. It is better to know and take care of yourself than avoid it. Then, it takes faith, lots of prayer, and a really positive attitude.” Betty felt lucky to have lots of people praying for her and plenty of family support.

Now she looks at life a little differently. “I don’t want to waste any time now,” says Betty. “I am focused on what’s important, and when I want to do something, I don’t put it off. I get out there and do it.” In addition, she relies on regular exercise to stay healthy. She couldn’t always do that during treatment, but now that she is through the hard part, she is back at the gym. “I listen to my body so I don’t overdo it, but I try to be as active as I can,” she says.

In addition, Betty is a big believer in breast self exams. “It just takes a few minutes, and it is very important,” she asserts. “You should get to know your body, and take action if you notice a change.”

“You only have one life, one body, one chance,” Betty says, explaining her philosophy now. “You need to be aware of your body, especially if you are at risk for any health issues. Get on it, and take care of yourself. Listen to your body, and make choices accordingly.”