Breast Cancer: mother and daughter diagnosed

Vernita Eddin, who has six children and nine grandchildren, learned that she had breast cancer in January, after her daughter was diagnosed.

As part of the health screening, Dr. Jessica Treviño Jones of UT Physicians and the Memorial Hermann Cancer Center.

Discovered that Eddin’s daughter had a gene linked to breast cancer and recommended that the other women in the family get tested. It is estimated that one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lifetime.

Dr. Jessica Treviño Jones emphasized the importance of early detection and screening mammograms in preventing breast cancer. She explained that with these measures, doctors can often detect cancer before a patient is even able to feel it. And that annual screening mammograms should begin at age 40, or at age 35 for African American women.

In fact, now doctors can prevent more than 50% of breast cancers. Vernita Eddin, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in January after her daughter was diagnosed. Also faced challenges with medical coverage due to being disabled and unable to work.

However, she did not give up hope and sought the help of social workers to access healthcare. She is sharing her story to encourage other women to fight for the healthcare they need and to emphasize the importance of early detection and prevention. As Eddin said, “You have to keep fighting.”