Breast Cancer Awareness: How preventative screenings helped Westfield woman avoid disease
Meaghan Murphy, of Westfield, calls herself a “pre-vivor" after taking many steps to prevent breast cancer.
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October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and one of the best ways to fight the disease is taking preventative measures. One mom from New Jersey knows that very well.
Meaghan Murphy, of Westfield, calls herself a “pre-vivor" after taking many steps to prevent breast cancer.
Her mother survived breast cancer twice. Her dad died of pancreatic cancer. Knowing her family history, Murphy took a proactive approach, including getting screenings and taking a genetic test.
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It turned out that Murphy has the gene that puts her at a higher risk of breast cancer. The mom of three had a double mastectomy in 2022 after being asked a serious question by health experts.
"They say, ‘What's the conversation you want to have with your kids?’ Do you want to approach your kids and say, ‘Hey guys, mommy has breast cancer and now I need a double mastectomy,’ or do you want to approach your kids and say, 'I'm armed with this information, I have this genetic testing, I'm going to proactively have a double mastectomy to make sure I'm here for you always,'” Murphy said.
Murphy says having all the tools and information to make that decision is empowering. Now she speaks out reminding women to stay informed about their health so they can be a “pre-vivor” like her.
