Breast cancer isn't exactly a foreign concept to the dozens of women that attended the Komen First Annual Breast Health Symposium.
For many, it's either already a reality or one they could soon face.
Take Heather Delaroi, for instance, who says, "My dad is a gene carrier, so I have my mammograms regularly, and I came up with a spot. So I had it biopsied and that did come back benign, so my next step is, I'm getting gene tested to see if I am a carrier, myself and if I am, then I have to make some life–changing decisions."
It's people like Heather, this symposium was designed for.
She adds, "To get more knowledge on what is out there. What to expect."
Especially when it comes to prevention, treatment, and restoring one's femininity, when cancer takes it away.
Dr. Kelly Gallego, one of the symposium's speakers, says, "Well, for women who've lost their breasts to their breast cancer treatment, they will say that it has affected their self–image and really, their sense of who they are as a woman. As a board-certified plastic surgeon, a big part of my practice is breast reconstruction."
But as many women found out, they didn't have to be a cancer patient, survivor or even "at risk," to gain something from this event.
Angela Haggin, from Kingsley, IA, says, "I currently work in a family practice office and every little piece of information about anything can be helpful to someone going through this."
Because after all knowledge is power.
Over 100 women attended Saturday's symposium. Organizers say they hope it gets bigger and better every year, with the addition of more men. Because they say, breast cancer isn't only a woman's disease.
