Statement Styles for Maximum Impact
October 2026
Home for the Holidays?
October 2026
At 77, Linda Garrett had never faced a major health concern. That changed in October 2023, when a routine mammogram revealed something unexpected.
The screening led to additional testing and, ultimately, a diagnosis from her CHRISTUS Health physician that she never anticipated.
“My doctor didn’t even wait until the following week to call me,” Linda recalled. “That Friday night, he called and said, ‘You have breast cancer.'”
As appointments and conversations moved quickly, Linda and her husband found themselves shifting from routine preventive care to decisions about treatment. Within days, she met with her surgeon, and surgery was scheduled promptly. The procedure successfully removed the cancerous tissue, and follow-up testing confirmed the cancer had been detected at stage 1, one of the earliest and most treatable stages of the disease.
After surgery, Linda turned her attention to the next phase of treatment.
“My husband’s a firefighter. He never panics,” she said. “We sat down and said, ‘Okay, what’s next?'”
Linda’s treatment plan included radiation therapy to reduce the risk of recurrence, along with long-term hormone therapy and periodic infusions. As she weighed her options, she considered whether to stay local or seek care elsewhere.
Over the following weeks, she completed a six-week course of daily radiation treatments. The experience proved more manageable than she expected and allowed her to continue recovering close to family and friends.
“Everything they told me about side effects was true,” she said. “I didn’t feel overly tired, and it all went very smoothly.”
Today, Linda has returned to the activities she enjoys most. Looking back, she hopes her experience serves as a reminder that routine screenings remain important.
“There was no history of breast cancer in my family, so it was a surprise,” Linda said. “But early detection saved my life.”
A simple mammogram can help detect breast cancer before symptoms appear, allowing for more treatment options and improved outcomes. Linda hopes her story encourages others to stay up to date on recommended screenings and prioritize preventive care.
