Hilary's Journey in Remission from Breast Cancer
- Hilary Farr is the host of HGTV’s Tough Love, and she’s had some exciting life changes since beating cancer, including adopting an adorable rescue dog.
- Farr was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012; she had three lumpectomy procedures through 2015 and is now considered to be in remission.
- Women aged 45 to 54 with an average risk of breast cancer should get mammograms annually.
You can currently find Farr on HGTV airwaves this year, where she’s kicking things off with some “tough love.”
Read MoreView this post on InstagramHer dog Suki is a rescue dog, and for dog lovers everywhere, you will find yourself right at home on Farr’s Instagram feed, where she regularly shares photos of sweet Suki, a black dog of medium build. (Suki got sick at the end of last year, but is thankfully home with Farr now.)
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
Hilary’s Breast Cancer Battle
In 2012, Farr went to her doctor for a routine mammogram screening. And during her mammogram, doctors detected a lump. Farr had surgery a lumpectomy shortly thereafter to remove it. A lumpectomy removes cancer or abnormal tissue from the breast area; it’s a breast-conserving surgery because it doesn’t involve the complete or partial removal of the breasts. This is in contrast to a mastectomy, which is the surgical removal of one or both breasts; it’s a common treatment path for breast cancer.
Related: When Should You Consider a Mastectomy?
In an earlier interview with SurvivorNet, Dr. Sarah Cate, a breast surgeon at Mount Sinai, explained that this type of procedure generally takes an hour to complete, and it’s an outpatient procedure. Farr’s tumor was pre-cancerous, however, two years later, another mammogram showed Farr had invasive breast cancer. Invasive breast cancer can metastasize or, spread to other parts of the body. The host had a second lumpectomy to treat it. Following the procedure, Farr was later told she needed to undergo radiation to destroy any remaining cancer cells.
Should I Have a Lumpectomy or Mastectomy?
Screening for Breast Cancer
Mammograms, like the ones Farr had, are used to screen for breast cancer. They look for lumps in the breast tissue and early signs of cancer. Women aged 45 to 54 with an average risk of breast cancer (meaning, no family history of the disease and no BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation) should screen annually.
Related: What is a BRCA Mutation?
Women with an elevated risk of breast cancer those with family members who have had breast cancer, or those with a BRCA gene mutation should screen even earlier. Be sure to get your breasts checked regularly via mammograms, and perform self-exams at home, as it could end up being life-saving, as it was for Farr. Don’t delay, and get your mammogram today. While getting a mammogram, ask the technician to check to see if you have dense breasts, which may obscure the results of your mammogram.
When Should I Get a Mammogram?
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