It’s totally normal to feel emotional when you’re called back in for further breast cancer screening tests after a mammogram. Even when everything turns out to be ok, the experience is scary, and the nerves are warranted. “Sabrina The Teenage Witch” and “No Good Nick” actress Melissa Joan Hart, 43, recently opened up about a breast cancer scare, and encouraged all women over 35 to go in for their mammograms.
“I just wanted to share—because I’m really emotional right now—that I had a mammogram last week and they called me back in for another round of tests, so it was a little nerve-wracking,” Hart said in the video, which she shared with over one million followers on Instagram. “Everything’s good, it’s all clear, so I’m glad I did what I had to do, listened to the doctor… so so far so good.”
Hart’s experience of getting called back for further testing after a mammogram is common; according to Dr. Connie Lehman, Chief of Breast Imaging at Massachusetts General Hospital, 10 percent of all women who go in for mammograms get called back.
“The vast majority of that 10 percent of women called back do not have breast cancer,” Dr. Lehman told SurvivorNet in a previous conversation about further testing. She went on to explain that getting called back often just means that the doctors need a better image to see an area where there may be, for instance, breast calcifications (which could be a sign of any number of things—most of which are not cancer).
Melissa Joan Hart is known for her starring role in the Sabrina the Teenage Witch movie (1996) and the series that followed on ABC and the WB from 1996 to 2003. (Image source: Digital Spy).
Dr. Lehman said that of the women who get called back for more testing, 80 percent are “absolutely fine.” The other 20 percent may need a breast biopsy as well, and only about a quarter of those people will have cancer.
But the fact that the experience of getting called back after a mammogram is so common does not make it any less scary—nor should it.
Melissa Joan Hart now stars in the Netflix series, “No Good Nick.” (Image source: USA Today)
“We understand the anxiety that screening for breast cancer can cause,” Dr. Lehman said. “And we understand the impact when a woman either gets that phone call or receives that letter saying we found something on your mammogram.”
In her Instagram video, Hart went on to share that the emotions were heightened by the fact that she and her husband, Mark Wilkerson, and 13-year-old son, Mason, were about to travel to Africa the next day for a Christian mission trip, where they won’t be able to communicate with Hart’s other two sons, Braydon, 11, and Tucker, 6, who will remain in the U.S.
Melissa Joan Hart with her husband, Mark Wilkerson, and their sons, Tucker, 6 (left), Braydon, 11 (middle front), and Mason, 13 (middle back). (Image source: Closer Weekly)
“I’m a little unsure what we’re getting ourselves into and I’m a little nervous,” Hart said. “I’m excited… but I’m nervous, and we’re leaving behind two of our boys. So there’s a lot going on.”
Hart looked tearful in the video as she put her hand to her chest and said, “I’m praying for everybody out there that goes through these things.” In the caption, she added, “All is good but just feeling vulnerable today especially. Reminder to all women over 35—get your mammogram!!”
Hart’s video coincides with a new law just passed in the state of New York—where Hart is originally from—requiring insurance companies to cover mammogram screenings for both women and men beginning at age 35.
The new law lowers the age five years from the previous regulation in the state, that only required coverage for those over 40. In Connecticut, where Hart lives now, the law says insurance policies have to cover one initial mammogram between age 35 and 39, then routine mammograms every two years after age 40.
Separate from her own cancer scare, Hart shared an Instagram photo of her cousin, Nancy, whom she visited in Africa. Nancy has been going through a difficult cancer journey, and Hart shared her support and prayers.
Other states vary in terms of their age cutoffs for covered mammograms, but the trend toward earlier screening in several states speak to the importance of early detection. Finding breast cancer early can make a dramatic difference in terms of how easy it is to treat the cancer.
Melissa Joan Hart left on her mission trip to Africa the day after her posting the video about her breast cancer scare. She posted an Instagram of her husband, Mark, and son, Mason from the trip.
It’s totally normal to feel emotional when you’re called back in for further breast cancer screening tests after a mammogram. Even when everything turns out to be ok, the experience is scary, and the nerves are warranted. “Sabrina The Teenage Witch” and “No Good Nick” actress Melissa Joan Hart, 43, recently opened up about a breast cancer scare, and encouraged all women over 35 to go in for their mammograms.
“I just wanted to share—because I’m really emotional right now—that I had a mammogram last week and they called me back in for another round of tests, so it was a little nerve-wracking,” Hart said in the video, which she shared with over one million followers on Instagram. “Everything’s good, it’s all clear, so I’m glad I did what I had to do, listened to the doctor… so so far so good.”
Hart’s experience of getting called back for further testing after a mammogram is common; according to Dr. Connie Lehman, Chief of Breast Imaging at Massachusetts General Hospital, 10 percent of all women who go in for mammograms get called back.
“The vast majority of that 10 percent of women called back do not have breast cancer,” Dr. Lehman told SurvivorNet in a previous conversation about further testing. She went on to explain that getting called back often just means that the doctors need a better image to see an area where there may be, for instance, breast calcifications (which could be a sign of any number of things—most of which are not cancer).
Melissa Joan Hart is known for her starring role in the Sabrina the Teenage Witch movie (1996) and the series that followed on ABC and the WB from 1996 to 2003. (Image source: Digital Spy).
Dr. Lehman said that of the women who get called back for more testing, 80 percent are “absolutely fine.” The other 20 percent may need a breast biopsy as well, and only about a quarter of those people will have cancer.
But the fact that the experience of getting called back after a mammogram is so common does not make it any less scary—nor should it.
Melissa Joan Hart now stars in the Netflix series, “No Good Nick.” (Image source: USA Today)
“We understand the anxiety that screening for breast cancer can cause,” Dr. Lehman said. “And we understand the impact when a woman either gets that phone call or receives that letter saying we found something on your mammogram.”
In her Instagram video, Hart went on to share that the emotions were heightened by the fact that she and her husband, Mark Wilkerson, and 13-year-old son, Mason, were about to travel to Africa the next day for a Christian mission trip, where they won’t be able to communicate with Hart’s other two sons, Braydon, 11, and Tucker, 6, who will remain in the U.S.
Melissa Joan Hart with her husband, Mark Wilkerson, and their sons, Tucker, 6 (left), Braydon, 11 (middle front), and Mason, 13 (middle back). (Image source: Closer Weekly)
“I’m a little unsure what we’re getting ourselves into and I’m a little nervous,” Hart said. “I’m excited… but I’m nervous, and we’re leaving behind two of our boys. So there’s a lot going on.”
Hart looked tearful in the video as she put her hand to her chest and said, “I’m praying for everybody out there that goes through these things.” In the caption, she added, “All is good but just feeling vulnerable today especially. Reminder to all women over 35—get your mammogram!!”
Hart’s video coincides with a new law just passed in the state of New York—where Hart is originally from—requiring insurance companies to cover mammogram screenings for both women and men beginning at age 35.
The new law lowers the age five years from the previous regulation in the state, that only required coverage for those over 40. In Connecticut, where Hart lives now, the law says insurance policies have to cover one initial mammogram between age 35 and 39, then routine mammograms every two years after age 40.
Separate from her own cancer scare, Hart shared an Instagram photo of her cousin, Nancy, whom she visited in Africa. Nancy has been going through a difficult cancer journey, and Hart shared her support and prayers.
Other states vary in terms of their age cutoffs for covered mammograms, but the trend toward earlier screening in several states speak to the importance of early detection. Finding breast cancer early can make a dramatic difference in terms of how easy it is to treat the cancer.
Melissa Joan Hart left on her mission trip to Africa the day after her posting the video about her breast cancer scare. She posted an Instagram of her husband, Mark, and son, Mason from the trip.
