A Kept Appointment Helped Catch Breast Cancer Early: Meet Julie Burns

Watch Julie share her story

When COVID hit, Julie Burns wondered if it was worth keeping a routine mammogram appointment. “I really thought, oh, do I need to go and have this done because it’s COVID? I was back and forth. Finally, I thought—no, I better keep the appointment.”

That decision changed everything.

The mammogram revealed something Julie never expected, breast cancer. “If I hadn’t had that screening, it wouldn’t have been caught as early as it was and I wouldn’t probably be in the condition I am today.”

Early detection allowed Julie to act quickly. “When I got my mammogram report, I was at first shocked. You go, ‘where do I go from here?’ But the Breast Cancer Center is wonderful here and they guided me every step of the way.”

The next step was a biopsy, which confirmed the diagnosis. From there, Julie met with TriHealth surgeon Dr. Barbara Wexelman, who performed Julie’s lumpectomy. Dr. Wexelman then referred her on to radiology and to oncologist Dr. Apurva Mehta. “Radiation was simple—it only took about 15 minutes. I even scheduled it during my lunch hour so I could go back to work.”

Like with any cancer diagnosis the emotional toll was real. “You still to this day have this fear—what if it comes back?”

Family support and TriHealth’s compassionate care made all the difference. “Everyone was there for me, from the people who did my radiology, to the surgery, to the nurses who followed me afterwards. They let me know what was going to happen every step of the way.”

Julie’s journey inspired her family to take proactive steps for future generations. Given that both her mother and grandmother had faced breast cancer, the family chose to pursue genetic testing. The results showed that the cancer was not a hereditary type, but the risk is still there. Fortunately, Dr. Wexelman proactively enrolled Julie’s daughter in a program designed to closely monitor her risk and safeguard her health.

Julie’s message is clear, don’t put off your mammogram. “If you notice a lump or something unusual, don’t let it go. Get it checked out. Chances are it is negative—but if it’s not, early treatment will save your life.”

Today, Julie is enjoying retirement and a healthy future, all because of one decision, keeping that appointment.

Learn more about TriHealth Breast Care today.