As a banker, Anne Kehoe was a woman whose career revolved around numbers and statistics.
But she never imagined that one day she would become part of a heart-wrenching statistic— joining the ranks of 1 of 8 women who receive a breast cancer diagnosis in their lifetime.
Heartbreak, Then Fear
Prior to her own cancer diagnosis, Kehoe witnessed her dad, Gary, navigate his own cancer journey.
“I remember thinking that my dad was the toughest man I knew, and he didn’t survive his battle with cancer. How was I going to beat this?” Kehoe said.
With four rounds of chemotherapy, Kehoe endured a long and complex journey. Through her experience, she was thankful for the world-class care she received and the team she had around her during her experience, including her nurse navigator, a program made possible thanks to philanthropy.
“The nurse navigator sat down with us and went through who to call if something happens. They really helped with that,” she said.
“I’m also thankful for the team at the Joe Lueken Cancer Center who guided me through it,” Kehoe said. “The nurses were amazing. They made you feel like you weren’t alone.”
Breast cancer affects nearly 100 women in the Bemidji region each year. Being one of those women, Kehoe realized the importance of preventative care and how routine checkups could be lifesaving. “It could save your life, your sister’s or daughter’s life,” Kehoe said.
Mobile Mammography: A Lifeline for Northern Minnesota
For most towns in northern Minnesota, access to health care means traveling a long distance or taking time off work to attend health appointments.
In efforts to bring mammography screenings closer to patients in the community, the Edith Sanford Breast Center introduced a 3D Mobile Mammography Unit that will travel to communities in the Bemidji region. The unit will provide over 1,100 mammogram screenings annually. Because of philanthropy and the generosity of donors and sponsors, women like Kehoe will have access to lifesaving equipment closer to home.
100% of your gift through the Sanford Health Foundation will help purchase and equip a state-of-the-art Mobile Mammography unit for the Bemidji region. Every gift is needed to help make this lifesaving service a reality for women across our communities.
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