As a breast cancer survivor, I know firsthand how overwhelming a cancer diagnosis can be. My journey has been long and difficult, and even though I am still undergoing treatment, I feel incredibly grateful to be alive. However, my experience also taught me an important lesson I want to share with others: early detection saves lives. For example, with breast cancer, the survival rate is 99% when it is caught early.  

Across the country, too many people skip recommended cancer screenings. Whether it’s mammograms, colonoscopies or other preventive tests, millions of Americans delay or avoid them altogether. Sometimes it’s fear. Sometimes it’s lack of access, cost or simply the perceived discomfort and inconvenience of traditional screening methods. Regardless of the reason, the result is the same: cancers are often caught too late, when treatment is more difficult and outcomes can be much worse. 

Stacey Benton serves on the board of Tallapoosa’s Caring REFUGE and is a breast cancer survivor.