1 in 8: Breast cancer awareness starts with listening to your body
In the United States, 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in their lifetime. It's a stark statistic, but one that underscores a simple, vital truth: early detection saves lives.
While routine screening mammograms are typically recommended starting at age 40, medical experts strongly encourage women to talk with their primary care provider or gynecologist about their individual risk factors. For some, that means starting your screening earlier — especially if there's a family history of breast cancer, dense breast tissue, or other contributing factors.
For Meagan Kelt, that conversation — and her intuition — made all the difference.
“I just knew something was different”
Meagan Kelt, Director of Hospital Clinical Operations at Transylvania Regional Hospital (TRH), at 39 years old, wasn’t due for a routine screening, but she performed a self-breast exam in March.
“I noticed something that felt different,” Meagan recalls. “It wasn’t super hard, but it didn’t feel like the rest of my breast tissue.”
At her gynecologist visit March 31, the finding was initially thought to be non-suspicious. But Meagan pushed for further evaluation — and insisted on having it done close to home at Transylvania Regional Hospital.
Quickly after on April 7, she underwent a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound at Transylvania Regional Hospital. Within hours, Dr. Forrest Carson, Medical Director of Radiology at TRH, advised a biopsy, which was performed the same day.
On April 11, Meagan received the life-changing diagnosis: Stage II Invasive Ductal Carcinoma.
“I just dissolved,” she says. “I didn’t know what to feel. I was at work when I found out, and my immediate thought was — am I going to die?”
Her colleagues and family rallied around her, helping her navigate the emotional fog and logistics of choosing the right oncologist. Ultimately, Meagan selected Dr. Blair Harkness at Hope Cancer Center, part of the Mission Health system.
A team that cares for the whole person
“Dr. Harkness had a calming presence,” Meagan says. “He was friendly, factual, and showed me everything on my MRI and mammogram. His team was incredible.”
What stood out most to Meagan was the holistic approach. From nurse navigators and mental health counselors to support groups and breast cancer yoga, Hope Cancer Center supported her physically and emotionally.
On May 27, Meagan underwent a bilateral mastectomy. She is currently on hormone therapy, receiving monthly injections to shut down her ovaries, and will begin long-term medication therapy. In November, she plans to undergo breast reconstruction and a total hysterectomy.
“I was put into menopause in two months,” Meagan shares. “That’s been tough, but it significantly reduces my risk of recurrence. I just keep telling myself that.”
Her journey has changed her outlook entirely.
“My husband and I are stronger than ever. We’re more focused on living life,” she says. “But it’s hard too. I’ve changed, but I don’t look like I have. The hardest part has been losing part of myself as a woman. People say, ‘They’re just breasts,’ but it’s so much more than that.”
“Trust yourself — You know your body”
Throughout her experience, Meagan has become a vocal advocate for self-breast exams and early action.
“Trust yourself,” she urges. “You know your body better than anyone. That’s what saved my life. I had a few cancer cells in my lymph nodes — if I’d waited, it could’ve become metastatic.”
She credits Dr. Carson with helping her through the earliest, most terrifying days.
“He explained everything,” she says. “He spent an hour walking me through what the diagnosis meant and what came next. That’s the kind of care you get from him. That’s who he is.”
Expert insight: Listen to your gut
Dr. Forrest Carson sees this pattern far too often.
“There’s a common reaction of minimizing symptoms,” he explains. “People will think, ‘It’s probably nothing,’ or get a second opinion from a friend or family member. That delay can be deadly. Meagan didn’t stop. She faced her fear and pushed forward.”
As Medical Director of Radiology at TRH, Dr. Carson emphasizes clear, compassionate communication, especially during diagnosis.
“This isn’t just reading a scan,” he says. “It’s someone’s mom, sister, friend. You have to be transparent and kind. Sometimes patients bring three or four family members. Sometimes they want their spouse on speakerphone. It’s about meeting them where they are.”
At Transylvania Regional Hospital, patients have access to screening and diagnostic mammograms, breast ultrasounds, ultrasound-guided biopsies, and Automated Breast Ultrasound (ABUS) for patients with dense breast tissue. Through Mission Health, additional tools are available — including Contrast-Enhanced Mammograms (CEM), and Breast MRI.
Dr. Carson recommends a risk-based assessment by age 25 and beginning annual screening mammograms no later than age 40. For those with increased risk or dense breasts, he advises speaking with a provider about supplemental screening options.
Early detection saves lives
Meagan’s message is simple but powerful: do the exam, trust your gut, and speak up.
“This opened my eyes. You get stuck in your day-to-day and forget how fragile life is,” she says. “Now, I focus on small blessings. But none of this would’ve happened if I hadn’t insisted something was wrong.”
To schedule a mammogram, visit Imaging Services or call (828) 883-5021. For more information on services at Hope Cancer Center, visit the Oncology page or call (828) 670-8403.