Hudson stresses the importance of mammograms

The year 2015 didn't start out the way Lea Hudson had planned.

Hudson, who lives in Ashland City, was diagnosed with breast cancer on Jan. 13 — several days after getting her routine mammogram.

"My goals for 2015 were to get all my medical check-ups done and that (setting up the mammogram) was the first phone call I made. They had an opening on Jan. 2. I went in and a couple days later, they told me they noticed something irregular, which is not uncommon, and they wanted me to come back in," she recalled.

She was eventually diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer, and her regular doctor referred her to an oncology surgeon.

"It was a slow-growing cancer, not aggressive. I was very fortunate," said Hudson, who has lived in Cheatham County for six years.

Hudson, an independent consultant with Rodan + Fields Dermatologists, said when she first heard something was irregular after getting her mammogram, she thought it would turn out to be cancer.

"I’ve had four biopsies over the past 20 years and the first three were all benign. I just felt it in my heart (this time) that it wouldn't be, but I wasn’t worried because of my faith," she said.

In fact, she said there was a calmness in her.

"Even the doctor and nurses told me I was taking it so well," she said. "When I told my husband (Jim), he took it harder than I did because he was worried."

After taking a vacation on the beach to relax, Hudson had surgery on March 3 to remove the cancer.

She is still recovering from the surgery and finished her radiation treatments in July.

"I am taking a cancer pill now and will take it for five years. I will also have regular check-ups," she said. "The prognosis, by the grace of God, is excellent."

Hudson will be one of the featured speakers at Saturday's Pink Out For Hope health awareness breakfast at Pleasant View United Methodist Church (details on page 9A).

She said she appreciates the opportunity to speak at the breakfast and to share her journey with others.

Hudson credits her faith in God as well as her family and friends at PVUMC, where she attends, for supporting her every step of the way.

Hudson, who has been getting mammograms for 20 years, encourages women of all ages to get a mammogram on a regular basis.

"I had no clue that there was anything wrong with me. I have gone year after year and a couple of times they took a biopsy, but it turned out to be nothing," she said. "It would have been easy to get lax, and if you don't have any pain or a lump, you may not catch anything. Mine was a mass, not a lump, and I didn't know I had it."

Tim Adkins can be reached at 615-792-4230.