At 40, I thought I was too young to be worried about breast cancer.
I was wrong.
In 2024, I was diagnosed with stage 3 triple-negative breast cancer. Looking back, one of the things I think about most is this: screening mammograms really do save lives.
October is synonymous with pink ribbons. They honor mothers, daughters, sisters, friends and colleagues whose lives have been changed by breast cancer. They celebrate survivors and remember those we have lost.
For me, those pink ribbons mean something different now. Breast cancer is no longer something I write about to promote awareness. It’s part of my story.
I’m Alison Weigley, a 14-year employee with Pullman Regional Hospital’s Community Relations department and a breast cancer survivor.
A mammogram takes 30 minutes or less at Pullman Regional Hospital. Yes, it’s easy to postpone when life is busy, when you feel healthy, or when you don’t have a family history that makes you particularly worried.
Don’t wait. Put yourself first. Schedule your annual screening mammogram.
If you wait too long, like I did, to investigate that lump, or if you’re dismissive of your family history, you may wish you hadn’t. While the work emails and to-do lists feel like they can’t wait, cancer absolutely does not.
At Pullman Regional Hospital, we recently invested in the newest Hologic 3Dimensions mammography technology, giving our community access to advanced 3D imaging designed to detect more invasive cancers and reduce unnecessary callbacks. The system also offers a more comfortable compression experience for some women, and the scan itself, while very accurate, takes less than four seconds.
Behind that technology is an experienced team that cares deeply about the women we serve. Our mammography staff brings decades of experience, and we partner with specialized radiologists through Inland Imaging to deliver timely, accurate results. Last October alone, more than 350 women came through our doors for screening mammograms.
And when a mammogram finds something concerning, you don’t have to face the next steps alone.
Pullman Regional’s multidisciplinary Tumor Board brings specialists together to review a patient’s diagnosis, imaging and pathology and develop a coordinated treatment plan. Depending on the patient’s needs, that team can include surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, nutrition services, social work, palliative care and counseling.
General Surgeon Dr. Nancy Panko says this collaboration builds confidence in a treatment plan that truly puts the patient first—while ensuring we have the team, skills and technology needed to help our patients heal closer to home.
That matters. Because when you hear the words “you have cancer,” everything changes.
You want to know that the people caring for you are talking to one another. You want to know that your diagnosis has been looked at from every angle. You want to know that the technology being used is the best available. And you want to be able to receive as much of your care as possible close to the people and community you call home.
Breast cancer awareness isn’t just about wearing pink in October. It’s about taking action.
If you’re 40 or older, talk with your healthcare provider about annual screening. There isn’t an age when you simply stop being worthy of prevention and early detection. Most insurance plans cover an annual screening mammogram, and many women do not need a physician’s order. If breast cancer is in your family, don’t dismiss that. Talk to your provider;screening earlier than 40 may be right for you.
I know firsthand how much can come from one appointment—after I finally made it.
A mammogram gave me a chance. It gave me answers. And ultimately, it saved my life.
Schedule your 3D screening mammogram at Pullman Regional Hospital by calling (509) 336-7446.
Put yourself first. You are worth it.