TERRI OUELLETTE

For years, Terri Ouellette has welcomed Arizona viewers into their homes as the host of Sonoran Living on ABC15, using her platform to share stories, introduce people and highlight issues that matter to the community.

This time, the story is her own.

Terri recently faced a breast cancer diagnosis that changed the way she looks at her health, her family and the responsibility that comes with having a public platform. Now, through her work with Check Up AZ, an ABC15 initiative promoting regular mammograms and health screenings, she is using her personal experience to encourage other women to make their health a priority.

Every October, Terri made a point of getting her yearly mammogram. Then, in the span of one year, she went from feeling fine to receiving a Stage 1 diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ, or DCIS.

Thankfully, she caught it early.

Her treatment plan did not include chemotherapy. Terri chose a lumpectomy rather than a mastectomy, followed by 33 radiation treatments. After completing radiation, the typical treatment protocol she was presented with included medication for five years. After consulting with a doctor she highly respects, Terri made the personal decision not to take the medication.

That decision, like so much of her experience, was personal. But what Terri learned from her diagnosis has become something she wants to share with women across Arizona.

“The moment that hit me the most is when I realized had I not been diligent about getting my yearly mammograms, my story could have been much different,” she says.

That realization is now at the heart of the message Terri hopes to share.

For her, screening is only part of the equation. Women also need to know their bodies and understand their family history of cancer.

“Any kind of cancer! The more information you can give to your doctor the better they can help you outline your risk level,” she says.

For women who put off screenings because they are afraid, busy or believe they are not at risk, Terri has a simple message.

“The saying goes ‘if you don’t make time to be healthy, you will have to take more time to be sick.’ Prevention is KEY!!”

She knows a mammogram may not be anyone's idea of a good time. It can be uncomfortable, she says, but that discomfort shouldn't become a reason to avoid screening.

“Is it fun? No. Does it hurt? It can be uncomfortable but so is a pap smear!”

Terri has also allowed viewers to come along with her through an ABC15 segment showing what it was like for her to have a mammogram, turning a very personal experience into an opportunity for education.

She also wants to address concerns some women have about the amount of radiation involved with mammography. Terri points to a statement from Dr. Bravo at Solis Mammography, who told her, “you will get exposed to more radiation while flying from Arizona to New York!”

For Terri, the experience reinforced the importance of prevention.

“Prevention comes in many forms,” she says, pointing to self-exams, knowing your family history and getting a baseline mammogram at age 40.

Her diagnosis also changed the way she approaches her health, her family and her daily life.

“What you see on the outside does not always tell the story of what is happening on the inside,” she says.

Cancer can be mentally and emotionally draining, Terri says. There are doctors, appointments and decisions to make. And even after treatment, the emotional part of the journey doesn't necessarily end.

There are days when she worries the cancer could return. There are nights when she loses sleep thinking about it. She thinks about her family and asks herself what they would do without her.

“But then I have to snap out of it and realize everyday is a gift,” she says.

That perspective has made her more diligent about her health while also teaching her to give herself some grace.

“Family first, but you can only take care of your family if you are here to do it.”

Her experience has also taught her something she believes is important for anyone facing a serious diagnosis: Don't judge another person's journey and don't assume you know what someone else should do.

“I shall never judge nor give advice to anyone who is going through their journey,” she says. “I can only share what I have personally experienced and what others have shared with me.”

For Terri, that willingness to listen has become one of the most meaningful parts of her work with Check Up AZ.

The inspiration came from Anita Helt, ABC15's regional vice president and general manager. Terri says Helt has been a strong proponent of early detection and gave her the opportunity to use her platform to inspire others.

After some soul-searching, Terri decided she wanted to help women understand what could happen when they take control of their health.

“Breast cancer controllable if you catch it early!” she says.

Through Check Up AZ, Terri has had the opportunity to meet and interview women and men who have faced cancer themselves. Many have shared deeply personal stories with viewers, and each one has left an impression on her.

“Each story has touched me deeply and with each interview I have walked away with more insight and knowledge,” she says.

In many ways, those conversations have become part of Terri's own understanding of the cancer journey.

Her co-workers at ABC15 have also been an important source of strength and encouragement, particularly as she has become one of the faces of an initiative designed to get people talking about prevention and early detection.

Terri believes women who face barriers to health care should also know that resources are available. She points to nonprofit organizations that can help women access mammograms at no cost or at a reduced rate, with some also providing assistance if a woman receives a diagnosis.

She encourages women to register with organizations offering these programs because screening events can fill quickly.

“They fill up fast,” she says.

During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Terri has more than one message she wants women to remember.

“Know your body and your family history,” she says. “Do monthly self exams. Get your mammograms starting at age 40 or sooner if you are at high risk.”

She has also become increasingly concerned about younger women and breast cancer. Terri says she has learned that the rate of women being diagnosed under 40 is growing, and she encourages younger women not to assume that age alone means they should ignore changes or concerns about their health.

Her message is to take control of your health and be your own advocate.

At the same time, Terri emphasizes that every woman's cancer journey is different.

Treatment plans are different. Experiences are different. What works for one person may not be right for another.

“Everybody’s story is unique. So is yours. Treatment plans are unique. You can’t compare your journey to someone else’s journey but you can listen and learn.”

For Terri, sharing her story is ultimately about helping someone else.

She knows that talking openly about cancer can be difficult. But she also knows the power of one story to make another person stop, think and take action.

Her goal is simple.

She hopes that one day a woman will come to her and say the words that would make every difficult part of sharing her story worthwhile:

For Terri, that is what this journey has become — not simply a story about breast cancer, but a reason to keep speaking, keep educating and keep reminding women that their health deserves their attention.

Every story is unique. So is yours.