Seeing the Unseen

Woman with Zero Symptoms Discovers the Value of Breast Imaging

Sara Casillas

“Whatever you do, don’t put off your mammogram. A year—or even a month delay—can mean all the difference. Early detection is your best chance of survival. If I had put off my mammogram, I may be telling a very different story today.”

If anyone doubts the power of a routine mammogram to save lives, they should talk with Sara Casillas, a 51-year-old Whittier resident and breast cancer survivor.

When Sara had her annual mammogram in early 2019 at the PIH Health Whittier Hospital Breast Health Center, she had no indication that anything was wrong. Without detectable lumps or family history of cancer, she wasn’t worried.

When PIH Health radiologist Kimberly Bickell MD informed Sara that her mammogram detected something and wanted to do a biopsy, Sara was surprised. When she received a breast cancer diagnosis—ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), stage 0—Sara was truly shocked.

“I didn’t even know there was a stage zero,” she said. “Thankfully, I had many treatment options. After reviewing all of them, I chose to have a double-mastectomy. This may seem aggressive to some based on the type of cancer I had, but it made the most sense to me.”

Sara’s mastectomy was performed by Kennith Thompson MD, PIH Health surgeon, who worked with John Britto MD, PIH Health plastic surgeon, for Sara’s reconstruction.

“One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, and if you’re that one woman, getting a yearly mammogram beginning at age 40 is the key to early detection and the best possible outcome,” said James Kuo MD, PIH Health radiologist and co-medical director of the PIH Health Breast Center. “Sara is a great example of how breast imaging is powerful enough to detect cancer at its very early stages.”

Nearly three years later, Sara is deeply grateful for the expert care she received from the PIH Health team and gives a thoughtful reminder to women everywhere.

“Whatever you do, don’t put off your mammogram. A year—or even a month delay—can mean all the difference. Early detection is your best chance of survival. If I had put off my mammogram, I may be telling a very different story today.”

For more information on mammograms or breast health at PIH Health, visit PIHHealth.org/Mammogram or call 562.906.5692.