Chicago resident Griselda Garibay, a mother of two and longtime health advisor, was diagnosed with breast cancer on May 10, a date she once celebrated as Mother’s Day across Mexico and Latin America. At 44, she had no symptoms, no family history of the disease, and considered herself healthy.
Misconceptions about risk
Garibay’s story underscores a persistent misunderstanding highlighted by a recent American Cancer Society (ACS) survey of nearly 33,000 women. While 99% of respondents recognized family history as a risk factor, more than 85% of women diagnosed with breast cancer reported no family history. “It’s important that women don’t assume they’re safe simply because no one in their family has had breast cancer,” said Dr. Curtis Miyamoto, an ACS researcher and professor at Temple University School of Medicine.
Healthy habits help, but they don’t guarantee protection
Garibay’s daughter asked, “But mom, why did you get cancer? You eat broccoli,” illustrating the belief that good nutrition alone can prevent cancer. Dr. Miyamoto agrees that lifestyle matters—regular exercise, limiting alcohol, and maintaining a healthy weight can lower risk, and researchers estimate that more than 30% of cases might be preventable through such choices. However, he stresses that risk reduction is not elimination.
Barriers to healthy living
The ACS survey also revealed that many women understand risk factors yet struggle to act on them. Cost, limited access to fresh foods, and time constraints from work and family responsibilities can impede healthy choices. “Start with one minute of exercise,” Dr. Miyamoto advises, encouraging incremental steps that can grow over time.
Early detection saves lives
Garibay’s diagnosis was caught early through a mammogram, a fact she stresses to other women. The 5‑year relative survival rate for breast cancer detected at an early, localized stage exceeds 99%, according to Dr. Miyamoto. “This is a fight that you can win,” he says.
Personal resilience and community service
Following six rounds of chemotherapy, a lumpectomy, and about 20 radiation treatments—a treatment course lasting roughly nine months—Garibay emerged as a vocal advocate. She now volunteers with Imerman Angels, offering one‑on‑one support to cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers. “Better to know than not know,” she says, urging women to prioritize their health because families depend on them.
Key takeaways
- Family history is only one piece of the breast cancer risk puzzle.
- Healthy habits lower risk but do not guarantee immunity.
- Regular mammograms are essential; early detection dramatically improves survival.
- Barriers such as cost and time can be mitigated with small, consistent steps.
- Community support and education can empower women to act on their health.
Garibay hopes her experience encourages other women to stay vigilant, get screened, and remember that taking care of oneself is an act of love for the whole family.
Original reporting: NBC4 Los Angeles — read the source article.
