Breast Cancer

For many years, the disease of breast cancer has terrified women across America. Breast cancer is an internal tumor in the breast that is not easily noticeable to the naked eye. In the story of Abigail Adams we learn that 200 years ago cancer was simply a death sentence. When Abigail developed breast cancer, treatment could easily be as deadly as the disease. The advances in technology and numerous treatment options as well as educating women in early detection has greatly evolved over time. In 1808, Abigail Adams, also known as Nabby Smith, first noticed a "dimple" in her left breast. Thinking nothing of it she went about her life as a wife and a mother of three, but little did she know the dimple was a premature symbol of death that would soon take her life. In late 1809, the dimple became more of a hard lump and in 1811 she was diagnosed with breast cancer. During this time period, surgery was a last resort because of the painful process due to the lack of anesthesia, but after seeing multiple physicians and contemplating with her family "the knife" became the only logical option. On October 8th 1811 Nabby had the dreadful mastectomy. They removed the tumor, but little did they know, the cancer cells had already spread throughout her body and the surgery had been pointless. Slowly she went down suffering, and within the next year she took her last breath. Breast cancer was a deadly disease in the early nineteenth century killing most of the people diagnosed. Just as many died from infections from non sterile environments and carless precautions. To this day breast cancer is still a deadly disease, victimizing more than 50,000 a year, and taking the life of almost 40% of those women. However, the chance of survival has drastically increased. New surgical procedures have been developed such as; lumpectomy, mastectomy, and lymph node removal along with radiation and chemotherapy. Surgeries are now performed in total sterile environments and they now use anesthesia to minimize the pain during surgery. Also the precautions being taking before are now known to women such as the "at home check", seeing your doctor regularly, and being able to take tests like the mammogram or a breast MRI to see if you are at risk of the disease. The story of Mrs. Nabby Smith helps us to see how modern medicine has changed and help save more lives over the years. This disease could happen to anyone, and this shows us all the options now available, that Nabby was not fortunate enough to have. Seeing the struggle that she has endured should encourage women to take all precautions necessary and to be thankful for the advances in technology and science that have been established throughout the years.