DAVENPORT, Fla -- Amy Prill of Davenport said she believes if it were not for a routine mammogram, she might not be alive today to share her story of surviving breast cancer. Now, she’s working to impress upon others how important early detection and getting an annual check-up is.
(From L-R) Patti's Husband Lohny, Patti, Amy Prill, Amy's cousin Kathy, and Kathy's parents Judy and Wes. Photo courtesy of Amy Prill.
“It was very scary to hear those words and not know what your future is going to be," she said. "My son was 16 years old at the time. So, it’s like, you know, talk about shaking up somebody’s world.”
Prill said that in April 2021, she was diagnosed with multiple tumors of invasive ductal carcinoma in both her right and left breasts. She was also diagnosed with Invasive lobular carcinoma in situ in her right breast. At the time she was 49 years old.
According to the American Cancer Society, Invasive ductal carcinoma is the most common type of breast cancer, with about 80% of all breast cancers being IDC. Health experts say this type of cancer starts in the milk ducts, the tubes that carry milk from the lobules to the nipple and spreads into surrounding breast tissues. Lobular carcinoma in situ is a type of breast change where cells that look like cancer cells are growing in the lining of the milk-producing glands (lobules) of the breast.
“The really crazy thing is, we had a lot of things going on in our lives and I was supposed to have my mammogram like a year earlier and normally, I go every year, but I put it off. Then they called me and said, ‘Hey you haven’t been in, do you want to schedule that?’ And I said oh yeah,” Prill said. “It was just God’s timing.”
Dr. Paul Williams of AdventHealth Heart of Florida took the lead on her patient care. Prill said she is grateful to Dr. Williams and his staff for reassuring her after her initial diagnosis.
“He said, ‘I’m going to treat you like you were my mom or my sister. I’m going to be honest with you, we’re going to handle this.’ And he just put me at ease. His whole office just put me at ease. And I walked out of there thinking, I’m going to be ok,” Prill said.
In June 2021, Prill had a bilateral mastectomy at AdventHealth Heart of Florida, followed by radiation treatment in September 2021.
Prill said another major factor that helped her recover was a strong support system. Prill and her husband recently celebrated their 26th wedding anniversary and they have an 18-year-old son. In addition to her family, Prill said she had met several women in her neighborhood just months prior to her diagnosis and when they found out what she was going through, they helped however they could.
“It was unbelievable,” Prill said. “They made meals, got gift certificates for Grubhub and helped whenever I needed a ride somewhere.”
Prill also said she was helped by two dear family members who had been diagnosed with breast cancer before she was. Prill, her aunt, Patti Frederick and her cousin, Kathy Lehman from a different aunt, were diagnosed with Invasive Lobular Carcinoma. Her aunt, Patti, has since recovered. Her cousin, Kathy, who was diagnosed in 2016, fought the disease until she passed away in May 2024. Both lived in Wisconsin.
“She (Kathy) helped me and my aunt through our journeys with this. Unfortunately, she lost hers, but she helped a lot of people," she said. "She was incredible.”
Prill is now three years cancer-free. She enjoys spending time with her husband and 18-year-old son and being active. Prill stressed how critical it is to get an annual mammogram to catch any potential issues as soon as possible and trusting your doctor and your gut.
“The importance of having a 3D mammogram, in my opinion, is lifesaving," she said.
Prill also emphasized the importance of maintaining a positive attitude despite the challenges she faced during her cancer journey.
“When you are diagnosed with cancer, people look at you differently. I’m still me. Cancer is happening to me, but it’s not me.” “It’s something millions of people go through, I’m still me, it doesn’t define who you are. You just deal with it and then have fun and live your life.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control, breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the United States, behind some kinds of skin cancer. The most recent available data from the Florida Department of Health shows in 2021, Polk County had a breast cancer rate of about 124 per 100,000 women, compared to the state rate of about 134 per 100,000.
Health experts say mammography is the single most effective method of early detection since it can identify cancer several years before physical symptoms develop. They also say women should know their breasts and report changes of size, symmetry or skin appearance to their doctor. That can include a lump or thickening in or near the breast or underarm area.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that women who are 40 to 74 years old and are at average risk for breast cancer get a mammogram every two years or as advised by the women's physician.
If you would like to schedule an appointment for mammography or need breast cancer treatment, you can find a doctor near you by going to www.adventhealth.com/our-services/cancer-care/breast-cancer.