BREAST CANCER: CoMo Council member announces diagnosis

"I want to choose life."

COLUMBIA, Mo 10/14/24 (Beat Byte) -- Taking the opportunity to encourage regular mammograms during this Breast Cancer Awareness month, Second Ward Columbia City Councilwoman Lisa Meyer announced her own diagnosis at last Monday's Council meeting.

"Since I turned 40, for sixteen years, I've been getting an annual routine mammogram. This time, I was one of the women who received the news that I have breast cancer," Meyer said. "Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, but I am grateful for so many things."

With the diagnosis, Meyer is now a two-time cancer survivor. She was diagnosed with a rare head and neck cancer in 2009.

Wearing pink, the color of breast cancer advocacy, Meyer discussed the Meyermost common barriers to early breast cancer detection.

"There are two reasons women do not get mammograms according to the American Cancer Society: 1) Women say I don't want to inconvenience anyone by taking the time to get the appointment. But remember, your health is priority. 2) Women say they cannot afford a mammogram.

"But cancer centers like Boone Health and Mizzou's Ellis Fischel have various financial resources to help make mammograms affordable. I want to encourage women to get mammograms."

Meyer concluded her remarks with "a great quote from an inspiring woman, Sister Thea Bowman.  "I want to choose life. I want to keep going. I want to live fully until I die."

A Franciscan nun on the official road to Roman Catholic sainthood, Bowman was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1984. She died in 1990. 

"Our thoughts are with you as you go through this," Mayor Barbara Buffaloe told Meyer.


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