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Aria Carter, a 19-year-old breast cancer survivor, went to UAMS Health after noticing an unusual symptom – a bump in her breast accompanied by a burning sensation. Dr. Daniela Ochoa, a breast oncology surgeon at UAMS, treated Aria for what turned out to be a malignant tumor, which is rare for a woman in her age group. Aria has completed her treatment and living a full, cancer-free life. “You’ve got to take care of you. And at the end of the day, you only have yourself. ” Aria says.
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Reporter: October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and this morning you’ll meet an unlikely patient who might never have known she had cancer had it not been for an unusual symptom that brought her to a doctor. Aria Carter is all too familiar with the UAMS Winthropy Rockefeller Cancer Center. She’s had many appointments over the past year while fighting breast cancer at only 19 years old. I completed treatment September 4th.
Aria: Honestly, I look back at the pictures and I’m like, oh my goodness, how did I go through that? How did that happen?
Reporter: She says she happened to notice a bump in her breast last year and might have ignored it but after feeling a burning sensation decided to have it examined, a decision that might have saved her young life.
Aria: I can only think that the tumor would have grown. That’s all I can think. If it didn’t happen, I would not have gone to the doctor. I’m very grateful that it did happen in that aspect.
Reporter: Dr. Daniela Ochoa is a breast oncology surgeon at UAMS. She treated Aria for what turned out to be a malignant tumor.
Dr. Daniela Ochoa: In general, in breast disease, what is most common is that cancers don’t cause pain but part of what is most important in breast health in general is being familiar with your own body, being familiar with what your own breast tissue feels like.
Reporter: Aria has completed the treatment to remove the cancer and prevent it from coming back.
Aria: Especially at my age, with my hair and my breasts, like two of the most feminine qualities of a woman being taken from me, it was hard but I made it through.
Reporter: Along with Dr. Ochoa, who was able to communicate with Aria’s Spanish -speaking mother as one of the few bilingual cancer surgeons in the state.
Dr. Ochoa: I’m so happy that we were able to be able to offer that to our community and our patients here in Arkansas.
Reporter: And now, with her battle behind her, Aria has a message for other young women that sums up the reason October is all about breast cancer awareness.
Aria: Your body is you. You’ve got to take care of you. And at the end of the day, you only have yourself. So make sure that everything is all right and just thrive in life.
Reporter: Aria is thriving. She’s in school to be a pediatric oncology nurse. And Dr. Ochoa says screening messages typically target older populations. She recommends all women follow up on any changes in their bodies and that often in Aria’s age group, the results are benign.
