County Councilwoman Shares Her Breast Cancer Story

Allegheny County Council member Barbara Daly Danko (District 11) had a chance to bring home the importance of breast cancer awareness during a ceremony earlier this month when officials declared October 2012 as Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the county.

Danko told about how she has a family history of cancer and how her mother, who was diagnosed at age 48, lived to be 72.

Then the councilwoman read a letter she had written to her family and friends when she was diagnosed with stage 2 or 3 breast cancer. Danko endured outpatient chemotherapy and radiation and she said in the letter that the next six months would be hard for her family.

The twist was that the letter was written in 2005. See what she had to say when she told her story.

The county also presented proclamations to the Susan G. Komen for a Cure Foundation and the American Cancer Society. The point of Danko's message was that routine screening and early detection saves lives.

"If you are female make sure you are screened," she said. "And if you are a male, make sure your mothers, wives, daughters and significant others get screened."

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