Tiny speck, big warning: Floral Park woman’s mammogram detects cancer no one could see or feel
Bridget Kilgallen walked into The Women’s Health Center at St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center expecting nothing more than her annual mammogram. Instead, doctors discovered a 3 mm abnormality that ultimately turned out to be cancer.
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A Floral Park woman says a microscopic spot found during a routine mammogram led to a breast cancer diagnosis, underscoring the importance of early screening and breast health awareness.
Bridget Kilgallen walked into The Women’s Health Center at St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center expecting nothing more than her annual mammogram. Instead, doctors discovered a 3 mm abnormality that ultimately turned out to be cancer.
“I didn’t really like that,” said Kilgallen when recalling the moment doctors took a closer look at her scan.
Dr. Angela Capo, the director of women’s imaging services at the Women's Center, said the tiny speck detected during the exam was cancerous.
For Kilgallen, the diagnosis was especially startling. Her mother previously battled breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy, but Kilgallen said genetic testing on two separate occasions came back negative for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations often linked to hereditary breast cancer.
“It’s kind of shocking to hear you have cancer, but in the back of my head, I was like, 'OK, I can handle this,'” Kilgallen said.
She underwent surgery in June to remove the cancerous tissue. Doctors say the cancer was caught at an extremely early stage, likely preventing a far more serious outcome.
Medical professionals at St. Francis are encouraging women to talk with their doctors about breast cancer screening and risk factors, noting that early detection remains one of the most effective tools in fighting the disease. The center provides mammography, breast ultrasound, breast MRI and other diagnostic services aimed at detecting breast cancer as early as possible.
“It is the gold standard. And I want to stress that,” Capo said.
“Women do so much and they can forget about themselves,” said Ann Liotta, practice manager at the Women’s Center. “Get your mammogram, pick a day and keep coming back at that same time.”
Although Kilgallen did not require chemotherapy or radiation treatment, she says she is still a survivor.
“I’m lucky that it was caught so early,” she said. “I’ve had the best care. I’ve been guided the entire way, and I’m blessed.”
Doctors say women should be familiar with how their breasts normally look and feel and report any changes to a health care provider. Warning signs can include:
A new lump in the breast or underarm
Swelling or thickening in part of the breast
Skin dimpling or puckering
Redness, irritation or flaky skin on the breast or nipple
Nipple pain or a nipple that turns inward
Nipple discharge, especially if bloody
Changes in breast size or shape
Health experts note that many breast cancers cause no symptoms at all, making routine mammograms critical for early detection.
For more information about breast health services or to schedule a mammogram, visit The Women’s Health Center at St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center.
