University Southern California Trojans
Angela Helton's Crucial Catch
October 26, 2018 | Football, USC Ripsit Blog, Features
Angela Helton caught it early.
Just one month after moving to Los Angeles for her husband Clay's new job as USC's quarterbacks coach, Angela discovered a lump in her breast. It was May of 2010, and the Heltons had barely begun to settle in to their new home. Angela didn't yet have a doctor or much of a support group in her new city.
But she didn't panic. She had watched her mother beat breast cancer, so she quickly took the next steps to get treatment.
After a mammogram and a biopsy, the doctors found abnormal cells. Angela underwent three separate lumpectomies before deciding to undergo surgery for a double mastectomy to permanently rid herself of the cancer.
Nowadays, Helton frequently encourages friends and colleagues to perform self-exams and get mammograms in order to nip cancer in the bud. She also outfitted her husband with a pink ribbon pin, which he's worn throughout the month of October.
"If there's any message I could give, it would be early detection," Helton said. "Self-exam. Get your yearly mammogram. Stay on top of it, stay ahead of it the best you can. It does make a difference."
USC football hosts its "Pink Game" tomorrow versus Arizona State. Click here for more information on breast cancer.
Just one month after moving to Los Angeles for her husband Clay's new job as USC's quarterbacks coach, Angela discovered a lump in her breast. It was May of 2010, and the Heltons had barely begun to settle in to their new home. Angela didn't yet have a doctor or much of a support group in her new city.
But she didn't panic. She had watched her mother beat breast cancer, so she quickly took the next steps to get treatment.
After a mammogram and a biopsy, the doctors found abnormal cells. Angela underwent three separate lumpectomies before deciding to undergo surgery for a double mastectomy to permanently rid herself of the cancer.
Nowadays, Helton frequently encourages friends and colleagues to perform self-exams and get mammograms in order to nip cancer in the bud. She also outfitted her husband with a pink ribbon pin, which he's worn throughout the month of October.
"If there's any message I could give, it would be early detection," Helton said. "Self-exam. Get your yearly mammogram. Stay on top of it, stay ahead of it the best you can. It does make a difference."
USC football hosts its "Pink Game" tomorrow versus Arizona State. Click here for more information on breast cancer.
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