SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – More than 360,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
Doctors typically recommend women have mammograms beginning when they turn 40 years old. However, Kristin Oordt, who had no family history of breast cancer was diagnosed in her 30s in 2022.
“I did 16 rounds of chemo then I had a double mastectomy and I did radiation. I did 25 rounds of radiation and now I’m on hormone therapy and I’ll be on that for a minimum of five years, possibly ten,” Oordt said.
Sanford Health physician, Dr. Chris Sumey, says Oordt is lucky she got checked when she did.
“So for Kristin, her breast cancer appeared before the age when women would start doing screening mammograms. She felt a lump and so she knew to go in and get that investigated. And it’s really a good thing that she did,” Sumey said.
While undergoing various treatments, Oordt found community in a fishing group called Casting for Recovery offered to women who have breast cancer.
“I truly loved it. We were, it was healing. It was empowering. It was just a weekend of being in nature and being outside and connecting with other women who have had breast cancer,” Oordt said.
Oordt credits God as one of the main reasons she was able to get through the tough days as well as her family.
“One of the big things that carried me through was my faith and being able to have a community around me that could walk with me,” Oordt said.
Casting for Recovery just had its annual retreat this month. To learn more about Casting for Recovery South Dakota click here.
