SELF-EXAMINATION 13-year-old on the watch for breast-cancer lump

A biopsy showed the lump in her breast was noncancerous.
By WILLIAM K. ALCORN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- "Very frightened" is how 13-year-old Tawni McClendon said she felt when she found a lump in her breast during a routine monthly self-examination.
"Very relieved," is how she felt when the laboratory biopsy report came back negative and the noncancerous fibrous cyst was removed via a lumpectomy.
Tawni discovered the lump in December.
"I was very frightened," she said.
Tawni had previously found a lump in her breast in November, but it turned out to be a temporary swelling that feels like a cyst, which can occur just before a woman's menstrual cycle begins, said Jackie Kula, the nurse at Hayes Middle School where Tawni is a pupil.
Because Tawni had previously discovered a lump, she said her mother, Mary Avery, thought it was the same thing and did not immediately take her to a doctor.
However, this lump did not disappear. "I was very concerned," Tawni said.
She persuaded her mother to take her to her family doctor in February. From there, she was referred to a specialist and the Forum Health breast cancer center for a biopsy.
"I want to thank all the doctors, especially those at Forum Health. They were so nice," Tawni said.
Why she's cautious
Tawni said family history and training in school are why she does a monthly breast self-examination at such a young age.
She said her grandmother died of cancer, though not breast cancer, and two aunts had noncancerous lumps removed from their breasts.
Also, Tawni said she and other students at Hayes received information about breast cancer in health class.
Presenting breast cancer information is not part of the regular curriculum but is taught by individual teachers, Kula said. Then, if students want to learn how to do breast self-examinations and to practice the technique, they can get help at home or from the school nurse, Kula said.
"I think the information should be in health textbooks by at least the seventh grade. Most children do not get this information at home," Kula said.
Kula, who has been at Hayes for seven years, said she is impressed that Tawni regularly checks herself at such a young age. She is a very mature 13-year-old, Kula said.
Tawni, a member of the Greater Ebenezer Baptist Church, is focused on education as well as her health.
Her plans
At Hayes, she is involved in Destination Imagination, a creativity and problem-solving program; and as a member of the Student Council, she volunteers once a week to visit residents at the Park Vista Retirement Community.
"I pretty much stick with activities that deal with academics," she said.
Tawni hopes to be admitted to Youngstown State University's Early College program in lieu of regular high school. She said her long-term goal is to become a lawyer.
Tawni urged other young women like herself to check themselves regularly. And if they find a lump and their parents don't believe them, keep insisting ... even show them, she said.
alcorn@vindy.com