Cancer survivor plans to redeem 10k race. Boston

Later this month, thousands of runners will take part in the Boston 10K, challenging themselves and raising money for good causes. For one local mum, it’s not about pace. Everything is aimed at redemption. Andrea Baxter is gaining momentum now. But that wasn’t the case when we met the mom from Upton, Massachusetts last year. It was an emotional time as she underwent treatment for breast cancer discovered during a routine mammogram. She didn’t feel well enough to finish last year’s 10K race, but she vowed to come back. “What a difference a year can make,” Baxter said. “This time last year, I had just started chemotherapy and had not yet dared to undergo radiotherapy. And now I’m finally on the other side of all the treatment.” Baxter is also gearing up to complete the race this year and is raising funds for the Thea Stoneman Breast Imaging and Diagnostic Center at Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital. “Because if they find mine, I want them to find other women as soon as possible,” she said. Dr. Sona Chikarmane is a breast imaging specialist at the center and said early breast cancer detection technology has truly come a long way. “We have something called contrast-enhanced mammography. That’s why we inject contrast or dye right before we do a mammogram,” Chikarmane said. “The contrast actually helps the radiologist look at the breast tissue and see if there are any abnormal or normal findings.” She added that with the new recommendation that women start getting mammograms at age 40 – and more women develop breast cancer earlier – early detection is critical. “The sooner we find it, the better the results,” Chikarmane said. Andrea Baxter is living proof of this. That’s why he’s so keen to spread this message: “I have no family history. I don’t have genetic markers for this. It shouldn’t be me. But I did, so it could be anyone.” she said. This year’s Boston 10K will take place on June 23.