SALT LAKE CITY

Dani Kurtz was just weeks away from her scheduled mammogram when she noticed something unusual.

“I felt a lump in my right armpit,” she recalled, referring to her discovery in January 2025. Although her mammogram did not indicate any issues, she remained uneasy about the lump.

“Women with dense breast tissue often hear that a mammogram might not detect tumors that are present,” she explained.

The challenge lies in the fact that both dense tissue and tumors show up as white on the mammogram, which can obscure signs of cancer.

To add to her concerns, Kurtz’s mother had recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. Further tests, including an ultrasound and an MRI, uncovered seven tumors in both breasts.

A biopsy ultimately confirmed the cancer diagnosis.

“That was the day I heard those words, ‘You have cancer,'” Kurtz shared.

Once a labor and delivery nurse at Intermountain Healthcare’s Utah Valley Hospital, Kurtz has since transitioned to a role in human resources within the health system. Her experience turned her from caregiver to patient. She underwent a bilateral mastectomy followed by 16 rounds of chemotherapy and radiation, completing her treatment by late 2025.

“It did come to an end — there were days I thought it might not, but it did,” she noted.

Now, she’s urging other women to prioritize their health.

“As women, whether we’re moms or wives, we often expend our energy on others, sometimes at the expense of our own well-being,” she reflected. “It’s essential to get mammograms and other screenings and just to know our bodies.” This includes being attentive to changes.

“Discuss with your doctor — they’ll ask pertinent questions and determine if further investigation is needed,” she advised.

“Mammography saves lives. We observe it every day,” affirmed Dr. Jonathan Shakespear, the medical director at Intermountain Medical Center’s Breast Care Center.

He pointed out that hectic schedules can often prevent women from keeping up with screenings.

Statistics show that around 63.8% of women in Utah aged 40 and older have undergone a mammogram in the past two years, according to the Utah Department of Health and Human Services.

The state has set a goal to boost breast cancer screening rates to 81% by 2030.

“We can’t predict who will face this or when it might happen. All we can do is hope to catch it early when it’s easier to treat,” Shakespear explained. “Some women might feel a bit embarrassed if it’s been years since their last mammogram. Remember, infrequent screenings are better than none at all.”

To assist women in this regard, Intermountain Health has launched an online scheduling tool. This initiative allows women to compare available mammogram appointments at various nearby facilities and book appointments online.

Shakespear mentioned that this tool could help women secure earlier appointments by exploring options beyond their usual locations.

“We want to make obtaining a mammogram as easy as possible,” he said, adding that one location might have a two-week wait while another may offer availability the next day.

Women can find the scheduling portal in the mammography section of Intermountain’s website.

For Kurtz, her life after treatment is now seen through a new lens.

“In our family, we say we can choose to become bitter or better through our challenges,” she expressed. “In this new normal, I strive to grow from my experience, cherishing what I have, and viewing life with newfound gratitude for what is instead of what isn’t.”