Peggy Lake

I am 84 years old, a retired registered nurse with two children and seven grandchildren. I enjoy reading and walking.

I was diagnosed at the age of 84, had a lumpectomy on my left breast, no reconstruction.

Many times in our lives we blithely have experiences that impact us at the time or later. A lot of women in my age group forget to pay attention to their breasts! They ignore scheduling mammograms or examining their organs. My story is one of realizing early that there was a small, but significant lump in my left breast. I pursued this knowledge with sound information, sincere and deep faith with the support of my family and friends. I realized that treatment was needed, and I was sent to Dr. Taft at Jupiter Medical Center’s Margaret W. Niedland Breast Center. After many exams it was decided that the lump had to be excised and treated pathologically. It proved to be malignant, but Dr. Taft was able to remove the tumors without lymph nodes being involved.

Everyone was kind and helpful to me and I can strongly recommend women of my age to pay attention to their breasts so that if any changes occur treatment can be pursued by informed, knowledgeable and experienced clinicians. Again, I want to reiterate that the support of family and friends, the deep abiding faith one has will help us through the ordeal for that which we call “Breast Cancer”.

Message to other women:

Please examine your breasts and schedule your mammogram. You are never too old to stop taking care of your health.

The theme of my chair is Faith, Family & Friends. Being diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 84 was a lesson in paying attention to my body and pursuing a resolution to the problem. It was also a lesson in relying on the sincere and deep faith I have and the support of my family and friends.

Everyone was kind and helpful to me along the way. I was taken care of by experienced and knowledgeable clinicians who put me at ease and got me through this ordeal we call “Breast Cancer”.

Chair Location

Marmi at The Gardens Mall
3101 PGA Boulevard
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410