"It turns your life upside down, I mean it really does. You're just going along thinking everything is A-Okay and then out of the clear blue something like this happens," says Leslie Priest.

The breast cancer survivor flashes a smile as she talks about her near death experience with the disease.

When she was 35 her doctor told her to get a mammogram and she says that made all the difference.

"I give him credit for saving my life, there's really no good reason for me to get one. I have no family history of breast cancer and by the time we found it was already a late stage three," says Priest.

Many medical professionals say to begin self screening by age eighteen and to start scheduling mammograms by age forty.

The Barren River Health Department offers help for mammograms and treatment to women.

"If you need to go on for treatment that program will cover that treatment or some of that treatment," says health educator, Melissa Hawks.

They have several tips to help keep you safe.

"Prevention is the key, and early detection is the key also, and you can do that by doing regular monthly breast exams on your own, and having a mammogram when you turn forty."

But Priest says she encourages women to get mammograms before they turn forty.

"I would say be your own health advocate, if you feel that something is not right with your body but your doctor says oh lets just wait til forty, you don't have any symptoms I think you'll be fine, well if you feel it--you do it. Your the one that knows your body and your the one who will ultimately save your own life."