The Goldilocks Screening Plan

Not Too Little.  Not Too Much.  Just Right for You.

An IBCORA Project Initiative — Improving Breast Cancer Outcomes in Rural Appalachia

When it comes to breast cancer screening, one size doesn’t fit all. Too little screening can mean missed warning signs. Too much can lead to unnecessary procedures, false alarms, and mounting anxiety. What you need is a plan that’s just right for you — and that’s exactly what the Goldilocks Screening Plan delivers.

The Goldilocks Screening Plan is an important component of our first healthcare improvement project, IBCORA — Improving Breast Cancer Outcomes in Rural Appalachia. IBCORA was created with a simple but powerful mission: to ensure that women in rural communities have access to the same life-saving, personalized screening strategies available anywhere else.

In this article, we’ll introduce you to Ibcora Project, our 38-year-old virtual breast cancer survivor. Through her story, you’ll see how, with just minimal effort, Ibcora spared her family and herself a tremendous amount of avoidable anxiety. When Ibcora learned about her family’s cancer history — her 58-year-old mother’s battle with ovarian cancer and her 78-year-old grandmother’s bilateral breast cancer — she made the decision to seek genetic advice. That single decision may have saved her life.

Imagine Ibcora sitting at the family dinner table with her mother and her grandmother, who sits proudly at the head of the table. Three generations of women, each touched by cancer in different ways, but united by the knowledge that understanding your risk can change everything. Their story could be your story.

You and your family deserve the same chance Ibcora gave hers.

We’ll show you how.

Ibcora Project’s Story

Ibcora Project - is a 38 year old light brown skinned woman with curly blond hair.  She is married, and has 3 children, Ibcora Future18, Bright Future10 and Dandy Jr 8.  Her late husband, Dandy Future was killed 6 years ago in a mining accident. Ibcora and her family live in McDowell County, WV and she has a bit of a WV accent.  She is an elementary school teacher and was diagnosed with a very small triple negative invasive breast cancer 2 years ago.  Her breast cancer was found on her initial mammogram which she got upon finding that she was in the high risk category for developing breast cancer, following free genetic counseling and genetic testing. The genetic counseling was ordered by her PCP after learning that her 58 year old mother was diagnosed and treated for ovarian cancer at 55 and her 78 year old grandmother has a history of a first breast cancer at 60 and a second on the other side at 70.  Ibcora Project had neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by a lumpectomy, sentinel lymph node biopsy and radiation therapy.  She has completely recovered, is back to work teaching and wants to make sure women 25 and older find out about the Goldilocks Screening Plan, which she believes probably saved her life.

Ibcora Nanay - is Ibcora Project’s 58 year old mother who is a nurse at the local hospital.  She is a 3 year survivor of ovarian cancer and wants everyone to know that ovarian cancer is one of those cancers that is often not discovered in its earliest stage.  Because there currently  is no generally recommended screening test in women who are not found to be genetically predisposed, women need to be mindful of pelvic symptoms and know that a family history of ovarian cancer should alert other family members about potential genetic predisposition for cancer.  Fortunately, her ovarian cancer is the very reason her daughter got her genetic counseling, genetic testing and a mammogram after finding she was in a high- risk category for breast cancer. With so much cancer in the family, Ibcora Nanay really appreciated getting her Goldilocks Screening Plan and makes sure she gets her 3D mammogram every year.  She remembers how worried she was when “her baby” was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Ibcora Future - is Ibcora Project’s 18 year old daughter.  For a girl who lost her father and then watched both her granny and her mom have very serious health problems, in rapid succession, she’s remarkably well adjusted and mature.  She’ll be starting college in the fall and wants to become a nurse.   She remembers how scared she was when her granny had her ovarian cancer and the next year her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer.  She’s determined to help spread the word about finding out about genetic testing and the Goldilocks Screening Program.

Ibcora Lola - is Ibcora Project’s 78 year old grandmother.  Although she’s had breast cancer in both breasts, she’s otherwise “fit as a fiddle”. She learned about the Goldilocks Screening Plan when her granddaughter was diagnosed with breast cancer and although she is older than the cutoff age for screening at the clinic, she’s going to continue getting her mammogram every 2 years.  Afterall, she’s really the matriarch of the family and even helps take care of her 98 year old mother who lives with her. Her message to the younger generation of women: “Don’t be stupid honey. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.  Find out if you need genetic testing.  After all cancer around here is “bout as common as an old shoe.”