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Sandra Lee, Food Network Star, and Governor Andrew Cuomo's longtime girlfriend, revealed Tuesday that she has breast cancer. She said she will undergo surgery this week. Lee said her cancer was found through a mammogram. She is encouraging others to undergo that screening.

"When you hear the words 'you have cancer,' your whole life stops," said Joslyn McArdle, a Capital Region cancer survivor.

McArdle clearly remembers the date, July 9th, 2014. She was diagnosed with breast cancer.

McArdle underwent a double mastectomy, then chemotherapy. Today, she is cancer free.

It was a long road, but she said doctors detected the cancer early, because of her mammogram.

"Luckily they caught it very early, I'm very grateful for that," said McArdle.

"Every woman, beginning at the age of 40, needs to be getting annual mammogram checks," said Dr. Beth Whiteside, a radiologist with Albany Medical Center, and Medical Director of The Breast Center.

She said that breast cancer occurs in women who have no known risk factors, so screening is important.

"The goal with mammography is we are detecting breast cancers before they can be felt," she said.

Some guidance, from a government task force, suggests women start mammograms at 50, but Whiteside and the American Cancer Society say 40 is best. Dr. Whiteside said self breast exams and breast exams with your doctor are important. She also said patients, both men and women, should speak with their doctor about risk factors and history.

"Each person should be their own healthcare advocate," said McArdle.

That's the message McArdle is now sending. She and her doctor decided to start mammograms for her at age 30 because she had some risk factors, and she feels it made all the difference. McArdle hopes her story, encourages others to focus on their health.

"Now I'm just trying to pay it forward by helping other women who are going through what I went through," she said. She continues to volunteer at the American Cancer Society's Hope Club. She was a volunteer there before she was diagnosed with cancer, and used the services there after she was diagnosed.