When it comes to breast cancer, early detection is the key.

Peg Alberici of Lehighton is living proof of that, and is certain preventative screening saved her life.

Diagnosed on New Year’s Eve 2020, with Type 1 breast cancer, Alberici said she was lucky to catch it early.

“They called me and told me I had cancer (after she had a mammogram done three days earlier),” said Alberici, 82. “They seen something and they were lucky to do a biopsy right away.”

Alberici said she was put in touch with Dr. Heiwon Chung Wang, MD, from the Lehigh Valley Health Network, who did the surgery.

“I was able to start radiation treatments and finished them April 28, 2021,” she said. “I had 22 radiation treatments.”

Alberici also acknowledged Dr. Jeanette Blauth, MD, from the Lehigh Valley Health Network Radiation Center.

“She is super nice, and she really helped me out a lot and explained things to you.” Alberici said. “It was really satisfying that I made it through all those treatments of radiation.

“It was time-consuming and stressful. Everybody over there was so nice, they really treated you with real respect, and everybody was just so concerned and made you feel so at ease and relaxed.”

Interviewed last Wednesday, Alberici noted that she just had a mammogram two days prior to that, and proudly exclaimed that she’s “still cancer free.”

“Everything went well,” she said. “When they did the surgery, they did a (breast) reduction on me, I went through all that and that was really stressful, but I got through it.”

Alberici also expressed gratitude to her daughter, Peggy Cunningham, for taking her to all of her radiations.

“It was just so overwhelming, exhausting just going there, but we got through it,” Alberici said. “She’s been a big help to everything that I’ve been going through.”

Alberici also mentioned her daughter Chris Duncan, whose constant support has also been greatly appreciated.

In her spare time, Alberici keeps busy as a member of the Franklin Township Fire Company Auxiliary, for which she’s been a member for 16 years, as well as the Lehighton Lions/Lioness Club, for which she’s been a member for the past nine years.

“All my friends at the fire company and the Lions Club, how much love they have showed me and support,” she said. “I don’t know what I would have done without them.”

Asked what advice she would share, Alberici said it was simple.

“Ladies, get out there, get your mammogram early,” she said. “Early detection is everything.”

Alberici stressed that she’s gone for her mammogram every year.

“I was lucky to be able to catch it; I knew others were going through worse,” she said. “I was lucky that I didn’t have to go through chemo.

“Early detection is the main thing in making sure that you’re out there and do get your mammos and do them yearly.”

Originally from Philadelphia, Alberici said she lived in New Jersey for most of her life and she retired from municipal government in the Borough of Glassboro.

She said she stays busy “between my two clubs, bingo, being on my computer playing games, Facebook, my family, kids, granddaughters, gardening. I do miss all my Jersey friends, and people that I retired with.”

Alberici is being honored with a Courage Award during the American Cancer Society Telethon this weekend, broadcast live from Penn’s Peak on cable TV and streaming on YouTube. The presentations will take place early Sunday evening.

“I’m really incredibly honored in getting this award,” she said. “I’m really humbled to share this with the many other brave survivors (along) with myself that have survived breast cancer.”

Peg Alberici is scheduled to receive her Courage Award in the 7 o’clock hour on Sunday during the American Cancer Society Telethon, which is broadcast live from Penn’s Peak on area cable stations and on YouTube.