Gold Medal Battle With Cancer

Murphys, CA — Olympic gold medal figure skater Peggy Fleming was the keynote speaker at Mark Twain St. Joseph’s Hospital’s “Let’s Talk Health” luncheon held at Ironstone Vineyards Wednesday afternoon.

Fleming is an 11 year survivor of breast cancer.
“My message is early detection,” says Fleming. “I found the lump myself. I had just had a mammogram and check-up five months earlier, and if it wasn’t for me seeing it and going to the doctor, it could have gone on and been a different outcome.”

Fleming also took questions from the audience about other issues, such as the Olympics.

“Figure skating really hasn’t changed, and it is still basically an art and a sport,” says Fleming. “There’s more pressure with the television coverage that sports get now, and it can be tough for the athlete to balance and focus with all those distractions.”

Fleming won the gold medal in 1968. She currently resides in the Bay Area and owns a winery with her husband.

Written by bjhansen@mlode.com.