Carla Bruni Cancer Battle: Mammogram Saved Left Breast

Carla Bruni revealed that she was diagnosed with breast cancer four years ago. The model and former first lady of France shared the news in a social media post to raise awareness about breast health and the life-saving power of mammograms.

"Surgery, radiotherapy, hormone therapy, I went through the usual treatment for this type of cancer," Bruni wrote on Instagram. "But I was lucky: my cancer was not yet aggressive."

Bruni, who has been married to former French president Nicolas Sarkozy since 2008, said she wasn't writing the post simply to give the public "details" of her health. "That's repugnant to me and I hesitated for a long time before talking about this. No, the reason I'm posting this today is to deliver a message."

That message? "Do your mammograms every year," she wrote. "Do your mammograms. Your lives depend on it."

Bruni added that if she hadn't done her yearly mammogram, she would have had to make even more radical changes to her body.

"I wouldn't have a left breast today," she said, referencing the early diagnosis for negating the need for a mastectomy.

What is a mammogram?

A mammogram is a diagnostic examination that uses an x-ray to look for signs of breast cancer.

How often should you get a mammogram?

It is recommended that people get a yearly mammogram starting at age 40. Anyone with an increased risk due to family history, past breast cancer, or genetic tendency should "talk with their health care providers about the benefits and limitations of starting mammography screening earlier, having additional tests (breast ultrasound, MRI), or having more frequent exams," according to Johns Hopkins Medicine, which also lists the risks associated with the procedure.