Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Says 'There's Good Days and Bad Days' About Breast Cancer Battle of Wife, Casey DeSantis, 41, in Latest Update on Her Condition

"When you get this news, particularly for a mother with three kids under 5 (years old), it really turns your world upside down because you're seeing your life before your eyes."

"It was very emotional," he adds, "and we've tried to come to terms with that, but then we got this treatment plan, and she's doing it, and there's good days and bad days, but by and large, and the one thing I can tell you is people's prayers have mattered to her. The outpouring has been tremendous."

Related: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Says His Family Has 'a Road Ahead' Following His Wife's Breast Cancer Diagnosis: 'It's Not An Easy Thing When This Happens'

Casey DeSantis' Breast Cancer Battle

Gov. DeSantis publicly announced in the beginning of October that his wife had been diagnosed with breast cancer. What type and what stage her breast cancer is hasn't been shared with the public.

"I am saddened to report that Florida's esteemed First Lady and my beloved wife has been diagnosed with breast cancer," Gov. DeSantis said in a statement. "As the mother of three young children, Casey is the centerpiece of our family and has made an impact on the lives of countless Floridians through her initiatives as First Lady."

"As she faces the most difficult test of her life, she will have not only have my unwavering support but the support of our entire family, as well as the prayers and well wishes from Floridians across our state. Casey is a true fighter, and she will never, never, never give up."

Related: Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis, 41, Returns to the Public Eye; How We Can All Do a Better Job Interacting With People Recently Diagnosed With Cancer

Breast Cancer in Young Women

Casey DeSantis is just 41 years old. That's relatively young to receive a breast cancer diagnosis, as organizations like the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Cancer Society recommend women start getting yearly mammograms when they turn 45 years old. Women ages 45 to 54 should get a mammogram every year.

Aggressive Breast Cancer in Young Women

Breast cancer mostly occurs in older women, but it's possible for women under the age of 45 like Casey DeSantis to be diagnosed with this type of cancer. About 9% of all new breast cancer cases in the U.S. are found in women younger than 45.

But in some ways, a diagnosis for a younger woman can often be even more devastating, Dr. Ann Partridge, an oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, tells SurvivorNet in a previous interview. This is because the cancer is likely to be a more aggressive form of the disease and also at an advanced stage, as screening for younger women is not standard.

When Should I Get a Mammogram?

Dr. Connie Lehman, director of the breast imaging clinic at Mass General Hospital in Boston, tells SurvivorNet in a previous interview that it's very important for women to get a mammogram every year, especially if you haven't yet gone through menopause.

"We know that cancers grow more rapidly in our younger patients, and having that annual mammogram can be life-saving," Lehman says. "After menopause, it may be perfectly acceptable to reduce that frequency to every two years."

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