An accidental trip to the doctor's office saved her life.

Now a local teacher is sending a message around Kern County that early detection is key to beating breast cancer.

After being diagnosed in December of 2015 with stage 1 breast cancer , Olive Knolls Christian school teacher Mara Riesmeyer decided then she would beat the disease and become an advocate for those affected.

The one-year breast cancer survivor is now using her voice to tell others survival from breast cancer is possible.

She says early detection is the very thing that saved her life.