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Devastation
followed by anger. That
was my initial reaction when I was first
diagnosed with breast cancer. I lost my
mother to breast cancer in 2010, and that
was the only experience I’d had with cancer.
I wasn’t at all ready to tell my children or
even prepare myself for possibly leaving
them. I have three daughters: Kaytlynn is 22,
Abigail is 15 and Ella is 9. My girls are and
continue to be my main focus in beating my
breast cancer.
When it came to choosing where to go
to receive treatment, Goldschmidt Cancer
Center at Capital Region Medical Center
was the most logical decision, not only for
myself, but for my family as well. While I
have my father, my boyfriend, my sister,
and several friends and family members
in St. Louis, being close to home and my
children was important to me.
My doctors
Raonak Ekram, MD, is my oncologist, and
she is simply amazing! No question went
unanswered; no concern was too small. She
and her team were always there and more
than willing to help in any way they possibly
could. I couldn’t have done it without
each and every member of my team at
Goldschmidt.
When you are diagnosed with cancer, you
can only retain so much information. The
staff at Goldschmidt always had a helpful
smile and was always willing to help. Kim
Mooney, Kathy Brown and Kara Risse in the
infusion room quickly became friendly faces
during some of my darkest days.
Diane Light, DO, is the best of the best,
and I am grateful to have had her as my
surgeon. She explained the surgical
process as many times as I needed. She
checked on me and made sure I knew
everything went well. The day after my
surgery, she walked in my room with a big
smile and said, “Your pathology came back
great!” What a relief to know they got it all
and my margins were clean! That was all her
doing; she removed the remnants of this
horrible disease.
‘Cancer never had me!’
Due to my family history of breast
cancer, I had a bilateral mastectomy with
reconstruction on July 14. The surgery was
my most difficult time. The unexpected
physical pain and adverse effects of pain
medications were a real struggle for me.
Looking in the mirror after surgery, I was
blindsided to find all of the physical things
that we as women believe define us gone—
my breasts, my hair, the sparkle in my eyes.
I only saw the shell of the woman I once
was. Only then did I realize, “Oh my gosh, I
have cancer.” I felt defeated, but only for a
moment. You quickly remember, “I’m going
to be OK; I’ve got this.” I had cancer; cancer
never had me!
All take part in recovery
The Goldschmidt team continues to help
me battle my breast cancer. No question is
a silly question. Trust me—I thought some
of the questions I called them for were plain
silly. They laugh with you, not at you. They
are always there to help—you just have to
open up enough to allow them to.
Goldschmidt forms a collaborative team
effort for each patient. Every doctor, nurse
and employee knows you by name. They are
all a part of your treatment and recovery.
They develop a treatment plan designed for
your specific case, working for and with you
in your battle. Goldschmidt embodies the
word
teamwork
.
Feb. 27, 2015
Diagnosed with
breast cancer
March 10, 2015
Meets with Oncologist
Raonak Ekram, MD
March 11, 2015
Meets with Surgeon
Diane Light, DO
March 12, 2015
Undergoes testing and
Mediport insertion
By Jennifer Harrington
Patient Service Representative
Capital Region Physicians – ENT & Audiology
DEFEATING BREAST CANCER
At a glance
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Capital Region Medical Center
Jennif