From treating breast cancer patients to becoming one — lessons learned

Maureen-Hamel-Schwartz, PA

Submitted photo/Optum

When I began chemotherapy, I was terrified. Watching the medicine flow into my body, I felt powerless. Ten days later, when I lost my hair, I knew how sick I was for real.”

As a physician assistant who diagnoses people with breast cancer, I never imagined I’d be writing about this important subject from the perspective of a patient. For years, I’ve sat across from women, delivering the news that would change their lives. Then one day, I became the woman on the receiving end.

It was the worst day of my life, hearing the words, “Your biopsy is positive for breast cancer.” Overnight, my life shifted from guiding patients through this disease to navigating it myself. I was quickly referred to a breast specialist and learned I might need a bilateral mastectomy and chemotherapy.

Like so many women, I began researching everything I could about my cancer type and treatment options, while reading all the statistics about prognosis.

Female breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis in Arizona, and the fourth leading cause of death. There is an average of 5,474 new, invasive breast cancer cases diagnosed each year. I want to remind women that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month for good reason. It’s a time to focus on prevention and early detection. Symptoms to watch for include:

• A new lump in the breast or underarm
• Thickening or swelling in part of the breast
• Changes in size or shape of the breast
• Pain in any area of the breast
• Pulling in of the nipple, or discharge other than breast milk (including blood)
• Irritation, redness or dimpling of the breast skin

When I began chemotherapy, I was terrified. Watching the medicine flow into my body, I felt powerless. Ten days later, when I lost my hair, I knew how sick I was for real.

I endured five months of chemotherapy, followed by a lumpectomy and radiation therapy. Today, I have returned to work and to a new version of normal, though like all survivors, I live with the knowledge that recurrence is always possible.

Mammograms are an important and effective tool for most women and the best way to detect breast cancer early. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening every two years for women ages 40 to 74 at average risk. Different screening recommendations may apply for women at higher risk. Both 2D and 3D (tomosynthesis) mammograms are available, with 3D providing a more detailed image.

This journey has changed me. I value my family and friends more deeply, and in my practice, I connect with patients in a new way. When I sit across from a woman just starting her own journey, I can tell her with conviction: You are not alone.

Screening can’t prevent breast cancer, but it can help find it early, when it is most treatable. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides tips for preparing for a mammogram, like avoiding deodorant, perfume or powders that can interfere with imaging. The CDC also offers resources to find screening centers, many offering free or low-cost mammograms.

If there’s one lesson I hope others take from my experience, it’s to be proactive. Talk to your health care team, know your family history and stay on top of screenings. There are new medications and treatments on the horizon. Be optimistic, love life, and those around you. Appreciate the things you have.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is not just a date on the calendar. It’s a call to care for yourself, encourage those you love and never take your health for granted.

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