Gabriela had just started weaning her 1-year-old daughter when she felt a lump in her left breast.
“Since I was breastfeeding, I thought it was a clogged milk duct, but it didn’t go away,” she explained. “I have a history of benign lumps in my breasts but no family history of cancer, so I wasn’t worried.”
She had an appointment with her gynecologist, who recommended a mammogram and ultrasound. When those results showed an abnormality, her doctor ordered a biopsy.
“I’d had biopsies before, so I still wasn’t concerned. But then my doctor called me one evening. I missed the call because I was busy with my daughter, but I remember thinking it was strange that she hadn’t just left a message letting me know everything was okay.”
When Gabriela called her doctor back the following morning, she got news she wasn’t prepared for: She had stage 1 breast cancer.
“I was shocked. I’d been so sure that everything was fine,” she said. “I led a healthy lifestyle. I was only 38 years old. I had a baby. It just seemed like cancer didn’t happen to young moms, but cancer doesn’t care what stage of life you’re in.”
Gabriela met with an oncologist, who recommended a lumpectomy along with chemotherapy and radiation. She was hoping to avoid chemo and decided to get a second opinion at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital.
“That’s when I met Dr. Christie Hancock. She recommended the same treatment plan as the first doctor, but she treated me with more compassion. I felt like she truly cared about me and my family and saw me as a person, not just a patient, so I transferred my care to her.”
During one of her initial appointments with Dr. Hancock, Gabriela expressed concern about having another baby after completing treatment.
“She told us that egg harvesting was an option. She also put me on medication that would help protect my ovaries from the effects of chemotherapy,” Gabriela explained. “She always listened to me and respected my goals and our family plans.”
An extra level of support
Gabriela had four sessions of chemo three weeks apart for a total of 12 weeks. Being a mother with a young child presented unique challenges during treatment.
“The day I had my lumpectomy, my mom stayed with me because I had to distance myself from my daughter. I didn’t want her to jump on me and accidentally hurt me. It was so painful hearing her crying for me from the other room. And after chemo sessions, sometimes I was so exhausted that I needed help caring for her, which made me feel like I was letting her down. But we took advantage of the good days and tried to fit in as much as possible while I was feeling well.”
In addition to fatigue, Gabriela lost her hair and experienced other side effects, like shingles and a painful eye infection. But she found help and support at the Cancer Survivorship Center at Advocate Lutheran. The Center is the first stand-alone, hospital-affiliated survivorship center in Illinois. It provides comprehensive, holistic support for patients, family members and caregivers throughout their care.
“I went to the Center for a wig. I thought it would be an uncomfortable experience, but the woman who helped me, Samantha, was so kind,” she shared. “While I was there, Samantha asked if I wanted to sign up for the Look Great, Feel Better workshop.”
Gabriela signed up and was mailed a makeup bag with different products. She participated in the workshop online.
“I learned some great tips on how to use the products, which were amazing, and how to keep my skin healthy while going through treatment. When you lose your hair due to chemo, including eyebrows and eyelashes, it’s hard to still feel feminine.”
She also took some online yoga classes and benefited from a dietician’s healthy eating videos. She also found support from other cancer survivors she met at the Center.
“I think it’s important to be able to talk to people who’ve been through what you’ve gone through. It can be hard to convey what my experience was like to people who haven’t had cancer because they don’t understand. My cancer was stage 1 and I beat it, but it was still very scary, and I still had to go through all the treatment.”
A tradition of giving back
Today, Gabriela is cancer-free. She and her family, who have a long history of supporting Advocate Lutheran General, are giving back – this time, to honor Gabriela and her journey.
“My in-laws made a generous gift to support the Cancer Survivorship Center. And my husband’s grandparents donated a significant gift to support the hospital’s emergency department several years ago,” she explained. “It helps me to deal with the trauma of cancer by helping others. At least I can do something positive after this experience.”
The Cancer Survivorship Center at Advocate Lutheran General relies on philanthropy to fund its programs and services, which are provided to survivors at no cost. Because charitable gifts are crucial to supporting the patients and families it serves, the Center has launched a 3-year, $1 million campaign, More Than Medicine. Funds raised will cover six years of the Center’s annual operating budget and provide support for equipment and technology upgrades.
You can ensure survivors like Gabriela continue to have access to the Center and its programs by making a gift today.