Survivor in a ShutdownOne Woman’s Battle with Breast Cancer During COVID

Survivor in a Shutdown

One Woman’s Battle with

Breast Cancer During COVID

Ellen Keaton

Ashland Beacon

Breast cancer can strike anyone at any time and is no respecter of persons. This year alone, it is believed approximately 316,500 women and an additional 2,800 men will be diagnosed with some form of breast cancer. It is the most common type of cancer diagnosed in women, and with early detection and treatment, the survival rate in many types of breast cancer after 5 years is nearly 99%. Susan Martin is one of those survivors.

When you hear someone mention the year 2020, we immediately know that was the year of COVID. There was so much uncertainty in the world, but for Susan, it was just one “C” in what she called the “triple C” year. Susan had worked at Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital for over 30 years when, with very little warning, they announced they were closing. Within the next two months, Susan's world would be rocked again.

Susan begins her story by saying, “It was a very rough time, Bellefonte closed, I found out I had breast cancer when I had a mammogram, and then covid hit…. all within a couple of months. So, the ‘triple C’…closing, cancer and covid!”

She had no symptoms, didn’t feel a lump, and was simply having a routine yearly screening—never imagined there would be anything wrong…. but this time there was. “The cancer was really deep, so by the time it was big enough for me to have felt it… the cancer would have probably been all over. That is why everyone needs to have their mammograms because that saved me.” She continued, “The radiologist was a friend, and he told me he had looked at all my past mammograms and thankfully you have had them done every year and this was not there last year. It is very small, and they should be able to get it all.”

The next stop was a visit with Dr. Mary Hughes for a lumpectomy. “I had been told if it was HER2 negative I would not need chemo, so I had all my prayer warriors praying it for that. It was not but unfortunately the cancer had already invaded the lymph nodes.” Susan laughing said, “I told Dr. Hughes you didn’t tell me that was an option, or I would have had my prayer warriors on that too. That was a bit of a gut punch.”

The advancement to the lymph nodes now required 3 months of chemotherapy and sixteen radiation treatments. “I was very lucky. I had a severance package from Bellefonte and was able to take the first 2 months of treatments off but then I worked through the rest of them. I didn’t feel good, but I wasn’t sick.”

Cancer not only affects the patient but also invades their family…they become your caregivers and support system. Susan had 2 daughters, Rachel and Hannah, and her husband Scott in her corner. She said, “Talk about silver linings, covid had just started. Rachel had just gotten laid off from her job, Scott and Hannah were working from home. It was great having them all there. They were my entertainment, took me to appointments…Rachel was my little nurse and made sure I had everything I needed and took my meds on time…. daughters are wonderful.”

Having family close every day was the good part of it being during COVID, but on the flip side, Susan went through her surgery and treatments alone due to the shutdown. According to Susan, it was a very strange time to receive treatment. Her husband Scott was not allowed in the hospital for her surgery or any of the treatments. She says that part was harder on him than it was herself.

Looking back now, she is cancer-free for 5 years and the future looks bright. The yearly screenings saved her life. “I encourage everyone to get your cancer screenings…not just a mammogram but now please get your colonoscopies as well.”

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. You can call KDMC to schedule a routine mammogram screening.