Bringing comfort, expertise for breast cancer diagnosis and treatment close to home
From mom to daughter, family ties are important. For Kristi Gaylord, a family history of breast cancer was part of her journey to beat off her own breast cancer in its’ earliest stages. That journey started with expert care started at Bates County Memorial Hospital (BCHM).
Kristi’s cancer was caught early in the disease process. She had had a routine mammogram in 2021 at BCMH and the Radiologist had recommended some additional views after first interpreting the results. He suggested Kristi have a follow-up ultrasound and then told her they were going to watch her closely for the next six months. After her six-month follow-up mammogram and ultrasound, a small cyst had grown and a biopsy was recommended.
“I was very glad I could have the Ultrasound Guided Breast Biopsy at Bates County Memorial Hospital,” Kristi said. “I felt very comfortable here because it was a stressful time and afterwards I was close to my house and could go home to rest.”
Ultrasound Guided Breast Biopsy is a minimally invasive alternative to surgical biopsy to evaluate suspicious masses within the breast that are visible on ultrasound.
After her breast cancer stage 1 diagnosis was confirmed, Kristi reached out to Christa Balanoff, MD, a board-certified breast surgeon at the University of Kansas. Kristi then completed a breast MRI at BCMH prior to surgery. After weighing all the options with Dr. Balanoff, Kristi chose to have a double mastectomy and breast reconstruction.
“I just knew it was the right path for me,” Kristi explained.
Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assists physicians to identify suspicious areas of cancer not detectable on a mammogram or ultrasound. The test is often ordered in women with newly diagnosed breast cancer prior to surgery.
Her oncologist, Dr. Jaswinder Singh, MD, was instrumental in follow-up and making recommendations, which included, no chemotherapy or radiation. A hematologist/oncologist, Dr. Singh specializes in hematology (the study of the blood’s physiology) and oncology (the study of cancer).
Kristi is being treated with Tamoxifen, which medically blocks estrogen. Why? Cancer can be sneaky. Those with breast cancer often have an adjunct rise of the cancer returning, especially in the bones or in other areas, five to ten to twenty years, according to Dr. Singh.
An endocrine or target drug therapy slows or stops the growth of hormone-sensitive tumors by blocking the body’s ability to produce hormones or by interfering with effects of hormones on breast cancer cells.
In the past, breast cancer treatment had always included chemotherapy and/or radiation. But in recent years oncologists have many factors to evaluate that determine whether the patient needs chemotherapy or radiation, which often have ill side effects.
Factors they consider include:
- Is the cancer in the lymph nodes?
- Is the cancer HER2-positive or negative? HER2 breast cancer is a breast cancer that tests positive for a protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)*.
- What is the size of the tumor?
In Kristi’s case her cancer had not spread to her lymph nodes and her cancer was HER2 negative.
“To be able to have a specialist with this expertise like Dr. Singh close by is amazing for our community,” Kristi said. Dr. Singh and his cancer care team are able to schedule patients weekly on the BCMH campus.
She was fortunate to have had an early diagnosis with her mammogram and breast examination, according to Dr. Singh. He added, “These detection tools save lives.”
“I think there is a common misconception that you have to go to a larger facility or a regional cancer treatment center to receive specialized care; that the grass will be greener at another organization” Dr. Singh commented. “The care provided by community oncologists is the exact same treatment mode offered at larger institutions.
“The patient undergoing cancer care, whether chemotherapy, or in-between check-up visits can be straining and fatiguing,” Dr. Singh explained. “There is a trust factor. Being close to home, limiting the hours of travel can be very positive for a patient receiving cancer treatment.”
Kristi urges women to “pay attention” to family members who have a history of breast cancer; she also suggests women perform monthly self-exams. “Learn your family history, whether that it is your mom, an aunt or a grandmother who had breast cancer,” Kristi said. “Breast cancer is much more treatable in early stages and I am thankful we found mine early.”
Kristi’s mom, Joyce, had breast cancer twice and passed away from having colon cancer last year. Kristi keeps her mom’s memory at heart and with that family history in mind, Kristi has an excellent relationship with her primary care provider, Laura Thiem, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, Dr. Balanoff and Dr. Singh.
“It’s important to talk with your physicians and inform them about your family history,” Kristi said.
A 15-year employee of BCMH in the Health Information Management (HIM) department, Kristi is proud to serve as the Assistant HIM Supervisor. Kristi was very happy to return to work in August after a six-week recovery period following her surgery. She gets a bit emotional when describing the care she received at Bates. “The care I received…I just can’t say enough about our hospital and how well the staff treated me here,” Kristi said. “I was treated with respect and felt comfort and compassion during all of my procedures.”
Bates County Memorial Hospital offers the specialists, support services, such as lab, radiology, surgery and chemotherapy, to provide cancer patients with the comprehensive care they need so they can receive treatment closer to home.
*Definition from the Mayo Clinic