In Her Own Words >>

by Judy Berman

I already had a support team in place by the time I heard the cancer diagnosis. SNHMC Breast Health Coordinator Sue Holmes, RN, had held my hand during the stereotactic biopsy, along with Lauren Moriarty, RN (coincidentally a former real estate customer of mine). Sue turned out to be my ‘angel’ over the next several months.

Her support was especially important when my surgery showed some unexpected results. Despite early detection, my cancer had spread to several lymph nodes, and my doctors were recommending chemotherapy. This news hit me harder than my initial diagnosis.

What followed were several long phone conversations with Sue and with my primary care doctor, Judith Paine, MD, as I searched for honest answers about my prognosis.

It’s easy to experience information overload when you have cancer. But Sue, a breast cancer survivor herself, understood what I was going through and had a wonderful way of explaining things. Together, she and Dr. Paine convinced me that if I followed the recommended treatment plan – eight sessions of chemotherapy followed by 36 radiation treatments – I had an excellent chance for a cure.

It wasn’t easy going through chemotherapy and radiation, but I feel fortunate to have had many caring people with me along the way—including my husband Richard and my sister Linda—and of course, Sue, who offered both medical information and emotional support. Sometimes I would open my eyes during chemo and Sue would just be quietly sitting there. Her calm, reassuring manner always made me feel like I could deal with anything.

Today, 16 months after hearing ‘you have cancer,’ I feel better than ever. I exercise every day, eat healthier than ever, and I’m taking time to enjoy life. My advice to anyone facing a cancer diagnosis: Take advantage of the excellent support people at The Medical Center like Breast Health Coordinator Sue Holmes. She’s there to help you navigate through your cancer care.

To contact Breast Health Coordinator Sue Holmes at the deNicola Breast Health Center, call 603-577-2658.