September is always a busy month for Sara Chairez; there’s her birthday, her daughter’s birthday, her wedding anniversary. But in September 2024, there was also her diagnosis.
“It was last September when I felt the lump,” she remembers. “I was just scratching when I felt it on my left breast. It was such a busy month that I put it off for a bit, but something kept telling me to go get it checked out – so I did.”
The Diagnosis
Sara scheduled a mammogram that revealed a small mass. A biopsy later confirmed the diagnosis: Stage 1 invasive ductal carcinoma. “This is the most common type of breast cancer,” says Bashar Alasad, M.D., a medical oncologist at the INTEGRIS Health Cancer Institute at INTEGRIS Health Southwest Medical Center. “It actually accounts for about 80% of all breast cancers. It begins in a milk duct and invades surrounding breast tissue with the potential to spread to other parts of the body.”
The Blame Game
At just 36 years old, Sara was completely caught off guard. “I was so young. Noone in my family had breast cancer. Noone in my family had any type of cancer. I was beating myself up that maybe I did something wrong to cause this.”
Alasad reassured her that she was not to blame. “Many times, women with breast implants wonder if that led to their diagnosis. Breast implants don’t cause breast cancer. They don’t raise your chances of breast cancer, either.” He adds, “There is one very rare exception, breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma, but that is not the type of cancer Sara had.”
The Treatment
Sara underwent a lumpectomy, a biopsy of the lymph nodes and four weeks of radiation. Lucius Doh, M.D., is a radiation oncologist at the INTEGRIS Health Cancer Institute. “Radiation therapy plays a vital role in breast cancer treatment, not only in destroying cancer cells but also in giving patients peace of mind as they move forward in recovery. Our goal is to deliver highly targeted care that maximizes effectiveness while minimizing side effects, so patients can focus on healing and returning to their daily lives.”
Sara’s cancer was hormone driven, so she opted to have a full hysterectomy to proactively battle her disease. Understanding some of the hormone blockers she is now on can lead to uterine cancer, she made the decision to have the surgery.
The Message
Today, Sara is in remission. She will have a follow-up mammogram and ultrasound every six months to monitor her progress. But she hopes other women will heed her warning. “I tell all of my friends and family members to conduct monthly self-breast exams and to stay on top of their annual mammograms. I was lucky. I caught my cancer early. I don’t like to think about what could have happened if I wouldn’t have been proactive and would have delayed getting checked out.”
To schedule your mammogram, call 855-MY-MAMMO (855-696-2666) or talk with your doctor for more information.
