Mel Schwinghamer
Mel Schwinghamer, a mother of three and Hartford resident, is a shining example of remaining positive through all of life’s challenges. Two years ago, Mel was diagnosed with breast cancer, but just by speaking to her, you would never know. She radiates positivity despite the fact that within the last two years, she was diagnosed with cancer, had two lymph nodes removed and underwent a mastectomy.
In 2019, Mel went in for her annual mammogram at Newman Regional Health’s Breast Care Center in Emporia. That’s where her physicians found a lump in her left breast. She had the lump biopsied and removed, and was diagnosed with stage 4 BRCA negative triple-negative breast cancer.
According to the American Cancer Society, triple-negative breast cancer is a type of cancer where the cancer cells don’t have estrogen or progesterone receptors, and don’t make much of the HER2 protein, which is a protein that promotes growth on the outside of the breast cells. This type of breast cancer typically grows and spreads faster, and has more limited treatment options. Triple-negative breast cancer accounts for about 10-15 percent of all breast cancers, according to the ACS.
Without a family history of cancer or any signs or symptoms, this news was shocking to Mel. “I was totally overwhelmed with fear and worry,” she says, “All of a sudden cancer changed my life and my body forever.”
Mel is an active woman with no history of smoking or other cancer-causing behaviors, and yet she still found herself in a battle with breast cancer. It is not rare for women with no risk factors to develop breast cancer, and that’s why annual screening is so important. Monthly breast self-checks and annual mammograms play a vital role in early detection for breast cancer.
After her diagnosis and lumpectomy, Mel had to have her lymph nodes removed, followed by a single mastectomy. After that, she continued treatment at Central Care Cancer Center. “I checked into Central Care, right next to Newman Hospital and luckily I did because they provide the best cancer treatment ever,” says Mel.
At Central Care, she began seeing Medical Oncologist Dr. Elshami Elamin who began her chemotherapy treatments and Radiation Oncologist Dr. Claudia Perez-Tamayo who began her radiation treatments. “I stayed positive throughout the whole thing, even going to the cancer treatments,” Mel explains. “I’m a people person and it didn’t take me long to get to know the staff members at Central Care.”
“I mean, if I had any questions or concerns, they were always there for me,” she goes on, “Their kindness and generosity will always, forever be in my heart. They treated me like a family member inside and out.”
Central Care is dedicated to keeping cancer care close to home. They make the patient their top priority by offering comprehensive cancer care, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, financial counseling, second opinions and other supportive services all under one roof.
It’s ironic that Mel’s breast cancer diagnosis contained all negative terms, despite the positivity that she exudes. Throughout her treatments, Mel remained upbeat and powered through the side effects. She stayed active, worked at the Hartford Public Library and kept a bright smile on her face. One of her favorite activities has been pickle ball. “I’m actually obsessed with pickle ball,” Mel says. “It’s great exercise and it kept me busy, along with playing pitch card games with my friends and walking with one of my best friends, Evelyne, who has just supported me through the whole ordeal.”
After five months of chemotherapy and two months of radiation, Mel finished her treatments and is back to enjoying her life the way she did before. “I’m back to normal,” she says with a smile. “I mean, I’m a peppy person, you know. I’m a go-getter and I do everything like I used to do. It’s just unreal that everything is done and over with and I’m just very elated.”
However, Mel did not get through her treatments alone. She has her husband, who according to her, is her number one supporter and took her to all of her treatments. She also has her two daughters, her son, her friends and the staff members at Central Care. Especially Radiation Oncology Manager Justin Branine and Medical Oncology Manager Shanna Clock, who Mel also impacted with her positivity and strength. “I couldn’t have done it without all of them,” she says. “They are the best ever and I will never, ever forget how well they took care of me.”
“Shanna helped me to get involved with a support group,” Mel explains. “I trusted their knowledge with all my heart. If I had any friends who were in the same situation as me, I would recommend for them to go to Central Care in Emporia. They were just so good with everything, they knew what to do and they were so very friendly with people. ”
Mel just had a one year follow-up appointment where a malignant neoplasm was found in her same breast as before. She’s scheduled to have it biopsied the first part of November.
Faith is something which Mel has relied on to help her through treatment and recovery. “I’m a Christian person, so I’ve always prayed,” she says. “I trust in God and always pray to Him to watch over me and help me to stay positive and be strong.”
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The pink you may see around you in your daily life this month is a reminder to get yourself checked out. Breast cancer statistics show that monthly self-exams are important as well as getting an annual mammogram after the age of 40. 1 in 8 women and 10 percent of men will develop breast cancer. Feel free to reach out to Central Care with any questions concerning breast cancer, or any cancer, at (620) 342-1117.
For more information about screening options at the W.S. & E. C. Jones Breast Care Center at Newman Regional, as well as their Breast Care Screening Fund, please call (620) 343-6800 ext. 21167.
Richard Cramer
If you have been to Central Care Cancer Center in Great Bend, then you might know Richard Cramer. He has unfortunately been a fixture of the clinic since the clinic’s beginning, and has battled a variety of cancers including colon, prostate, and two rounds of lung cancer. Through it all, the 82 year old father of three and grandfather to seven, remains upbeat, full of life and a bit ornery.
It started near the year 2000, when Richard thought he had hemorrhoids, but his referring provider thought differently and ordered a colonoscopy, which showed colon cancer. Richard had a colectomy in 2001 and started seeing Dr. Mark Fesen with Central Care Cancer Center.
Karla Garcia
It’s been seven years and Karla (Dunn) Garcia continues to remain upbeat and positive in her fight with what started as breast cancer. The Great Bend resident first was diagnosed with left sided ductal carcinoma in situ in April of 2013. A very small lump was found during her regular mammogram.
Karla’s primary care physician referred her to Central Care Cancer Center in Great Bend where she met up with Medical Oncologists Dr. Greg Nanney and Dr. Mark Fesen. “Everybody there is so knowledgeable, genuine and nice. I can’t say enough about how good everyone is, and so caring.” Karla underwent a few radiation treatments and had a lumpectomy.
However, the cancer came back two years later in the same breast. This time, the cancer was a little larger and had metastasized to surrounding lymph nodes. “I've always been a pretty positive thinking person, so through this journey, I have not once said I wasn't going to survive this. Because, I just can't think like that,” said Karla.
That positive mentality has carried Karla a long way, as a second lumpectomy was performed. She also started chemotherapy. During treatments, sometimes she would get dehydrated and she lost over 60 pounds. Of course, there was nausea and hair loss too. Karla said, “I couldn’t eat, because nothing tasted good. The only thing I could eat that tasted good to me was mandarin oranges!”
As Karla struggled with her own reoccurring breast cancer fight, she ended up having a bilateral mastectomy in June of 2016. Through all of this, she continued chemotherapy treatments. However, it took a friend saying ‘Karla, you have to let go and let God’, for everything to click. “That’s what I finally did. I’m one that likes to be in control of my life. I’ve been independent, living on my own until I got married five years ago at age 58 to my love, Jerry (Vic) Garcia. I liked being in control of what was happening to me, but this….I was not in control of. I finally let go, and that was the most comforting thing that I could have done for myself.” Karla added, “Just let go. Do what you have to do whether you want to do it or not. Yeah, it sucks and you don’t want to have to go to all these appointments and have all these tests, but you’ll get through and move on to the next step.”
Karla chose not to do reconstruction surgery, but has prosthesis and recommends the services of Knitted Knockers. They are knitted breast prosthesis that are fiber filled, and fit right inside the bra cup.
In August of 2017, the cancer reoccurred in her left axillary lymph nodes and in October 2019, a lymph node in her neck was positive for the same cancer that was initially in her left breast. A whole body bone scan in September of this year showed that the cancer metastasized to her hip, rib and clavicle area; metastatic bone disease. “Right now there is not a time as to when I’ll be off chemo. I feel like it’s probably going to be long-term, but hey, as long as it keeps me here, that’s ok with me.”
Karla is thankful for all the people that have prayed for her or sent positive thoughts for healing. The outpouring of support has been uplifting and inspiring. However, Karla is a genuine inspiration to other cancer patients at Central Care Cancer Center. “I'm so blessed to still be here after seven years of battling cancer. I just never had it in my head that I wasn't going to survive it. I’m in no position to give up now. Some people have the doldrums and are negative with what they're going through. I understand that it's a hard time, but that brings your whole soul down. I feel like if you are upbeat and positive, it nourishes your soul.”
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The pink you see around you in your daily life is a reminder to get yourself checked. Breast cancer statistics show that monthly self-exams are important as well as getting an annual mammogram after the age of 40. 1 in 8 women and 10 percent of men will develop breast cancer.
Brenda Rojas
It was the middle of August in 2018, just another normal morning for Brenda Rojas. The Garden City paraprofessional was getting ready for work when she happened to feel a lump in her left breast. Brenda had an upcoming appointment scheduled with her primary care provider, who suggested she go ahead and get her yearly mammogram and a biopsy at the Breast Center at St. Catherine Hospital.
What came back was the diagnosis of triple-negative breast cancer. “I just started crying. I was at work, during lunch and just broke down and cried. I left and went to my sister’s work, and we cried. I was thinking holy crud, this really didn’t happen to me, did it? Basically I was kind of numb. My doctor told me that Heartland Cancer Center will be calling and sure enough within two hours, I got a call. That day I started praying heavy. And I truly, truly believe that helped too. I’ve had some rough times, but honestly by that night I was like you know what, I'm going to try to remain positive, deal with whatever this is, and I'm going to be strong about it. I've got to.”
Triple-negative breast cancer is cancer that tests negative for estrogen and progesterone receptors, and excess HER2 protein, meaning the growth of the cancer is not fueled by hormones. This type of breast cancer occurs in about 10 to 20 percent of diagnosed breast cancers and can be more aggressive and difficult to treat.
Brenda, however, is no stranger to handling setbacks and tragedies in life. From losing her husband at a young age from a massive heart attack, watching her mother battle lung cancer, only to go into remission for a few years, before passing away, to her granddaughter being born 11 weeks early. Brenda understood the fight that was about to begin.
Brenda saw Dr. Anis Toumeh from Heartland Cancer Center to start the discussion of treatment options. They decided to try to shrink the tumor ahead of surgery. She was set up to have 16 chemotherapy treatments, 12 weekly, with the last four every other week.
“Dr. Toumeh was really reassuring. Everybody at Heartland – the nurses, even the receptionists, all were so supportive and encouraging,” said Brenda. She started her first chemotherapy treatment right away. “And, by the second one, believe it or not, in a short week, you could see the lump protruding through my shirt. It grew. Dr. Toumeh looked at it and said, I don’t think we’re going to do chemo today. I think we’re going to have to have that removed.”
Brenda had a mastectomy of her left breast in October of 2018. After recovering, she was back at it with her chemotherapy treatments and all was going well, until she got to the last four treatments. “It was really harsh. I had some nausea, bad sores in my mouth, lost my hair, and I hurt. I had to have fentanyl for what seemed like the last two months of treatment because I hurt so bad. I’d wake up, I couldn’t roll over on my left side, it was just harsh.” At times, opioids are used to help treat moderate to severe pain. They are often a necessary part of a pain relief plan for cancer patients.
Brenda waited until after her treatments were complete to have her right breast removed. She chose not to have reconstructive surgery. “It just wasn’t important to me to have reconstructive surgery. I’m not saying a person is wrong for wanting breasts, I just personally elected not to. I don’t feel like not having them takes anything away from who I am. I was more concerned about getting healthy and not having to worry about healing and recovering from surgery or treatment,” said Brenda.
A year later from her last chemotherapy treatment, Brenda sees Dr. Toumeh every six months. Her latest scan looked great, her hair has grown back and she feels good. “I tell people to think positive and try to keep a positive attitude. Those last four treatment were about to do me in, because I felt so bad, but I kept trying to focus on the positive. It’s ok to be sad and to be down, but don’t let it keep you there. Remaining positive and early detection are so key. It’s so important to get your regular mammogram and do the breast self-checks at home.”
Brenda added, “having my treatments here at Heartland Cancer Center, close to home, was great. You don’t have the wear and tear on your body by traveling far and you can come home to your own bed. Plus, I had the support of my family and they would lift my spirits. I had a real good support system and that really helped.” Evidence has proven that going through cancer treatments near loved ones and close to home have improved outcomes. Heartland Cancer Center offers complete cancer care that includes chemotherapy, radiation therapy, financial counseling and other supportive services, all at a state of the art facility.
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The pink you see around you in your daily life is a reminder to get yourself checked. Breast cancer statistics show that monthly self-exams are important as well as getting an annual mammogram after the age of 40. 1 in 8 women and 10 percent of men will develop breast cancer.
