THE WOMAN NEXT DOOR IS A SURVIVOR

By Tarre Beach

This month, in partnership with AdventHealth for Women, we’re recognizing some of the women in our community who are survivors of breast cancer, who have had a recurrence, or who are currently going through treatment. To us, all of these women are survivors in their own right. It is the hope of these women that by telling their stories they inspire and educate other women who are facing a breast cancer diagnosis.

Putting Your Health First

Jana Sutter

Dr. Phillips

iHeartRadio, Magic 107.7 and XL 106.7 radio host Jana Sutter says just like a lot of women, she often puts others’ needs, especially her daughters, before her own.

Because her mother was a breast cancer survivor, Jana had annual mammograms pretty early on. Then the pandemic hit and Jana’s annual mammogram got pushed back by six months. When she finally had her appointment she was expecting to be told everything was fine. When she didn’t get that message, she says everything just stopped. “The biopsy came back. It was stage 1 breast cancer. That was something I wasn’t prepared for.”

Although it was scary, Jana feels infinitely lucky she caught it early. She says she got a lot of support from her mom. “My mom’s form of breast cancer may have been different than mine, but she had walked down a lot of the same streets I was going to have to walk down. I leaned on her and my core group friends. I needed it.”

For the last 12 years Jana has partnered with AdventHealth to encourage women to get regular mammograms on her radio programs, social media and events. She also reminds women to make sure that they are taking care of themselves as much as they are taking care of everyone else. “I have to remember that too. I do a pretty good job of it, but I think as women we just go into caretaker mode and can put our own needs on the backburner. I won’t do that anymore,” Jana says.

Having just finished her treatment this summer, Jana says facing her own mortality has given her a new outlook on life. “I’m living a life less filtered. I want to be an example for my daughter and other women about living honestly. Don’t wait to say what you mean or do what you want. Now is the time. Make yourself, your health and your joy the priority.”

Two Time Survivor

Karen Moore

Ocoee

In 1992, Karen Moore was 29 and newly married to her husband Richard when she found a lump in her breast. A biopsy found it was benign. She had surgery and felt like everything was fine. A few months later, she found another lump and this time it was positive for cancer. She had another surgery and started radiation and chemo shortly after.

In the midst of treatment, she and Richard went on vacation. When Karen returned from vacation, she thought she might have caught a stomach bug because she didn’t feel well. She went to her doctor for a follow-up and found out she was pregnant.

In 1994, Karen gave birth to a healthy baby girl and shortly after was given a clean bill of health. As recommended, Karen returned for regular mammograms and checkups and for the last 30 years, Karen has remained cancer free.

Earlier this year Karen’s doctor found a nodule growing in her breast. A biopsy determined it was cancer. This time around, Karen has decided to take a more aggressive approach for peace of mind. “Finding something, getting a biopsy, having surgery, going through treatment and waiting between each step is a lot of worry to have on your mind. I just feel so much better doing it this way.”

Karen knows that there is no guarantee that the cancer won’t come back, but given that she fought cancer before and won, she’s determined to tackle her latest diagnosis aggressively. She says comparing how she feels now to how she felt 30 years ago, she feels even stronger and sure that she wants to live life and not sit back and let it pass her by.

One of the first things Karen wants to do once she recovers is travel. She’s hoping to visit the continent of Africa and go to Morocco with her husband Richard and her family.

“I believe God is using me to be a testimony of his strength. I think I’m ready for the next part of my journey.”

Team Support

Katharine Brice

Lake Buena Vista

One of the first things Katharine “Kathy” Brice talks about when sharing her breast cancer survivor journey is how great her team is. There’s Dr. Amber Orman, her radiation oncologist; Dr. Roxanne Sylora, her reconstruction surgeon; Dr. Lisa Minton, her breast surgery specialist; Dr. Adnan Akhtar, her medical oncologist.

“I feel like I need to name them all because they saved my life. I truly believe I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for their awesome medical skills and compassionate care,” she says. Kathy admits she was scared when she first heard the word cancer. She was diagnosed in 2019 after finding a lump about the size of a pecan in her left breast. “It was the fear of the unknown. It was the fear of what comes next,” she says.

Now, three years and many treatments later, Kathy admits she hasn’t been able to overcome all her fear, but says she has long periods when she’s not afraid.

A few things Kathy has found most helpful has been her daughters Cailyn and Amanda, amazing friends, the unconditional love and companionship of her Norwegian elkhound puppy named Stitch, and the music and art therapy program at AdventHealth.

The therapy programs are funded by private donors and use a variety of creative techniques to address the different needs of those receiving cancer treatments, their caregivers and survivors.

Kathy happily notes another name to add to her team: music therapist Amelia Lane, who would sing and play guitar at the infusion center Kathy went to. “It was so relaxing,” Kathy says. “I still like to attend music therapy, although on Zoom for now. For the hour that I’m there I feel like I’m able to forget all the negative things in my life and feel some peace.”

Pretty Beyond Pink

Meadow Maze Good

Maitland

Dr. Meadow Maze Good is an ob/gyn and urogynecologist, who specializes in pelvic floor reconstructive surgery. When she was ready for a family, Meadow and her husband needed infertility treatments. Thankfully, Meadow was able to give birth to two healthy babies three years apart—a boy and a girl with the help of Invitro Fertilization (IVF). When pregnant with her second child, Meadow felt a mass in her breast but was told it was normal with younger women with dense breasts. “It’s amazing how even as a physician something that was abnormal was normalized,” Meadow says.

When her youngest child was nine months old, Meadow got very sick and was rushed to surgery with a ruptured appendix. After she was discharged from the hospital, Meadow finally ordered a mammogram for herself. Within hours, she had a scan, report, biopsy and diagnosis: advanced breast cancer.

Meadow had a long road ahead. She underwent chemotherapy and was bald for her baby’s first birthday. After a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery, Meadow developed a deadly infection and had to have her implants removed. Radiation followed, resulting in scarring and lymphedema, swelling in both arms and chest. Meadow had loved her career, but was not able to resume performing surgery.

Along her cancer journey Meadow found her new calling. She became a certified patient experience professional, and now advocates for the patients at Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies as the Physician Advisor. “I love being able to bring my unique experience as both a doctor and a patient to my work,” Meadow says.

Meadow has also shared her story publicly via social media posts. Her Instagram page “Pretty Beyond Pink” focuses on inclusive fashion. Today, she doesn’t wear prosthetics and feels a sense of freedom in her new shape. “I want to help other individuals who have suffered from body trauma from breast cancer or any other experience. I want them to know that even as their bodies may be different, they can still look and feel beautiful,” Meadow says. She lives as though every day is a gift and a chance to help others advocate for themselves.

You Don’t Have to Do It Alone

Lyn Berelsman

Kissimmee/Celebration

Longtime community volunteer Lyn Berelsman was 47 when she was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer after a routine mammogram. During her treatment she learned two things: that she was glad she accepted help from others, and as a result, she discovered that she was stronger than she knew.

Lyn reminds other women going through breast cancer that they don’t have to do it alone. “Don’t be afraid to ask for help or accept assistance from others. Family and friends are looking for ways to show that they care, so let them be there for you,” Lyn says.

Lyn discovered that taking a friend or family member with you to appointments was incredibly useful. “Especially when you’re newly diagnosed, you probably aren’t going to be able to retain all that information,” Lyn says “Bring your spouse, a family member or friend to act as a second pair of ears. It’s so easy to forget what your doctor tells you when you are dealing with the emotions of your diagnosis.”

Lyn was apprehensive before her first treatment but found the nurses and oncologists were so competent, caring and friendly that she soon forgot her fears. She also started to make friends with other people getting treatments at the same time. “We would share stories with one another and even a few jokes. I felt like we were on the journey together.”

Lyn also suggests that other breast cancer patients make good use of the resources that their medical team provides. Patients at AdventHealth Cancer Institute Celebration can access services offered by experienced staff. Lyn says, along with support from family and friends, a good attitude and determination were key to helping her during her cancer journey.

Awareness Advocate

Juliet Milligan

College Park

At 75 years young, Juliet “Julie” Milligan is excited to have the opportunity to advocate for other women. “When I got diagnosed it was a wakeup call to make my life more meaningful,” Julie says. After successfully completing breast cancer treatment, which Julie described as “hellishly unpleasant,” she continued having regular breast cancer screenings and went on with her life. Then she found a lump on her side and was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. “I did not realize that having breast cancer increased my risk of getting ovarian cancer. It caught me by complete surprise. I want to make sure other women know more than I did.”

Currently, there are no routine screening tests for uterine or ovarian cancer. By the time a woman has any symptoms the cancer is often in an advanced stage. Citing the advancements in breast cancer screening, treatment and research as a blueprint, Julie hopes to increase awareness of uterine and ovarian cancer.

Just last month Julie participated in AdventHealth Foundation’s Teal Takeover where she walked 5K every day for 30 days. Teal is the awareness ribbon color for ovarian cancer. Julie also helped fundraise for the Teal Magnolia Luncheon in May.

Never letting her cancer diagnosis keep her from living life to the fullest, Julie enthusiastically shares how she and her late husband George went fly fishing on six different continents and how she has loved getting to spend time with her three grandchildren who live in Geneva, Switzerland.

According to the American Cancer Society, ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths among women. “My hope is that with more awareness and research we’ll find a reliable screening test for ovarian cancer and eventually, just like breast cancer, we’ll be able to catch it earlier and have better outcomes.”

Breastfeeding Through Cancer

Melissa Hilliker

Clermont

Melissa Hilliker and her husband Dana thought they had completed their family after having their two daughters: Sydney, 11, and Josie, 9. Then last year they got a surprise—they were pregnant again.

At 36 years old, Melissa felt blessed to become a new mom again. She ate well, did CrossFit and took her prenatal vitamins. At the 20-week ultrasound for her baby, she found a suspicious lump, and shortly after, had it scanned and biopsied. A few days later the results came back. It was breast cancer.

While many women know that a family history can increase their risk of developing breast cancer themselves, Melissa, a pediatric cardiology nurse, was stunned by her diagnosis. “Not only is there no history of breast cancer in my family, but I’m also the first person in my family to have any type of cancer,” Melissa says.

Radiation, hormone and targeted therapy are not generally advised for pregnant women. So, Melissa began chemotherapy during her third trimester. She completed four rounds of treatment, but her tumor didn’t shrink. After discussing it with her medical team, Melissa decided she would breastfeed her new daughter Savannah with her left breast (which was unaffected) while she prepared for surgery to remove six lymph nodes and her right breast.

“I’m just so grateful that I’ve gotten to have this precious time with my daughter,” Melissa says. In a few weeks Melissa will start hormone therapy and will have to stop breastfeeding. “It’s not how I planned it, but I praise God that I’ve gotten more time [to breastfeed] than I originally thought I would.”

Through it all Melissa says feels like there’s been overwhelming joy in her journey. In fact, her baby’s middle name is Joy. She attributes staying grounded to the support of her family, her women’s Bible study group and her faith. “I know that God can do big and bold things and that he is walking with me on this journey. I know our family is going to be OK.”