This is how Amy Henson’s wife, Jillian, describes her, “Someone who is fiercely loyal, who has a ginormous (sic) heart and is willing to care about others.”
That passion and compassion caused Amy to put some important personal needs on hold recently. Over a short period of time Jillian’s mother became ill and passed away, Amy started a new job as a licensed clinical social worker with Blessing Health, and Jillian was diagnosed with and treated for breast cancer.
“After all that, this year I needed to get back on track with all my stuff,” Amy said.
That included the 47-year-old making an appointment for a mammogram. It had been five years since she last had one. Amy signed up for a “Pack the Schedule” event that Blessing offers its employees at the Blessing Breast Center to encourage regular screening mammograms.
One surprise after another
Amy’s mammogram detected breast cancer. She was surprised and shocked, especially because she had survived thyroid cancer 17 years earlier.
“This was the last cancer I thought I would get. I have no family history of it. I didn’t feel any lumps. I had no symptoms, that I could tell,” Amy said. “I was in a little bit of shock.”
“But I knew catching it early was good, based on what my wife and I had been through with her breast cancer. I wanted to start the process, to get moving and get it (the cancer) out.”
A patient of Blessing Health primary care provider Dr. Amy North, Amy Henson added fellowship-trained and board-certified Blessing Health medical oncologist Dr. Daniel Koh, Blessing Health board-certified surgeon Dr. Emmanuel Bessay, and Blessing Health board-certified radiation oncologist Dr. Robert Johnson to her care team.
“After my first surgery, Dr. Bessay said that the tumor was twice the size they originally thought it was, and a lymph node came back positive for cancer,” she related.
After her lumpectomy and re-excision surgeries, Amy received radiation therapy to decrease the risk for cancer spread and recurrence.
“The radiation team was amazing,” she said. “They walked me through everything in advance and did everything possible to give me the feeling that I was not only going to survive, but thrive after my treatment.”
When the caregiver becomes the patient
On the job at Blessing, Amy has occasion to work with breast cancer patients. As the patient herself, Amy partnered with Blessing Breast Center nationally-certified patient navigator Jessica Nuebel, MSN, RN, to keep her on track throughout her treatment.
Jessica is a consistent point of contact for any breast cancer patient who requests her assistance. She is available to attend medical appointments to take notes and ensure the patient understands the information shared during the appointments. Jessica can also help address any barriers the patient may experience in complying with their plan of care throughout their treatment. There is no cost for Jessica’s services.
“She’s been a godsend,” Amy said. “Jessica has been a lifeline, and just amazing to talk to.”
“She gave me the ability to be me, as a patient, and feel all the feelings and let people take care of me for a change. That was hard for me.”
“I am almost in tears talking about her. Jessica is really fabulous.”
Ladies, listen up!
With the support of her own family, and her Blessing family, Amy thrives today. Her experience has motivated others in her life as both of her younger sisters got mammograms after her diagnosis.
“Get your mammograms annually,” Amy advises all women. “Don’t put yourself on the back burner. We tend to put ourselves on the back burner as women because of the roles we play.”
“For some women mammograms can be uncomfortable for the short time the exam takes once a year. However, these screenings are one of those things that can’t be ignored,” she concluded.
For more information on Blessing’s nationally-certified breast cancer related services and the skilled, compassionate team of providers that delivers those services, visit the following online locations: