Most of us have a voice within.  We hear it when considering big decisions. “Good choice.” “Bad choice.” “Do it.” “Don’t do it.”  “What about…?”

Sometimes we listen to the voice. Sometimes we don’t.


Jen Easley

When Blessing Health called to remind Jen Easley of an upcoming appointment, her voice within spoke out. With eight weeks to go until graduation from her Hannibal LaGrange College registered nursing program, the last thing Jen needed was another thing to do. 

“I am very thankful, every day, for that phone call from Blessing confirming my appointment,” the 48-year-old Blessing Health licensed practical nurse said. “Honestly, I am not sure I would have kept the appointment without the call. But for some reason, while I was on the phone with them, something told me I needed to go.”

The voice within might have saved Jen’s life.

During the appointment, her provider, Ashley Akhtar, APRN, FNP, obstetrics/gynecology, Blessing Health, found a lump in Jen’s left breast. Jen wasn’t too concerned.  She had experienced benign lumps before. Ashley encouraged her to schedule a mammogram at the Blessing Breast Center. Jen did. The mammogram led to a biopsy which led to a breast cancer diagnosis.

Even though her mother and grandmother had breast cancer, Jen’s reaction was shock and surprise.

“Being a nurse, I had been around people who had breast cancer,” Jen continued. “But it’s much different when you are the patient. All your medical knowledge can kind of go out the window, being on the opposite side of things.”

One of Jen’s fears was that her dream of becoming a registered nurse would fall victim to her breast cancer.

“I thought, ‘How am I going to do this?’” she said. “I am in an accelerated nursing education program. How do you make cancer fit in? How am I going to manage all this?”

The support of family and friends, and college faculty and her fellow students helped Jen answer those questions. In particular, her partner, Allen Wiskirchen, was Jen’s daily support and pushed her to finish school, telling her that, “we will do this together."


Jen Easley and her partner, Allen Wiskirchen

Jen’s medical team helped answer all other questions. Her primary care provider referred her to board certified Blessing Health Hannibal Clinic surgeon, Patricia Hirner, MD. At Jen’s first appointment, the first caregiver she met was Dr. Hirner’s nurse, Vickie Johnston, LPN.

“She sat down and talked to me. Vickie made me feel like things were going to be okay. She was able to calm me,” Jen said.

Jen then met Dr. Hirner.

“She was wonderful. She could see that I was very fearful and worried,” Jen said. “Dr. Hirner hugged me. She gave me encouraging words,” Jen said.

“Dr. Hirner answered every question I had in detail,” she continued. “Things were a blur that day. But they made sure I was very well informed.”

Among the many questions Jen had for the doctor was about the possibility of delaying treatment until she graduated from her RN program.

After careful review of all information, Dr. Hirner approved scheduling surgery – a double mastectomy - after Jen’s graduation. Jen chose a double mastectomy due to her higher risk related to strong family history of breast cancer.

Surgery was a success. The cancer had not spread. No chemotherapy or radiation therapy was needed. And a genetic test showed Jen did not carry the breast cancer gene.

Two months after her double mastectomy, Jen underwent reconstructive surgery. She is now healthy and ready for the next step on her career ladder, earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.

Jen also hopes other women learn from her experience.

“Keep up with your check-ups, do self breast exams and get regular mammograms,” she said. “We all have busy schedules and can forget those normal, routine but very important things.”

For more information on Blessing Health’s cancer care go to, blessinghealth.org/cancer.