Jennifer
The following story is from an interview with Jennifer Conus, a patient at PSCC.
“First the people at PSCC saved my life, and now I’m a mom again.”
Jennifer's grandmother died of cancer. So did her mother. So when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, she was of course worried, but not entirely surprised. She was the mother of a lively 4-year old boy. And she wanted more children. But first she would have to face her cancer with help from Puget Sound Cancer Centers.
It all started over Easter weekend when Jennifer found a lump. Then the morning she was going in for a mammogram and ultrasound she had a problem seeing out of her left eye. After talking to her regular physician and an eye specialist, she was scheduled to see a hematologist and get some blood tests for the blood clot in her left eye. So while she was seeing Dr. David Dong at PSCC for the blood clot, she was waiting to hear back on her breast biopsy.
On April 1st she received the serious news. Dr. Dong knew the situation and immediately became a comfort to her, as well as an ally. He immediately starting making phone calls and giving her and her family information and all of the options.
Even though Jennifer lived on the Eastside, she felt that PSCC was where she needed to be. “I was immediately comfortable with Dr. Dong and the people at PSCC. Getting my treatment there just felt right,” Jennifer stated emphatically. Dr. Dong suggested an unusual approach called neo-adjuvant therapy – or treating with chemotherapy first to shrink the tumor before surgery. He also asked if she would like to be a part of a clinical trial that would track her treatment and provide valuable data for other doctors and their patients. Jennifer said, “I always assumed that clinical trials had to do with testing new drugs, but in this case the gathering of information was part of the trial.”
She continued, “As it turned out, it was perfect for me to start with the chemo. The first round went well. Then after the second round my body didn’t respond as well. When the MRI came back and showed that the tumor had grown back, I thought, ‘oh no, here we go again.’ But then I just remember Dr. Dong being so compassionate. I felt it would be okay. So I went ahead with a third, more aggressive round of chemo. This time the treatments were very effective. When I finally had the surgery, no diseased tissue was found at all.”
Jennifer never considered getting a second opinion after her diagnosis. She felt that she was already getting that through the team of nine doctors at PSCC. And she was aware that PSCC actively participates in the regional Tumor Board, so she knew that they were up on the latest treatments and clinical trials.
“I really liked the way PSCC treated me. I never felt that I was just another one of their cancer patients. And I’ve heard the horror stories of people having to wait forever to take their tests and then get the results, but that wasn’t my experience at PSCC. I really developed a special connection with Dr. Dong. He could be funny. He could be serious. He really understood what I needed,” Jennifer explained.
There were places that would have been closer, but Jennifer didn’t consider it a problem to make the 30-to 60-minute drive to get her treatment. Jennifer explained, “It was really nice being in a room where I could meet other people and hear their stories. Knowing you’re not the only one really helps. On my very last day of chemo a woman sat next to me and started crying. She told me it was her first day. I think it was good for her to see me at the end of that journey and successful.”
And now, four years after her diagnosis, Jennifer has given birth to her baby girl. They know so much more now that if my daughter Morgan ever needs cancer treatment, she probably won't have to go through any of this. Cancer took my grandmother and my mother, but PSCC saved my life so that I not only could I keep living but that I could realize my dream of being a mom again.”
Jennifer has been successfully treated at the Seattle PSCC for over four years.