2 | The Daily News | Think Pink | 2023 Preventing, diagnosing and treating breast disease The University of Texas Medical Branch is in-network for most major insurance plans. Contact our Breast Health team at (800) 917-8906, visit our website at utmbhealth.com/breast-health or scan the QR code to find a specialist and schedule your appointment. Our state-of-the-art imaging, medical and surgical services provide the highest level of care to our patients. UTMB Health has been designated a Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology and recognized as a National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC) by the American College of Surgeons. Under the care of Fellowship-trained breast radiologists and surgeons, patients can be sure they’ll receive the highest quality breast imaging and breast cancer care available in their communities. knows Breast Health SCAN TO LEARN MORE Our Breast Health services include: • Comprehensive Breast Imaging • Genetic Screening • Medical Oncology • Surgical Oncology • Radiation Oncology • Breast Reconstruction UTMB Health has over 130 years of expertise caring for women of all ages.2023 | Think Pink | The Daily News | 3 T here is no one-size- fits-all approach to breast health. Even the experts differ on some details related Keeping breast health in check U TMB Health nurse practitioner Jill Resendez plays an important role in the lives of breast cancer survivors who opt for recon- structive services through the UTMB Health Division of Plastic Surgery. To help bring closure to the journey these patients have undergone while fighting for their lives, Resendez offers nipple and areola tattooing services with the goal of help- ing patients feel whole again. Originally, Resendez had wanted to be a fashion design- er, but after watching her own mother fight and lose her bat- tle with breast cancer, the then high-school senior was moti- vated to go into health care. “I met so many amazing doctors, nurses and nurse practitioners [during my mom’s battle with breast can- cer] that truly changed the tra- jectory of my life — so I went to school, became a nurse and then eight years later I went back and became a nurse practitioner,” Resendez said. With the firsthand experience she had watching her mother Nipple tattoos bring patients closure, help them feel whole Story by Jessica Wyble Photo courtesy of UTMB battle breast cancer, Resendez takes extra care when working with these patients. “I was so excited to learn I could help other women that I knew had a tough time emotionally and physically,” she said. “I knew exactly where they had been, so I knew if I was going to do this, it was going to be done right. I wanted them to have the results they deserved.” After undergoing a less-than-orthodox training process that involved serving as an apprentice with an area tattoo artist for more than eight months, Resendez now regularly has the privilege of closing the breast cancer chap- ter for breast reconstruction patients like Norma Garcia. “I forget when I look in the mirror that there’s even recon- struction going on,” Garcia says. “She made me feel very whole.” UTMB Health patient Christal Kuehler reached what she calls the end of her breast cancer journey in October 2022 when Resendez complet- ed her tattoos. Just before the proce- dure, Kuehler had only one thought. “I’m going to be complete,” she said. Scan the QR code below with your smartphone to watch a video interview with Jill and patients. to breast cancer screening. In addition, every person has different risk factors that may need to be considered. You never can be too young to learn about the signs, symptoms and risks of breast cancer. Here are some steps you can take to manage your breast health. You can begin this process as soon as you begin visits to the gynecolo- gist — even in your teens or twenties. See below for tips on how to stay on top of your breast health. 1. Know Your Risk • Talk to family to learn about family health history. • Talk to your doctor about your risks for breast cancer. 2. Know Your Breasts • Know the “normal” look and feel of your breasts. • Use a mirror to see all areas of the breasts. • Discuss changes with your physician. 3. Get Screened • Make a plan with your doctor for the age and frequency of routine mammogram screenings and clinical examinations. • Take into account your family and personal risk factors. • Discuss what factors might change that plan in the future, such as new cancer diagnosis in the family or breast changes. ABOUT RISK AND SCREENING PROCEDURES While regular self-examinations in the shower are not encouraged like they were in the past, knowing the “normal” look and feel of your breasts still is important. Be sure to look in the mirror so you can see all areas of the breasts. See your health care provider if you notice any of these breast changes: • Lump, hard knot or thickening in the breast or underarm area • Swelling, warmth, redness or darkening of the skin of the breast • Change in the size or shape of the breast • Dimpling or puckering of the skin • Itchy, scaly sore or rash on the nipple • Pulling in of your nipple or other parts of the breast • Nipple discharge that starts suddenly • New pain in one spot that does not go away KNOW RISK FACTORS FOR BREAST CANCER • Increasing age • Family history of breast or ovarian cancer • Having a breast cancer genetic mutation • Prior breast biopsy with finding of atypical hyperplasia or lobular carcinoma in situ • Early menarche (beginning of periods before age 12) • Late menopause (after 55) • Never having a baby or late first pregnancy • Menopausal hormone therapy with combination estrogen and progestin. (Estrogen-only pills do not increase risk.) • Certain ethnicities may have increased risk • Obesity • Alcohol consumption • Dense breasts on mammography • History of lymphoma with radiation to the chest KNOW ABOUT MAMMOGRAPHY AND GUIDELINES While age guidelines for mam- mography are important, they can change. Discuss your screening plans at each yearly exam with your PCP or Well Woman provider. Women 40 to 44 have the option to begin mammogram screening, while yearly mammograms are recommended for those 45 to 54. Women 55 and older can opt to con- tinue yearly mammograms or switch to every other year mammograms. Screening should continue if the person is healthy and expects to live at least 10 more years. Note, these guidelines are for women at average risk for breast cancer. For screening purposes, a woman is considered to be at average risk if she doesn’t have a personal history of breast cancer, a strong family history of breast can- cer or a genetic mutation known to increase risk of breast cancer (such as in a BRCA gene) and has not had chest radiation therapy before the age of 30. MAMMOGRAMS Everyone should know what to expect when getting a mammogram for breast cancer screening — what the test can and cannot do. Mam- mograms are low-dose X-rays of the breast. Regular mammograms can help find breast cancer at an early stage when treatment is most likely to be successful. A mammogram can find breast changes of early cancers years before a lump is felt or other symptoms develop. Mammograms are not perfect. They miss some breast cancers. There’s also a small chance of being diagnosed with a cancer that never would have caused any problems had it not been found during screen- ing. (This is called overdiagnosis.) It’s important that women getting mammograms know what to expect and understand the benefits and limitations of screening. Story by Leslie Sanderson Photos courtesy of UTMB4 | The Daily News | Think Pink | 2023 Committed to care: Meet some of the UTMB Breast Health team Story by Jessica Wyble Photos courtesy of UTMB T he UTMB Health Breast Health team is a group of multidis- ciplinary experts who come together to provide top-notch care to each breast cancer pa- tient who comes through their doors. Comprised of specialists from the fields of plastic surgery, oncology, radiology, genetic counseling, social work, patient services and more, each member of the group offers a unique perspective and plays a different role throughout the patient journey. Despite their professional differenc- es, they each come equipped with a passion for what they do, and they approach the work with attention to detail and care. “I’ve worked at UTMB since 2011,” said Dr. Angelica Robinson, professor and provider with the Department of Radiology. Robinson adds that her most memorable moment on the job thus far has been taking care of a grand- mother, mother and daughter all in the same family. As a member of the Radiology team, Robinson leads a lot of the screening efforts and imaging needs of the patients. If it’s determined that a patient has cancer and will need treatment, they pretty quickly find their way to patient navigator Sherry Bogar. “I don’t just get to do the patient’s vitals and place them in the room,” she said. “I get to walk them through their journey.” Coming from a family heavily impacted by cancer, Bogar takes the responsibility her job carries seriously. DR. ANGELICA ROBINSONCHRISTINA FALUGIJILL RESENDEZ “Everyone’s loved one deserves the best care and I want to provide that,” she said. As a patient navigator, Bogar helps people navigate the health care sys- tem and helps connect the dots for everyone. That’s a big job when you consider all the different professionals who might have a hand in a patient’s journey. Christina Falugi is one of those professionals. A board-certified can- cer genetic counselor, Falugi works to collect each patient’s personal and family history to provide them with an individualized risk assessment. “I love being able to educate patients about how genetics can play a role in their breast health care and empower them to use that information to make the best decisions for themselves and their families,” Falugi said. Having lost her father to an aggres- sive cancer, Falugi has a sense of what her patients and their loved ones are experiencing. “Seeing my father go through his treatment added an additional layer of understanding for what some of my patients and their family members may face,” she said, adding that she knows she can never fully understand what each person is going through, but she can try to be more sensitive to their needs. “We just don’t treat breast cancer at UTMB. We create better treatments.” DR. SUZANNE KLIMBERGJust like Falugi and Bogar, nurse practitioner Jill Resendez with the UTMB Division of Plastic Surgery also knows what it’s like to lose a parent to cancer. During her senior year of high school, Resendez watched her mother lose her battle with breast cancer. “I approach all of the patients I treat, especially women going through treatment for breast cancer, with a profound sense of empathy and under- standing,” said the nurse whose role with the breast health team includes performing nipple and areola tattoos on survivors who have undergone reconstructive services. “By channeling my mom’s caring spirit and strength, I am able to show up each day dedi- cated to providing the highest level of care, comfort and compassion to those walking paths similar to the one that my mom and our family once faced,” she said. Resendez said the work she does is so much more than just improving aesthetics. “It is pivotal in boosting patients’ mental, physical and emotional well-being,” she said. On the oncology side of things are people like Dr. Suzanne Klimberg, a professor and surgical oncologist with three and a half decades’ worth of experience. When asked what she loves about the breast health work she does, Klimberg said it’s the fact that it involves helping people in so many different ways. Consistently on the leading edge and looking for new ways to conquer the disease, Klimberg has led the charge on numerous clinical trials, some that are still ongoing. “We just don’t treat breast cancer at UTMB,” she said. “We create better treatments.” Helping ensure that patients have the resources they need, no matter the phase of their journey is licensed social worker Cheron Hillmon. With the team since 2017, Hillmon has used her time thus far to tailor the position to provide support and address the needs of UTMB’s patient population. “My hope is that I can provide a safe space where patients are able to be in their feelings about their ‘new normal,’” she said. “Cancer is a life altering work, and there can be an overabundance of emotions felt in such a short period of time. Patients need to be reassured that all those feelings are normal and are theirs to feel. I use our time together to encourage attending our support group meeting to discuss their feelings with those who have been where they are.” Hillmon, Klimberg, Resendez, Bogar, Falugi and Robinson are just some of the amazing team members serving patients through every phase of their breast health journeys. From preven- tion, through diagnosis, treatment and survivorship support, UTMB Health has a full crew of individuals who, just like these women, are committed to delivering the best possible care to every patient, every time. To learn more about the full team and services provided, visit the ‘Meet the Team’ section of the UTMB Breast Health website at utmbhealth.com/ breasthealth. 2023 | Think Pink | The Daily News | 5 Despite their professional differences, they each come equipped with a passion for what they do, and they approach the work with attention to detail and care. DR. SUZANNE KLIMBERGSHERRY BOGAR AND STELLA TURRUBIATECHERON HILLMON6 | The Daily News | Think Pink | 2023 UTMB breast cancer patient finds peace through faith and family during difficult time Story by Jessica Wyble Photos courtesy of Stephanie Foster T his time last year, Stephanie Foster was trucking along like normal, gearing up for the bus- iest time of year for her toffee business — the holidays! But just as the dust was settling from the hustle and bustle of the winter sea- son, she got the news that stopped her in her tracks. “I was told it was ductal carcinoma in situ,” Foster said, referencing the diagno- sis she received in late December 2022. Just a few months prior to that, she had gone in to have a lump checked but a biopsy determined it was benign. “There was nothing there,” Foster said. “But there was another area that looked a bit suspicious, so my doctor determined we would need to keep an eye on it.” That doctor was Dr. Suzanne Klimberg, professor and chief of the UTMB Health Division of Surgical Oncology within the institution’s Department of Surgery. Knowing that she needed to keep an eye on that spot had Foster hy- per-aware of what was going on with her body, so when she started having spontaneous discharge out of her right nipple, she knew exactly what to do. “I went right back to Dr. Klimberg’s office,” Foster said. Dr. Klimberg was confident the cause of the discharge was a simple, non-can- cerous papilloma, but that suspicious spot didn’t look any better, so she went ahead and ordered an MRI and biopsy of the area and that’s what ended up detecting Foster’s cancer. “The carcinoma was so large, they thought about nine centimeters long, maybe,” Foster said. She vividly remembers that first appointment back at the clinic after the diagnosis. “I was numb,” she said. “I was not pro- cessing anything, and the team member who was with me could sense that and just stopped and gave me a hug.” As her new reality began to set in, Foster worked with her care team, led by Dr. Klimberg, to decide what path to take to treat the cancer. She ultimately landed on having a dou- ble mastectomy, which took place at the end of January 2023, and she’s now work- ing through the reconstruction process. “All the doctors have been just won- derful,” Foster said. “Dr. Klimberg was so matter of fact and thorough. She gave me lots of information to help me decide what I wanted to do.” Despite how overwhelming things may have felt at the beginning of her journey, Foster’s faith in God gave her a sense of peace about the whole process and helped her stay strong and confident that she’d beat this. “I knew God had this. I knew I was going to be OK,” she said. A wife and mom of three, the sup- port of her family also helped carry her through the experience. “They put on a brave face but were all very concerned,” Foster said. “My oldest son, who is 25, was probably the most concerned.” Having not just the support of her fam- ily but their physical presence to help with day-to-day things proved invaluable. “You don’t realize the things you can’t do from getting dressed to taking a shower,” said Foster, whose parents drove in from Tallahassee, Florida to help, too, as she underwent various surgeries and procedures. “My young- est son would do my hair; blow dry it or flat iron brush it out. There were lots of sweet moments like that.” Foster required so much help be- cause part of the reconstruction pro- cess involves fat grafting, which is a process of taking fat from other parts of the body to help rebuild the breast. From where the surgeon draws fat for this process varies by patient, and, for Foster, the UTMB Health plastic surgery team — which leads all breast health reconstruction work — opted to use fat from her stomach. Regardless of the body parts involved in these proce- dures, recovering requires lots of rest to ensure things heal appropriately. To give her body the time it needed, she decided to take a pause from the work she loves. “I had to take time off from my business because when making toffee and candy you have to stir a lot and I just couldn’t move my arms like that,” she said. Nearly a year into her journey, Foster said she’s beginning to feel like she’s coming around the bend. She’s already getting back to some of the farmers markets she frequents as a vendor to sell her toffee. “As it gets cooler, I’ll do more of these markets,” she said, noting that as part of her journey she had to have some of her lymph nodes taken out, so she now needs to be mindful of being in the heat more so than before. Despite still having a few remaining surgeries and a list of new daily precau- tions to consider, Foster can’t complain. “I’m feeling great,” she said, adding that this whole experience has been quite eye-opening. “I have had mammograms every year and they didn’t catch this, but it’s likely because I have dense breast tissue,” she said. “If you know that about your- self, consider taking a little more time to know what’s normal for you and if anything feels out of place speak up and be an advocate for yourself.” Foster is thankful for the care team she’s encountered that took her con- cerns seriously. “Everyone at the clinic from the check-in desk to the nurses and all the residents and doctors, they’re all so great,” she said. “It’s just a very loving and caring clinic.” “I knew God had this. I knew I was going to be OK.” STEPHANIE FOSTERF rom the time she was 39, Erin Schutmaat, a wife and mom of three in League City, was insis- tent about getting her annual mammogram. “We live in this amazing time where we have the means and science avail- able to us to catch these things,” she said. “I don’t know why more people don’t stay on top of it.” That insistence is what helped her and her health care team detect and di- agnose her breast cancer early enough that it was at stage zero. “From the mammogram to the ul- trasound, to being formally diagnosed and then surgery, everything went so fast,” said Schutmaat, who is 46 now but was 43 at the time of diagnosis. The surgery Schutmaat references is the double mastectomy she opted to have during the summer of 2021 to remove the cancer from her body. Although she only had signs of can- cer in her right breast, she decided to do both just to be sure everything was Breast cancer survivor wants women to get serious about getting screened Story by Jessica Wyble Photos courtesy of Erin Schutmaat 2023 | Think Pink | The Daily News | 7 gone — and to give her oldest daugh- ter some peace of mind. “Out of all my children, my oldest one was the most worried about the di- agnosis and she asked me to just take them both off,” she said. Dr. Suzanne Klimberg was the lead surgical oncologist on Schutmaat’s case, and following the successful double mastectomy, Schutmaat recalls only hav- ing a couple more months with Klim- berg before being declared cancer free. Schutmaat’s husband, Daniel Schut- maat, who accompanied his wife to every appointment he could during her journey, remembers that last conversa- tion with Dr. Klimberg very well. “It was the most impactful thing when Dr. Klimberg looked over at us and said ‘my job here is done,’” he said. Schutmaat decided to have recon- structive surgery as part of her journey, so although Dr. Klimberg was done shortly after the mastectomy, it was now the UTMB Health plastic surgery team’s turn to take the reins and get Schutmaat to the finish line. Schutmaat has appreciated the care she’s received throughout every phase of her breast cancer battle; however, she said she was surprised by a few things. “For me, there were two big surpris- es — one being that the easiest part was making the decision to remove my breasts,” she said. “Two, I was surprised that for me personally the reconstruc- tion ended up being the hardest part.” Schutmaat goes on to explain that what was challenging about the recon- struction was how limited she was in what she could do while she recovered between surgeries, including fat grafs. “I wasn’t allowed to drive, I had to depend on people taking my kids to and from school,” she said, noting that starting with the mastectomy she had a total of six surgeries in two years — one being a not-related-to-cancer hysterec- tomy. “It’s a big change when you can’t do anything, especially with your arms.” A former CrossFitter, Schutmaat also had to adjust to taking a break from ex- ercise to ensure fluid didn’t build up in the areas undergoing regular operations. Despite all of that, Schutmaat and her husband struggle to find bad things to say about the whole care process. “Everything was great,” he said. “There’s nothing I can even think to complain about.” Schutmaat echoes his remarks. “UTMB made everything so easy,” she said. “The office there with Sherry and Stella, it was like a family. I mean we hug them every time we come in.” “I’m a champion for this cause all year round, but each October I go into overdrive and do a variety of things to spread the word, including posting daily breast health facts and news on my Facebook page.” ERIN SCHUTMAAT Sherry Bogar, a certified patient nav- igator and Stella Turrubiate, nurse and patient navigator are the individuals to whom Schutmaat refers, and they are the front line of the multidisciplinary Breast Health team at UTMB. In addition to the many surgeons, nurses, medical assistants, residents and fellows Schutmaat encountered from the time of diagnosis to now, she also had the chance to meet with the genetic counselors who are part of that team. “My mom and I both had the genetic testing done and it was determined we don’t carry any of the genes known to make someone predisposed to devel- oping breast cancer,” she said. In fact, Schutmaat’s diagnosis actu- ally motivated her mother — who was well behind on her screenings — to initiate a mammogram, too. And it’s a good thing she did, as they uncovered she had stage one breast cancer. Schutmaat knows there are many women like her mom out there who for whatever reason don’t keep up with their health, so she’s made it part of her personal mission to regularly raise awareness about the importance of routine screenings and visits with your doctor. “I’m a champion for this cause all year round, but each October I go into overdrive and do a variety of things to spread the word, including posting daily breast health facts and news on my Facebook page,” she said. She also has more subtle ways of keeping the topic top of mind, rocking bright pink nail polish across her fin- gernails, with the exception of her ring fingers which are each painted white and embellished with a pink breast cancer ribbon. “My middle daughter had the idea for the nails,” she said. “This is our second year doing them.” Community came together for breast cancer patient Story by Jessica Wyble Photos courtesy of Stephanie Sanchez W hen Stephanie Sanchez, 49, learned she had breast cancer — lobular carci- noma to be exact — she didn’t waste any time feel- ing sorry for herself. Instead, she leapt into action. “I’ve never really been a self-pity person,” she said. “Not that I was being nonchalant about the whole thing, I just had the mindset of ‘OK, this is my reality, what do we need to do next? Just tell me the plan and let’s get to it.’” However, being uninsured, even land- ing on a diagnosis at first felt tricky. “It was probably around 2020 when I first found a small knot in my breast area,” she said. “I didn’t think any- thing of it because it was small, and I thought it was maybe just a cyst.” Fast forward six months or so and Sanchez felt the spot again, only this time it was bigger. Knowing she need- ed to get this checked out, she did her research on the options she had to have a mammogram done. Sanchez was able to get one through the UTMB Mobile Mammography Unit, which, thanks to a $1.4 million grant from the Moody Endowment, was unveiled in “We even had a tamalada — a tamale making party — to make tamales to sell as part of a fundraiser to help cover my treatment expenses.” STEPHANIE SANCHEZ 2018 as part of the institution’s Mobile Mammography Program. Originally launched in 1999, the pro- gram aims to reach women across the region just like Sanchez who struggle to know where to turn when some- thing goes wrong with their health. Sanchez’s mammogram in November 2020 revealed that she did have a mass, and, in February of the following year, she had a biopsy that confirmed it was cancerous. She was diagnosed with stage three invasive lobular carcinoma, as well as metastatic adenocarcinoma, meaning it had spread into the lymph nodes. “From there I began the journey to get all the testing I needed done,” said Sanchez, who admits being a bit naïve thinking that once she had the diag- nosis it would be as simple as getting chemotherapy or having the cancer removed and that would be that. Sanchez’s experience was unfortu- nately far from that simple; however, she’s grateful for the people she’s had helping her throughout the process that’s included everything from chemo- therapy and a full mastectomy to radi- ation and now occupational therapy to help with stage one lymphedema. “Along the way, everything has been explained to me thoroughly,” she said. “I’ve had a great team of people help- ing me throughout this journey.” 8 | The Daily News | Think Pink | 2023 Sanchez is not just appreciative of the health care professionals who have been there for her during this time; she’s also thankful for the loved ones — and even strangers — who have helped support her in her fight against cancer. “My family is very close and support- ive,” she said. “My aunts found ways to support me by having my house cleaned and helping with laundry, while others cooked and financially helped with what they could. We even had a tamalada — a tamale making party — to make tamales to sell as part of a fundraiser to help cover my treat- ment expenses.” The outpouring of generosity was something Sanchez said she never would have expected, and she credits it with helping her keep a positive outlook throughout every phase of her battle. “From the way I was feeling day to day to the immense help I was receiv- ing from the community around me, I don’t think my experience has been as bad as it could have been,” she said. “Sure, I was sickly some of the time, but I didn’t let it run me or my days.” Looking back on all she’s endured in recent years, Sanchez has learned the importance not just of positivity, but of slowing down and really listening to her body. “I’ve always been go, go, go. Busy with home life and work, and I’ve never taken time to take stock of my surroundings and my health,” she said. “I wish I would have listened to my body a lot sooner.” As Sanchez nears the end of this chapter of her life, she expresses so much gratitude for everyone she’s encountered at UTMB Health along the way, including her surgical oncologist Dr. Colleen Silva. One of the doctors even took to heart Sanchez’s feedback that the headrests available to patients during radiation treatments were uncomfortable. This particular physician took Sanchez’s con- cerns and worked to get all new head- rests for patients. Unfortunately, the new amenities didn’t arrive in time for her to use them, but it makes her happy knowing that she’s helping others, even if only in a small way. “The whole team from the beginning to where I’m at now has just been amazing,” she said. “I don’t know if you would get that anywhere else. UTMB Health is undoubtedly my clinic and hospital of choice.” 2023 | Think Pink | The Daily News | 9 S ome women discover their breast cancer during their rou- tine mammogram screening. Others sometimes maybe feel a lump or something else on their own. For Isis Rubido, a 72-year-old mom of one grown son, the situation was quite different. “I have a history of having kidney stones and was at the end of my latest episode,” said Rubido, who actually had laser surgery to remove one of the larger stones. Three days after that procedure, her stent was removed and within hours Inner strength and son’s support helped Isis Rubido heal Story by Jessica Wyble Photo courtesy of Isis Rubido “[My son] was my support 100 percent. I didn’t have anyone else physically with me, but I also had the support of my family, coworkers and friends and my faith in God through this journey.” ISIS RUBIDO she was feeling sharp pains. “My son rushed me to the hospital where they ordered a scan,” she said. That’s when they noticed something wasn’t quite right with both of Rubi- do’s breasts. Always diligent about staying on top of her mammograms and doctors’ appointments, Rubido already had a diagnostic screening scheduled. After that appointment, they confirmed that a biopsy would be needed. The biop- sy results were positive for stage one cancer in one breast and stage zero in the other. “I knew I wanted Dr. [Suzanne] Klimberg and the UTMB Breast Health Plastic Surgery team in my corner,” Rubido said. “And that’s when all my treatment started. “I had a bilateral mastectomy,” she said of the surgery she had Sept. 1, 2022. As part of her journey, she also opted to have full reconstruction of both breasts. The last surgery she had as part of that process was June 13 of this year. “It went very well, except that after my two-week follow-up, I realized one of the incisions was beginning to open,” Rubido said. Concerned about this development, especially because of the increased risk of infection, she alerted her care team immediately. Thankfully, they were able to determine quickly that Rubido simply wasn’t eating enough protein to support the healing of the area, so after a few diet changes, everything began to get better little by little. Rubido called the process “the snail steps.” When reflecting on the situation, Ru- bido knows the issue with the incision wasn’t the result of anything anyone did wrong. “I just have delicate skin there,” she said, mentioning that she’s now almost back to 100 percent. Since Rubido’s cancer was caught so early, she didn’t require any other treat- ments or therapies beyond the mastec- tomy to rid her body of the disease. “I actually had the option to do a lumpectomy and not even a full mastectomy,” Rubido said. “Howev- er, if I opted for the lumpectomy, I would have needed chemo and radia- tion and there was a greater chance it [the cancer] could come back and get worse. So, I decided with my son and Dr. Klimberg and my friend Kaye Garza that the bilateral mastectomy was the best choice for me.” As she reflects on her journey, Ru- bido mentions her son, who lives in Colorado, a lot. “He was my support 100 percent,” said Rubido, speaking of her son who came down and stayed with her for nine weeks for the first surgery and six weeks for the last surgery. “I didn’t have anyone else physically with me, but I also had the support of my fami- ly, coworkers and friends and my faith in God through this journey. The UTMB Breast Health team also showed up for Rubido, offering reas- surance and answers every step of the way. “Anything I wanted to know, I called [the clinic], and they called me right back,” she said. “The doctors and staff are awesome. You can’t ask for a better group. Stella and Sherry [patient navigators] are the best. Even down to the people having to do my lab work. Everyone has been great.” Even having such a treatable, con- querable diagnosis, Rubido was honest about the spectrum of emotions she felt and what she learned about herself through this journey. “It’s hard to think you have [cancer],” she said. “I’m stronger than what I thought I was because I got through this.” Next >