• Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Rss
  • Store
  • Donate
NCCS - National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
  • About
    • Our Mission
    • Our History
    • The 1986 Club
    • Ways to Give
    • Our Team
      • Policy Advisors
    • Employment
    • Partnerships
    • Financial Information
  • Policy
    • Quality Cancer Care
    • Access to Care
    • Health Equity
    • Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act (CCSA)
    • Cancer Care Planning and Communications Act (CCPCA)
    • State of Survivorship Survey
      • 2022 Survey
      • 2021 Survey
      • 2020 Survey
    • Redefining Functional Status (RFS)
  • Get Involved
    • What is Advocacy?
    • Cancer Policy and Advocacy Team (CPAT)
    • Advocate Engagement Opportunities
    • Survivorship Champions
    • Subscribe to NCCS Updates
    • Elevating Survivorship
    • Survivor Stories
    • Cancerversary
    • State-Based Cancer Advocacy
  • Resources
    • COVID-19 Resources for Cancer Survivors
    • Survivorship Checklist
    • Cancer Survival Toolbox
    • Cancer Rehabilitation
    • Integrative Oncology
    • Publications
      • Talking With Your Doctor
      • Self Advocacy
      • Employment Rights
      • Remaining Hopeful
    • Telehealth
    • Taking Charge of Your Care
    • Care Planning for Cancer Survivors
    • Tools For Care Providers
    • Order Our Resources
  • News
  • Events
    • Ellen L. Stovall Award
      • 2023 Winners
      • Awardees
      • Reception and Sponsorship
      • Committees
      • Nominations
    • Cancer Policy Roundtable (CPR)
      • Spring 2023 CPR
      • Fall 2022 CPR
      • Spring 2022 CPR
    • Cancer Policy and Advocacy Team (CPAT) Virtual Symposium 2022
    • 2022 State of Survivorship Survey Results
    • Webinars
  • Contact Us
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
  • 0Shopping Cart

Your generous year-end donation will be matched $1 for $1    DONATE

inflammatory breast cancer

Guest Post: For the Love of My Mother

February 19, 2016/in Cancer News, Cancer Policy Blog Quality Cancer Care, Shared Decision-Making, Survivorship Care NCCS News

In 1983, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was in college at the time and flew home to be by her side when she awoke from a radical mastectomy. My mother was fearless in the face of a disease that few spoke about outside of very private spaces. As a 22 year old, I was in awe of her strength. As her daughter, I was stunned by her brave, very matter-of-fact decision. “Get rid of it!” was her rallying cry.

Lisa D.T. Rice, Patient Navigator

Post by Lisa D. T. Rice, SM, Patient Navigator

In 2014, my mother was diagnosed with a second breast cancer. The rules of the breast cancer game—and how our society perceives the disease—had changed since the 1980s. For better or for worse, we are now awash in pink. T-shirts shout: “Save the tatas!” and more. We are more open and much more evolved in how we see the disease and patients. Treatments have advanced but the bottom line goal remains the same: get rid of it.

My mother now suffers from advanced Alzheimer’s disease; she resides in assisted living. I am 100% responsible for her care. It’s a responsibility I treat seriously.

Although I maintained composure throughout her ordeal, I was frightened and overwhelmed. I knew I must make decisions which would minimize pain and confusion, preserve dignity and not kill her. Knowing my responsibility and respecting my mother’s 1983 decision, I refused to follow her surgeon’s recommendation of chemotherapy and radiation prior to surgery. These options made no sense to me for a woman whose cognitive function didn’t allow her to remember what occurred a mere five minutes prior. How could I support treatment that drives patients with full cognition to the edge (“chemo brain”)?

Also by Lisa D. T. Rice

inflammatory breast cancer

Guest Post: For the Love of a Friend

My dear friend Avery, a woman I’ve known since we were 10 years old (in 5th grade together) was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) in 2006. Having observed my mother’s battle…
Read More »

My thought remained singular, “Get rid of it.” Following my heart, for the love of my mother, I pushed for scheduling the mastectomy. Quickly. Saying no to that white coat was not easy, but it was necessary.

How does one choose a treatment and recovery path for someone who is already suffering from a terminal disease? How does one make these choices for her mother? How does one know if the choices are the right ones?

I undertook this journey with counsel from family (mom’s siblings) and close friends who know my mother very well. My husband and son stood by my side – one or both with me – in every appointment with the surgeon.

Happily, my mother’s mastectomy was a success; there is no evidence of disease. She has experienced recovery at a faster rate than most patients in her age range, according to her surgeon. It is the best outcome we could have hoped for.


About the Author:
Lisa D. T. Rice, SM has been a patient navigator for her elderly parents for 10 years during which time she has become intimately familiar with cancer, hospice, and dying with dignity.


The views & opinions expressed in any guest post featured on our site are those of the guest author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions & views of the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship. Read our blog and comment policies here.

Tags: cancer care, caregivers, Decision-Making, Guest Post, patient first, Patient Navigation
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • Share on LinkedIn
https://canceradvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/Lisa-D.-T.-Rice-Patient-Navigator-1.jpg 515 1030 actualize https://canceradvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/NCCA-Logo.png actualize2016-02-19 10:12:382020-12-01 12:11:47Guest Post: For the Love of My Mother

Latest News

Brett Wilson – Navigating Childhood Cancer and Finding Purpose in Advocacy

September 13, 2023
Advocate Spotlight: Brett Wilson Brett Wilson's cancer experience started when she was just two years old. Her mother was concerned…
Read more
https://canceradvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/Brett-Wilson-Advocate-Spotlight-Blog-Banner.jpg 600 1200 NCCS Staff https://canceradvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/NCCA-Logo.png NCCS Staff2023-09-13 13:55:422023-09-13 14:29:44Brett Wilson – Navigating Childhood Cancer and Finding Purpose in Advocacy

Registration Open: 2023 State of Survivorship Survey Results Briefing | October 3

September 7, 2023
The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) conducts an annual State of Survivorship Survey, in partnership with Edge…
Read more
https://canceradvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/Survey-2023-briefing-mc-1200px-2-1.jpg 600 1200 NCCS Staff https://canceradvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/NCCA-Logo.png NCCS Staff2023-09-07 11:00:202023-09-07 11:00:20Registration Open: 2023 State of Survivorship Survey Results Briefing | October 3
We did it! DIEP Flap Codes Saved

CMS Announces It Will Retain Breast Reconstruction Codes, A Reversal That Protects Patient Access to DIEP Flap Surgery

August 22, 2023
Yesterday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it will retain procedure codes for breast cancer reconstruction,…
Read more
https://canceradvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/DIEP-Flap-Reconstruction-CMS-Codes.jpg 600 1200 NCCS Staff https://canceradvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/NCCA-Logo.png NCCS Staff2023-08-22 14:26:202023-08-22 14:26:20CMS Announces It Will Retain Breast Reconstruction Codes, A Reversal That Protects Patient Access to DIEP Flap Surgery

Take Action

Link to: Survivorship Champions

Become a Survivorship Champion

Survivorship Champions is a program for all clinicians and researchers, both oncology and primary care, who are interested in improving survivorship care and primary care’s role in caring for cancer survivors.

Learn More and Join »
Link to: Cancer Policy and Advocacy Team (CPAT)

Join CPAT

The NCCS Cancer Policy & Advocacy Team (CPAT) is a program for survivors and caregivers to learn about pressing policy issues that affect quality cancer care in order to be engaged as advocates in public policy around the needs of cancer survivors.

Learn More and Join »
Link to: Survivor Stories

Share Your Story

NCCS represents the millions of Americans who share a common experience – living with, through and beyond a cancer diagnosis. By sharing your story of how you have been touched by cancer, you are supporting the national cancer survivorship movement.

Share Your Story »

STAY CONNECTED

Together we can improve cancer care for survivors! Sign up to be the first to know about cancer policy issues and ways to take action

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

  • About
    • Our Mission
    • Our History
    • The 1986 Club
    • Ways to Give
    • Our Team
      • Policy Advisors
    • Employment
    • Partnerships
    • Financial Information
  • Policy
    • Quality Cancer Care
    • Access to Care
    • Health Equity
    • Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act (CCSA)
    • Cancer Care Planning and Communications Act (CCPCA)
    • State of Survivorship Survey
      • 2022 Survey
      • 2021 Survey
      • 2020 Survey
    • Redefining Functional Status (RFS)
  • Get Involved
    • What is Advocacy?
    • Cancer Policy and Advocacy Team (CPAT)
    • Advocate Engagement Opportunities
    • Survivorship Champions
    • Subscribe to NCCS Updates
    • Elevating Survivorship
    • Survivor Stories
    • Cancerversary
    • State-Based Cancer Advocacy
  • Resources
    • COVID-19 Resources for Cancer Survivors
    • Survivorship Checklist
    • Cancer Survival Toolbox
    • Cancer Rehabilitation
    • Integrative Oncology
    • Publications
      • Talking With Your Doctor
      • Self Advocacy
      • Employment Rights
      • Remaining Hopeful
    • Telehealth
    • Taking Charge of Your Care
    • Care Planning for Cancer Survivors
    • Tools For Care Providers
    • Order Our Resources
  • News
  • Events
    • Ellen L. Stovall Award
      • 2023 Winners
      • Awardees
      • Reception and Sponsorship
      • Committees
      • Nominations
    • Cancer Policy Roundtable (CPR)
      • Spring 2023 CPR
      • Fall 2022 CPR
      • Spring 2022 CPR
    • Cancer Policy and Advocacy Team (CPAT) Virtual Symposium 2022
    • 2022 State of Survivorship Survey Results
    • Webinars
  • Contact Us

National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
8455 Colesville Road  |  Suite 930  |  Silver Spring, MD 20910
877-NCCS-YES  |  info@canceradvocacy.org
Privacy Policy  |  Terms and Conditions

Copyright © 1995-2023 by the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, NCCS, Cancer Survival Toolbox, and related Logos are registered in the United States as trademarks of the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship.

WCOE: Peter Ubel Explores Healthcare Spending, Surgery Volume & Care Quality,...NCCS Starburst ThumbnailNCCS Starburst ThumbnailWCOE: Effects of Financial Toxicity, Patient Database Helps Researchers Nationally,...
Scroll to top
Download the Survey Report

"*" indicates required fields

Fill out the form below, and we’ll send the survey report, detailed presentation, and infographic to your email.
Name*
I am a...*
Select any/all that apply.
Consent*
By downloading the survey materials, you will receive updates and information from NCCS via email, which you may unsubscribe from at any time. Your information will never be sold to any third parties.
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Get Updates From NCCS

Be the first to hear about cancer policy and survivorship issues! Subscribe and receive the biweekly NCCS Health Care Roundup, invites to webinars and events, and more.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Connect With Us

Twitter     Facebook     Instagram     LinkedIn     YouTube

Harmar Brereton, MD

Founder
Northeast Regional Cancer Institute

 

“Perhaps one of the most impactful collaborations in Dr. Brereton’s extraordinary career remains his early work and long friendship with Ellen Stovall. Through him, and in turn through the thousands of lives he has touched, Ellen’s work continues, and her mission lives on.”

—Karen M. Saunders
President, Northeast Regional Cancer Institute