Janyce's Story
Mar
4
Written by:
3/4/2011 4:51 PM
Janyce was diagnosed with breast cancer a year and a half ago. Since then, she has undergone chemotherapy, radiation, a mastectomy, reconstruction surgery and an entire year of IV infusion treatments. And while Janyce still faces five years of hormonal therapy, she's cancer free and says love has seen her through it.
When Janyce felt the lump, she got a bad feeling. It had been two years since her last mammogram; she wasn't due for another year! But still, there it was.
Janyce always considered herself a poster child for problematic mammograms. If something could go wrong, it usually did. Years earlier, Janyce sought to be tested for the breast cancer gene mutation (BRCA) associated with an increased risk of breast cancer and potentially ovarian cancer, but her insurance didn't cover the test, and it was costly - $5,000. With a family history of breast cancer (her mother died of breast cancer at the age of 59; her aunt, at age 44), it was recommended she have a mammogram every three years - and she did. But Janyce says it wasn't enough. When she felt the 'lump,' she hoped for the best, but feared the worse.
Janyce's physician confirmed her suspicions and referred her to a surgeon in New Haven where she lives. Prompted by her co-workers who highly recommended Griffin surgeon, Dr. Ihor Ponomarenko, (Janyce is an LCSW in the Department of Psychiatry at Griffin), Janyce visited area facilities before making her decision. Janyce says once she walked into the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital, it was an easy one. "I knew I would have a different experience here," says Janyce, "not because I work at Griffin, but because it's not the same at other facilities.
"Everyone should have a doctor like Dr. Ponomarenko and Doctors (Greg) Angstreich and (Joyce) Chung", says Janyce. "The nurses and the entire staff at the Center were professional and caring, and felt like family. It's a strange and scary time; you share the most intimate aspects of your life. But they made it bearable. The only thing missing was a pedicure (or manicure) during treatment; everything else was there - wonderful staff; warm, comfortable environment; support of family and friends."
Janyce credits the love of her family and friends (she's married with two children, a 12 year old daughter and 9 year old son) and her job with giving her the strength to get through this past year and a half. "It's overwhelming in the beginning, but somehow you do it; you find the energy," says Janyce.
Janyce says she and her family are lucky to have "so many people who love us." They were there to help coordinate meals, clean house, help with the children, etc. "The time during my IV infusions was my 'time of reflection'" says Janyce, "allowing me space to process what was happening." And coming to work (relatively speaking, she missed very little time) "being there for others helped me know I was more than a patient. It gives you perspective and reminds you of what you're grateful for," concluded Janyce "The payoff is seeing my children grow up."