A Shared Journey Through Breast Cancer: Two Sisters’ Stories of Hope, Healing and Strength

Patti and Mary have always shared the close bond between sisters in a big, close-knit family—one built on love, faith, and showing up for each other. They never imagined they would be facing breast cancer at the same time or ringing the bell side-by-side to mark the end of their treatment.

Patti's Story

Patti was diagnosed on her 65th birthday. When her annual mammogram raised concerns, an ultrasound-guided biopsy by Anna Mazor, DO, Breast Surgeon at Comprehensive Breast Care Surgeons, confirmed she had ER/PR-positive (estrogen receptor-positive, progesterone receptor-positive) and HER2/neu-negative breast cancer, with three tumors, including one in her lymph nodes.

Though the news was overwhelming, Patti found comfort in a familiar face. Having seen Dr. Mazor the year before for a ruptured sebaceous cyst, she felt an immediate reassurance.

“I wouldn’t have been as comfortable or confident with anyone else,” Patti said. “Dr. Mazor is incredibly smart, empathetic, and supportive. From the very beginning, she made me feel like she was personally committed to helping me heal.”

Once the diagnosis was confirmed, the nurse navigators coordinated everything from tests and imaging to prescriptions, follow-up visits, and pre-surgery clearance, allowing Patti to focus on healing, her family, and her sister, who would soon be walking a similar path.

Reflecting on that time, Patti fondly recalls: “Teresa, our nurse navigator, was like an orchestra conductor behind the scenes, working quietly in the background, coordinating so many moving pieces and making everything work together seamlessly.”

That fall, Patti had a single mastectomy performed by Dr. Mazor, with the closure performed by Stacey DonFrancesco, DO, Director of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Redeemer Health. 

After surgery, Patti completed four rounds of chemotherapy followed by multiple weeks of radiation treatment. She then began antihormonal therapy, working with her care team to find the options her body would tolerate best, including exploring a targeted therapy. 

Although Patti never developed lymphedema, the team recommended lymphedema therapy as part of her recovery and prevention. This became an important part of her healing, improving her range of motion and helping her regain strength, mobility, and confidence. Patti never considered going elsewhere, not even for a second opinion at one of the larger institutions where she had personal connections. Today, she remains confident in her decision.

Mary's Story 

Mary was diagnosed just weeks before Patti’s surgery. Four months overdue for her annual mammogram, and in light of Patti’s diagnosis, she decided putting it off was no longer an option. Three days after her mammogram, her nurse practitioner at Redeemer Health’s OB/GYN practice, called Mary to let her know she would need an ultrasound followed by a biopsy due to suspicious findings. 

Stacy Krisher, MD, Director of the Breast Health Program at Redeemer Health, performed the biopsy. Naturally, Mary was anxious, even more so because of her sister’s breast cancer diagnosis. She remembers Dr. Krisher asking whether she would prefer to see Dr. Mazor, who was overseeing Patti’s care. But after meeting Dr. Krisher during the biopsy, Mary immediately knew she was the right surgeon for her, and any uncertainty faded. 

Mary admitted, “Dr. Krisher’s straightforward way was exactly what I needed. She keeps you in check and tells you exactly how you’re going to work together to get it done.”

Patti accompanied Mary to her follow-up appointment for the biopsy results. She remembers telling Mary there were only two words she didn’t want to hear: “triple negative.” Unfortunately, that was the diagnosis Dr. Krisher delivered; just days before Patti’s surgery.  

A few weeks later, Mary underwent a lumpectomy on her left breast, performed by Dr. Krisher, along with a breast reduction on the right as part of her reconstruction, which was done by Dr. DonFrancesco. Before surgery, Mary was told she would likely need chemotherapy and radiation. Mary shared that she had an intense fear of chemotherapy, but Dr. Krisher reassured her and told her she would get through it. 

After surgery, pathology revealed that her lymph nodes were clear, with the final tumor measuring 8 mm in size. Following an extensive discussion with the Medical Oncology team, Mary learned that chemotherapy was unlikely to provide significant benefit. She then completed several weeks of radiation without experiencing notable fatigue or skin reactions, allowing her to continue working and maintain her normal routine during treatment. She continues to be closely monitored at regular intervals, as her care team supports her through recovery. 

Facing it Together: A Shared Journey

Patti and Mary are deeply grateful for the compassionate, expert care they received at Redeemer Health Cancer Center.

From Sheena Jain, MD, Medical Director of Radiation Oncology, and Rabia Cattie, MD, Director of Breast Medical Oncology, to the infusion and radiation oncology nurses, front-desk staff, lymphedema therapists, nurse navigators, and many others, they felt surrounded by compassion and support throughout their journey. 

Along the way, Patti and Mary leaned on the love and support of their family. Their younger sister, in particular, became a steady source of calm, holding the family together and hosting Thanksgiving, Christmas, and every holiday in between while Patti and Mary moved through treatment. Both continued to balance their demanding jobs with grace and resolve, scheduling radiation sessions during lunch breaks or early mornings before work.

“The level of care we received never diminished. From the moment of diagnosis, with exceptionally skilled surgeons and oncologists, through every stage of treatment, Redeemer Health’s commitment to us, our therapy, and our recovery remained steady and unwavering. It was personal. The care wasn’t just patient-centered. It was personally-centered.”

Patti and Mary admit the full scale of all they have experienced still hasn’t fully sunk in. In many ways, facing everything side-by-side has helped, with each being focused more on the other than on her own situation. Mary finished radiation two weeks before Patti did, but waited to ring the bell until Patti’s treatment was complete. On Patti’s last day of treatment, they stood side by side and rang that tiny bell, honoring the end of a meaningful chapter and celebrating how far they had come.

Click here to learn more about the Breast Health Program at Redeemer Health Cancer Center.