SAN ANTONIO – Shawn Velez conquered lifestyles head-on as a metastatic breast cancer patient and the ambulatory care director for University Health.
“I had 23 treatments, and then right after that, I’d go to work,” Velez mentioned.
The chemo hit her onerous, inflicting excessive exhaustion and weakening her frame to the purpose that she fractured her hip simply by sitting too lengthy on a automotive experience.
“I worked through this whole process, but there have been days where I just — I didn’t know if I could do it. You know, I was just so tired,” Velez mentioned.
But her spirit persevered, and she or he rang the bell on Tuesday after her remaining chemo remedy.
“My family, I have got a lot to celebrate with them!” she mentioned, smiling prior to getting into the infusion room.
She discovered the lump in her breast in March 2022 and, since then, has gone through chemotherapy, a mastectomy, and radiation. Then, she endured radiation for a brand new scientific trial trying out the results of blockading estrogen in breast cancer sufferers. The remaining chemo remedy for that find out about is the person who ended Tuesday.
“It had already spread to the lymph nodes. And I thought to myself that if I hadn’t checked and found it, we could have progressed much further along,” Velez mentioned.
She has no circle of relatives historical past of breast cancer however does her once a year mammograms. Despite that, she discovered the tumor via a self-exam within the bathe.
Velez mentioned she is aware of being proactive stored her lifestyles. However, she is anxious for different women, realizing many started skipping their screenings all through the pandemic.
“We want to catch cancer small before the patient can feel it. That’s how we save lives, because the bigger it is, the more chances it can travel somewhere else,” mentioned Dr. Sara Ortiz, intervening time clinical director of mammography for University Health and UT Health San Antonio.
Dr. Ortiz mentioned transparency with the method can normally quell some fears. She went via every step of the mammogram, appearing the screening device and what it does.
“You would be in a gown and place your breasts here on the plate. We can move the machine so the tech will gently compress your breasts, and the machine will take pictures,” Ortiz mentioned, appearing the method.
She mentioned everybody’s stage of discomfort is other.
“It can be uncomfortable. I’ve done it, and, one of them, I had no pain at all,” Ortiz mentioned.
She mentioned the method most effective takes a couple of seconds, a short while dedication that may save your lifestyles.
Ortiz pointed to her laptop, the place she pulled up a scan appearing a breast cancer tumor, pronouncing, “You can see that little mass. I’m able to circle it, to measure it, to know the exact location and the size.”
The degree of cancer is determined by the tumor’s dimension and what sort of it has unfold.
As Velez works her means towards remission, she’s additionally on a distinct project.
“Everybody knows, I’m like, ‘You need to check. You need to check, especially those with a high family history,’” Velez mentioned.
She is an recommend of Pinktober, an consciousness marketing campaign all through Breast Cancer Awareness Month supposed to teach folks at the dangers related to skipping screenings.
It’s additionally concerning the products and services and give a boost to to be had.
“Because of the rising numbers of earlier diagnoses of breast cancer, we’re starting to see more mobile mammogram units, free services, things of that nature,” Velez mentioned.
In May 2023, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force changed its guidance to counsel that women start getting annual mammograms previous, at age 40. However, that age drops when you’ve got possibility elements or a circle of relatives historical past of breast cancer.
“If you have a family history of somebody pre-menopausal with breast cancer, you start 10 years before. If they got it at 40, you start screening at 30,” Ortiz mentioned.
Ortiz mentioned for those who’re not sure, communicate to your physician about while you will have to get started getting screened.
Velez is 46, however a few of her buddies with breast cancer are in their early 30s.
“You have to be in charge of your own body and knowing what’s wrong and not delaying care. It can’t be worse than not getting checked out and finding out too late. Advocate for yourself, know your body, and don’t be don’t be afraid to self-exam,” Velez mentioned.
To schedule a mammogram or be told extra, touch University Health at 210-358-4000 or the University Health website.
You can succeed in UT Health San Antonio at 210-450-1000 or seek advice from its website.
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