Thelma

Thelma, age 64 from Kansas City, Missouri was diagnosed with Stage II triple-positive breast cancer in 2014. Following surgery in May 2014, Thelma embarked on a year-long chemo protocol, supplemented by 22 radiation treatments. During this time, her husband, Michael, was diagnosed with lymphoma and renal failure.

Thelma and her husband reeled from the unexpected news, admitting it was “even more devastating than when I initially received my cancer diagnosis.” Thelma’s sister and church family rallied while she and Michael went through chemotherapy simultaneously and shared their story with others.

A week after being diagnosed with breast cancer following results from a mammogram, Thelma had a biopsy and visited her collaborative Sarah Cannon Cancer Institute at Centerpoint Medical Center care team, accompanied by nurse navigator. Surgeon Christie Brock, D.O., set a treatment plan, and then Thelma met with medical oncologist/hematologist Arruna Rokkam, M.D. and radiation oncologist Kenon Qamar, M.D.

“I couldn’t have gotten through the storm without my Sarah Cannon Cancer Institute at Centerpoint Medical Center family. Cyn McArdle, RN, my breast cancer nurse navigator and fellow breast cancer survivor, is remarkable and so are my physicians, who I now call my family and friends.”

Now, two years following her diagnosis, Thelma is visiting Dr. Rokkam every three months and has a mammogram twice a year. Her husband is also in remission.