Tiffani Kintchen

Kansas City native and mom of two Tiffani Kintchen was at home watching a movie when she felt a tennis ball size lump under her arm. After examining more, she decided to schedule an appointment with her Primary Care Provider (PCP) at Goppert-Trinity Family Care who recommended she receive a mammogram. A mammogram and two biopsies later, Tiffani learned that the lump was stage III breast cancer.

“The oncologist turned away from the computer screen to look at me, took a deep breath and everything went blank. I heard people talking. I have no idea what was said to me apart from the words, 'It’s cancer,'” said Tiffani, “I was young, I was fit and I didn’t feel like I had cancer. I had no warning signs. […] I will be honest to say that I didn’t do my mammograms every year as I should have. I knew it was important but — me? Breast cancer? No way. I am sure there are many people who live like that but I truly never guessed it would be me.”

Under the direction of her oncologist at the Sarah Cannon Cancer Center at RMC, Tiffani began chemo infusions the Tuesday after Christmas in 2017. After finishing chemo in May of 2018, she made the decision to get a double mastectomy. Soon after, Tiffani began radiation which consisted of treatment five days a week, for eight weeks. The chemo, radiation and elective double mastectomy were successful. Her cancer was finally in remission.

“I get a little emotional at times when I think about my care family. […] I felt at home, I felt safe. The pressure always disappeared when I walked in the infusion room. Each of them have a special gift that makes you forget why you are here. They have a way of making the chemo infusion process just like a trip to the spa. I actually call it the spa as it’s the only place that I don’t think about cancer. I think it’s because it’s the one place I don’t feel alone having cancer. They are genuine in all they do.”