'A cure in our lifetime'
Staff member battles breast cancer, advocates prevention and vigilance
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Shortly before Thanksgiving, Patton found out that after a two year struggle, she was cancer-free. Photo by Lindsay Fendt, Assistant Photo Editor
Many students know Susan Patton as the associate registrar, the faculty member with whom all graduating seniors must meet. But Patton is also a breast cancer survivor.
On Sept. 19, 2006, Patton’s journey with breast cancer began. After a routine mammogram, she was diagnosed with stage one breast cancer, meaning that although the tumor was still small, it required immediate treatment. The news was shocking to Patton.
“Even though you do everything right, you can still get cancer,” she said.
Patton underwent invasive surgery to remove the tumor and a round of radiation to destroy any remaining cancerous cells. The treatment was not aggressive enough, and she was informed that the cancer had become more serious and was now classified as stage two.
She underwent two more operations that removed more of her breast tissue and nearby lymph nodes. Doctors also installed a Port-a-Cath beneath Patton’s skin. The rubber tube gave doctors easy access to administer chemotherapy medicine, but chemo was still difficult for Patton. Her life rotated around doctor’s appointments.
“The cancer center’s routine became my routine,” she said of chemotherapy at Wesley Long Community Hospital in Greensboro. Even today, she can rattle off the process: sign in, get a beeper, get blood work done, wait for the beeper, meet with a doctor, wait for the beeper, go to the chemo room.
After Patton completed chemotherapy, she underwent radiation. She received treatment five days a week for six weeks, always following the rigorous schedule despite how tired it made her. She still attempted to live a normal life, spending time with friends and family.
“I’ve been blessed,” she said. “I had cancer, but it never had me.”
Like many cancer patients, Patton dealt with losing her hair.
“It’s not just the hair on your head, it’s all over your body,” she said. “You’re as bald as a baby.”
Her first wig was something of a fashion faux-pas. Patton remembers her cousin comparing her to Thelma Harper from Mama’s Family, a TV sitcom from the early 1980s.
“You just have to have a sense of humor no matter what,” she said.
Her husband, Steve, was her biggest supporter throughout the process. He convinced her to wear caps instead of wigs and even used a lint brush to remove the remaining pieces of hair from her head. She said that Steve’s love and support helped her survive the difficult treatment process.
“His words of ‘I love you’ were the most comforting,” she said.
Two weeks before Thanksgiving, Patton returned to Wesley Long Hospital for bone, chest and CT scans to see if the cancer had returned or spread elsewhere in her body. She admits that she was fearful in the days leading up to the appointment, but was thankful for the good news she received.
“As far as I know, I am cancer free,” she said proudly. Despite this, she will continue to receive treatment for the rest of her life.
Patton said that she could not have been a survivor had it not been for the support of others. Her oncologist, Gustav Magrinat, told Patton that there would probably be a cure in her lifetime.
“That was one of the most encouraging things to hear,” she said.
She gained courage from the survivors who went through treatment before her, from the doctors working tirelessly to find a cure for cancer and from the nurses at her hospital.
“You have to be born with that special gift they have working with cancer patients,” she said of her caregivers at the hospital. She said that they were always positive and compassionate throughout her treatment.
In October, Patton was one of the noted speakers for Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority’s Pink Pearls commemorative gala, dedicated to breast cancer survivors. After telling her story, Patton left guests with a few words of wisdom.
“Check yourselves regularly, have mammograms and do not be afraid to take immediate action,” she said.
The ordeal has left her with a new outlook on life.
“Cancer happens,” she said. “You have to be prepared for surprises. You have to appreciate and accept help offered. Be positive. Have a sense of humor. Count your blessings everyday. Look to the future.”
On Sept. 19, 2006, Patton’s journey with breast cancer began. After a routine mammogram, she was diagnosed with stage one breast cancer, meaning that although the tumor was still small, it required immediate treatment. The news was shocking to Patton.
“Even though you do everything right, you can still get cancer,” she said.
Patton underwent invasive surgery to remove the tumor and a round of radiation to destroy any remaining cancerous cells. The treatment was not aggressive enough, and she was informed that the cancer had become more serious and was now classified as stage two.
She underwent two more operations that removed more of her breast tissue and nearby lymph nodes. Doctors also installed a Port-a-Cath beneath Patton’s skin. The rubber tube gave doctors easy access to administer chemotherapy medicine, but chemo was still difficult for Patton. Her life rotated around doctor’s appointments.
“The cancer center’s routine became my routine,” she said of chemotherapy at Wesley Long Community Hospital in Greensboro. Even today, she can rattle off the process: sign in, get a beeper, get blood work done, wait for the beeper, meet with a doctor, wait for the beeper, go to the chemo room.
After Patton completed chemotherapy, she underwent radiation. She received treatment five days a week for six weeks, always following the rigorous schedule despite how tired it made her. She still attempted to live a normal life, spending time with friends and family.
“I’ve been blessed,” she said. “I had cancer, but it never had me.”
Like many cancer patients, Patton dealt with losing her hair.
“It’s not just the hair on your head, it’s all over your body,” she said. “You’re as bald as a baby.”
Her first wig was something of a fashion faux-pas. Patton remembers her cousin comparing her to Thelma Harper from Mama’s Family, a TV sitcom from the early 1980s.
“You just have to have a sense of humor no matter what,” she said.
Her husband, Steve, was her biggest supporter throughout the process. He convinced her to wear caps instead of wigs and even used a lint brush to remove the remaining pieces of hair from her head. She said that Steve’s love and support helped her survive the difficult treatment process.
“His words of ‘I love you’ were the most comforting,” she said.
Two weeks before Thanksgiving, Patton returned to Wesley Long Hospital for bone, chest and CT scans to see if the cancer had returned or spread elsewhere in her body. She admits that she was fearful in the days leading up to the appointment, but was thankful for the good news she received.
“As far as I know, I am cancer free,” she said proudly. Despite this, she will continue to receive treatment for the rest of her life.
Patton said that she could not have been a survivor had it not been for the support of others. Her oncologist, Gustav Magrinat, told Patton that there would probably be a cure in her lifetime.
“That was one of the most encouraging things to hear,” she said.
She gained courage from the survivors who went through treatment before her, from the doctors working tirelessly to find a cure for cancer and from the nurses at her hospital.
“You have to be born with that special gift they have working with cancer patients,” she said of her caregivers at the hospital. She said that they were always positive and compassionate throughout her treatment.
In October, Patton was one of the noted speakers for Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority’s Pink Pearls commemorative gala, dedicated to breast cancer survivors. After telling her story, Patton left guests with a few words of wisdom.
“Check yourselves regularly, have mammograms and do not be afraid to take immediate action,” she said.
The ordeal has left her with a new outlook on life.
“Cancer happens,” she said. “You have to be prepared for surprises. You have to appreciate and accept help offered. Be positive. Have a sense of humor. Count your blessings everyday. Look to the future.”
Updated December 4, 2008
