Roselle’s radiation oncologist, Dr. Carmen A. Perez, prescribed a five-week course of radiation therapy to further treat Roselle’s breast cancer.
Photo; John Abbott
Roselle, 57, was living and working in Greenport, Long Island, when she found a lump in her left breast during a self-exam in September 2018. After a biopsy, she received a diagnosis of stage 2B bilateral invasive ductal carcinoma, a more advanced form of breast cancer that affects both breasts and has also spread to the lymph nodes.
Seeking the best care, Roselle made an appointment at ٺƵ’s Perlmutter Cancer Center. Although she would need to travel for treatment, Roselle knew immediately that she had made the right decision. “My doctors took the time to explain everything and were always responsive. If I had any questions, I could call or email them, and they would always get back,” she says.
Roselle says she is grateful for the compassionate, thoughtful care she received throughout her treatment. To ease the anxiety and claustrophobia she experienced during an MRI, her oncology nurse prescribed her antianxiety medication in advance, and the technicians played Beethoven to help her relax. Her nurses also prepared her for chemotherapy by providing a list of medications to ease possible side effects while making every effort to ensure her comfort.
“The infusion room was very comfortable, and I had complete privacy. The nurses would ask if I wanted a pillow and a neck massage or a foot massage. I felt like the ‘chemo queen,’” Roselle recalls.
“You can expect the best treatment at ٺƵ and Perlmutter Cancer Center. I wouldn’t go anywhere else.”—Roselle, Age 57
After Roselle had 16 weeks of chemotherapy to shrink the tumors, breast surgeon Amber A. Guth, MD, recommended a double mastectomy and removal of lymph nodes from under her right arm, as well as a sentinel node biopsy under her left arm to test for the presence of cancer in nearby lymph nodes.
Following surgery in May 2019, radiation oncologist Carmen A. Perez, MD, PhD, prescribed radiation therapy for five weeks. A Perlmutter Cancer Center social worker connected Roselle with a program that provided her with free housing, so she would not have to travel for daily radiation therapy sessions.
In August 2019, Roselle completed her treatment. After a trip to Italy to celebrate being cancer-free, she is now back to her normal routine as a musician and a translator for the local courts and police. Roselle continues to follow up with her oncologist, Maryann J. Kwa, MD, and has moved all her healthcare to ٺƵ. “You can expect the best treatment at ٺƵ and Perlmutter Cancer Center. I wouldn’t go anywhere else.”
