Breast Cancer Patient

The patient, 51, a life-long resident of the Austin community, came to Loretto for her yearly mammogram on March 11, 2016. A few days later, she received a call to return for a follow-up screening. On April 8, the results confirmed an abnormal reading which required a biopsy. The results: Ductal Carcinoma of the left breast.

“When I first got the news, it really hurt because my mom passed from pancreas cancer. My brother died of throat cancer. And, I saw what they both went through. So when you hear the words ‘you have cancer’, it hurts,” she said. “My only hope was that my sister survived breast cancer. So I feel I have a chance,” she said.

According to the U.S. Breast Cancer Statistics from the American Cancer Society, about 1 in 8 women in the

The U.S. will develop invasive breast cancer. In 2016, an estimated 246,660 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed, along with 61,000 of non-invasive breast cancer. Overall African-American women are more likely to die of this disease. But statistics show that women are able to beat breast cancer with the availability of advanced treatments, increased awareness, and early detection.

Because of programs like Loretto Hospital’s $50 mammogram program and having a patient navigator on staff to help educate patients, Jordan is able to afford a mammogram each year and guidance of best available treatment. Also, with the assistance of Loretto’s free transportation service, the patient is able to make all of her appointments.

“Everyone here treats me so nicely – all the doctors and the nurses. The patient navigator Diana [Delgado] is an Angel! She has made herself accessible to get me to my appointments. She makes sure I have transportation. She will even go to appointments with me to make sure I’m getting the right care. And Mike--the driver-- is excellent. Sometimes when he picks me up I am so down or discouraged. But he makes me laugh. He even calls me ahead of time to make sure I’m ready. He’s always on time. I really thank him for his help,” the patient said.

Although the patient is currently receiving specialized treatment at Rush Medical Center, she is in excellent spirits. “What’s been keeping me strong is that I am a believer in the Lord. I have been meditating on God’s Word and that has been my strength.”

A special thank you to all the hospital staff who upheld Loretto’s mantra of providing better standard, better care, and better outcomes tothis patient.