Breast Cancer Never Crossed Her Mind: Kim’s Story

Kim, pictured with her husband in the lobby at UPHS – Portage.

An active mom, grandmother and owner of Somero Farm in Hancock, Kim doesn’t have much time to worry about what-ifs. Despite her many roles and busy day-to-day life, Kim still makes time to focus on her health. For her, attending a regular preventative care appointment made a big difference in catching an unexpected diagnosis.

During peak farm season, in July of 2023, it was time for her annual mammogram. Kim’s primary care provider (PCP) helped her get the exam scheduled and completed quickly so she could get back home and do the things she loves.

However, a few days later, Kim received a letter in the mail from her PCP stating she needed to come in for a follow-up. An additional biopsy was ordered due to calcifications found on her imaging.

“I kept thinking nothing was wrong and all was good—they just wanted to go over my results with me,” said Kim. “But when I heard the word biopsy… that’s when it really started to sink in and I got very scared and anxious.”

Following the biopsy, Kim was notified by her medical team she was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma, also known as infiltrating ductal carcinoma, in her left breast. This type of breast cancer starts in the milk ducts of the breast and moves into nearby tissue.

Thankfully for Kim, her healthcare team caught it just in time, and in August she was in the operating room at UP Health System – Portage (UPHS – Portage) with General Surgeon Tim Sears, MD, for the removal of her breast and cancerous tissue.

Kim’s surgery was a success. After a full recovery at home, she was referred to Oncologist/Hematologist Charles Goodwin, MD, PhD, for testing to determine if additional radiation or chemotherapy was needed. From there, it was good news. Her results determined she was cancer-free—a huge triumph for Kim and her healthcare team since her diagnosis had come only two months prior.

“I can’t thank the staff enough at UPHS – Portage for their outstanding care,” said Kim. “They truly went above and beyond. From my PCP and the nurses to Dr. Sears in surgery, anesthesia, and the care team on the inpatient unit, they all made me feel I was their only priority and they were going to do whatever it took to get rid of the nasty word, cancer.”

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States, behind only skin cancers. In fact, the ACS puts the average risk that a woman will develop breast cancer in her lifetime as a one-in-eight chance. These statistics prove why it's important to get a yearly mammogram screening to detect and treat breast cancer early.

The ACS recommends the following for women at average risk for breast cancer:

• Women ages 40 to 44 should have the choice to start yearly breast cancer screening with a mammogram (x-ray of the breast) if they wish to do so.
• Women ages 45 to 54 should get a mammogram every year.
• Women 55 and older can switch to a mammogram every two years or can continue yearly screening.

“The screening was so easy for me to do and it saved my life – it could save your life, too. I have friends telling me, ‘I am scheduling my mammogram now!’”

Today, Kim is healthy and aside from a few minor lifestyle and dietary changes, like reducing her sugar intake, life looks pretty similar to how it had pre-diagnosis. She is able to spend her days doing all the things she enjoys, like spending time with her grandkids, boating with friends, tending to the family farm and reading.

“It was the perfect outcome and I could not be more thankful and blessed,” she said.

Every part of her care was handled by the multidisciplinary team at UPHS – Portage. Here, we offer the area’s most comprehensive cancer care services. From general surgery to cancer care, our compassionate and experienced staff are here to guide you through your treatment options and get you on the road to recovery.

If you haven’t scheduled your mammogram for the year, now is a great time to get it on your calendar and get the peace of mind that comes from taking charge of your health. It’s one hour a year that could save your life.

If you would like to schedule a mammogram, call Central Scheduling at UPHS – Portage at 906.483.1400. To find a provider and get connected to care, visit our online provider search. For more information on breast cancer and mammograms, visit breastcancer.org and cdc.gov/cancer/breast.