PeaceHealth St. John | Healhy You | Fall 2016

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Baby Reunion
When: Tuesday, Nov. 29, 6 to 7 p.m.
Where: Women’s Health Pavilion,
1660 Delaware St.
Register at
baby-reunion or call 360-501-3708.
CAR LA LANGE RECE I VED two calls in one
day that were life-changing. One was for a job she was
elated to get as a quality analytic reporting specialist
at PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center. The other
brought news she wasn’t expecting.
Kelley DeRosier, RN, BSN, CBPN-IC, Nurse Navigator
for breast center patients, told Carla that she needed
to come in to be rechecked for her mammogram.
Carla had just turned 40, and this was her first
mammogram. She had no family history of breast
cancer, she was very active in sports, and she
experienced no warning signs. The recheck was
followed by a biopsy and then surgery a few days later.
This began a unique month for Carla as she
navigated her new work role while starting her
healing journey as a breast cancer survivor.
Her breast cancer was discovered during Breast
Cancer Awareness Month. Pink (the color associated
the world over with breast cancer) was everywhere
and “a little overwhelming,” Carla remembers. She
used humor to cope, along with the support of her
two teen children who “really stepped up and were
great about helping mom.”
First mammogrammeans
journey back to health
40-year-old breast cancer survivor celebrates one year in remission
Mario Forte, MD
Breast Surgery
PeaceHealth Medical Group
1615 Delaware St.
Longview, WA
360-501-3500
with her husband, Chris. This was an important
accomplishment, as she could barely make it
10 blocks during her recovery from surgery.
The end of 2016 marks a milestone for Carla—a
year in remission. She’s grateful and wants to use her
experience to benefit others.
Carla’s story serves as an important reminder
for women to schedule regular mammograms. The
American College of Radiology guidelines recommend
a mammogram every two years for women between
ages 40 and 50 (unless a prior breast cancer diagnosis
puts them at high risk), then every year after age 50.
Her new job was also good timing, as it helped her
cope. Her co-workers were understanding—they
valued her work and helped her feel normal.
Carla qualified for a clinical trial, having a nurse
follow her care. Earlier in her own career, Carla
had conducted clinical trials and research on breast
cancer, so she knew a lot about it. Experiencing it
was another thing, as she underwent two surgeries,
17 rounds of chemo, and 33 rounds of radiation.
Though it was a bit like having the flu for a year
with her body aching all over, Carla was thrilled with
the kind of care she received at PeaceHealth St. John.
Everyone, including the infusion nurses and staff
at PeaceHealth’s Lower Columbia Cancer Center, was
great during her treatment. Her caregivers included
her nurse navigator, Kelly; surgeon, Mario Forte, MD;
and oncologist, Prakash Thapaliya, MD.
During her treatment, Carla stayed active both
physically and mentally. A lifelong learner, she
felt it was important to learn something new and
joined PeaceHealth’s dragon boat rowing team of
breast cancer survivors. In May, Carla celebrated
her 22nd wedding anniversary by hiking 10 miles
Info: For all parents who
have attended childbirth
classes at PeaceHealth
St. John Medical Center
in the last six months.
This is a time to show
off your new baby,
reconnect with class
members, meet new
families, share birth
stories, and chat
about the ups and
downs of life with
a new baby.
D O N O R - S U P P O R T E D
Schedule your
mammogram!
chedule your
a ogram!
SJL
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