A teacher, a pharmacist, a public health advocate and a diabetes care and education
specialist, Mandy Reece, PharmD, is adding one more title to her resume. Recently diagnosed with breast cancer, Reece
has become even more adamant about advocating for yearly mammograms for adult women.
Dr. Reece believes she has choices because her breast cancer was discovered early.
A lumpectomy with radiation or a mastectomy with or without reconstruction. These are decisions she weighed carefully with her healthcare team.
A faculty member in the School of Pharmacy at 黑料传送门 Georgia, Dr. Reece said, 鈥淲ith my medical background, I am fortunate that I have the knowledge and skills to know how to properly research. I have access to scientific journals and databases to determine my prognosis. I can review the standard treatments based on the diagnosis, as well as appropriate medications. And most of all, I can understand the physiology and pathophysiology and what I鈥檓 reading in medical textbooks.鈥�
She calls her breast cancer diagnosis 鈥渕y little miracle.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 nothing short of a miracle,鈥� she said.
A 1.5-centimeter tumor was found in Dr. Reece鈥檚 breast in late August.
鈥淚t was not there last year,鈥� she said.
At age 47, Dr. Reece has been getting screening mammograms for seven years. Five of the seven times, she received a letter from the radiologist asking her to come back for a diagnostic mammogram.
鈥淭he situation becomes very frustrating,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 uncomfortable and very emotional.鈥�
This year, she noted, her experience was different. The technologist took extra time to make sure she had all the images needed and even consulted with the radiologist.
鈥淏y the time I walked out of the building, I received a message in MyChart asking me to schedule a needle biopsy.鈥�
Dr. Reece explained that when she returned for the second procedure, 鈥淭he radiologist explained the process and said that nine of ten women have negative results.鈥�
Again, a MyChart message alerted Dr. Reece to the fact that she had ductal carcinoma in situ, stage 0 or non-invasive breast cancer. An hour later, her primary care provider called her to discuss the diagnosis and next steps.
Dr. Reece went into student mode. She interviewed about six women who had been diagnosed with breast cancer and learned about the information they鈥檇 been given and why they chose their particular treatments.
After careful consideration, Dr. Reece opted for a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction.
鈥淚 chose a more radical route and each woman is different in the choice she makes.鈥�
Due to requiring two surgeons in the operating room at the same time, she is waiting until October 30 for the surgery.
鈥淚鈥檓 at peace with that,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 have the surgeons I want. I鈥檝e been doing research on products to have on hand post-surgery. I鈥檝e used the time to gather a support community that is praying, supporting and reaching out to me, which has been amazing.鈥�
鈥淲hat I鈥檝e really learned is the value of a mammogram,鈥� Dr. Reece said. She notes that she has very dense breast tissue and an x-ray is challenging to read.
Despite the research and the plan, there is still some anxiety and sadness.
鈥淒uring the day when I鈥檓 working, it鈥檚 easy to think about work and what needs to be done. In the evenings and on the weekends, during the quiet moments, there is some anxiety. I am walking by faith and leaning in hard on my support group to get through those moments,鈥� she said.
She hopes that sharing her journey will inspire others to get regular screening mammograms.
鈥淭hey can save your life,鈥� Dr. Reece said. 鈥淕et your mammogram every year. Make it a priority. If you鈥檙e ever diagnosed, it will give you more choices in your treatment.鈥�
黑料传送门 Georgia has been serving students and the community for 20 years as a branch campus of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (黑料传送门), a private, not-for-profit, accredited institution of higher education established in 1899. Located in Suwanee (Gwinnett County), 黑料传送门 Georgia offers doctoral degrees in osteopathic medicine, pharmacy and physical therapy. Graduate degrees are offered in biomedical sciences, medical laboratory science and physician assistant studies. The campus joins 黑料传送门 South Georgia in Moultrie in helping to meet the healthcare needs of the state. Emphasizing "a whole person" approach to care, 黑料传送门 Georgia focuses on educational excellence, interprofessional education and service to the community. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 678-225-7500. The campus is also home to the Georgia Osteopathic Care Center, an osteopathic manipulative medicine clinic, which is open to the public by appointment. For more information, visit .
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