Amy Graf

HCA Midwest Health has super heroes on their staff. I truly believe that, and I will yell it high upon the rooftops.

I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in October 2023. I was 42 years old and had started routine mammograms just the year before. I’m one of those women with dense breast tissue so I wasn’t too surprised when they found an area that made them want to take another look. That “another look,” turned into a biopsy which turned into a much larger conversation. It was invasive carcinoma, and I learned later it was triple negative breast cancer. I’m a nurse, actually at the Surgicenter of Johnson County, which is a part of HCA Midwest Health, and I didn’t know what triple negative means.

You have three hormones that make breast cancer grow. You have estrogen, progesterone and HER2. They do tests to find out which one is making it grow so they know how to treat it. Triple negative means I had nothing. They didn’t know what was making it grow. It’s usually the deadliest, most aggressive and the hardest to treat. Yay me. Since they didn’t have a specific hormone they were targeting to kill, they have to hit you with everything they have. I did chemo first with eight treatments and two weeks later, I made the choice to have a double mastectomy. It was only in one side and luckily it wasn’t involved in any lymph nodes so I made the decision. It was the best decision.

This entire process is something no one is prepared at all for and all confusing and very overwhelming. In walks a superhero, my nurse navigator, Yvonne. Remember, I am a nurse. So, I can’t imagine what someone without any medical training would feel after being given this diagnosis. But have no fear, your nurse navigator is here.

There are no words to describe just how wonderful she was. If there was a word that meant unbelievable, special and hero, that would be it. My head was spinning. My nurse navigator gave me her personal cell phone number and said, “Call me anytime.” I did. It wasn’t uncommon for us to be on the phone for an hour while she was cooking dinner for her family. I had so many questions and she made me feel like this was something I could attack and she would be by my side.

She made my appointments for me. She explained what it all meant and what would probably happen. She was reassuring and once we had a plan I felt so much better.

My treatments were at HCA Healthcare Sarah Cannon Cancer Network at Overland Park Regional Medical Center, part of HCA Midwest Health. I am fortunate to have worked with Dr. Anne Kobberman before so working with her seemed like the obvious choice. She is phenomenal. My appointments started just two days after my diagnosis. My nurse navigator and I sat down with Dr. Kobermann and then with Dr. Joe Stillwell and confirmed the plan of attack. Once that plan is laid out, it’s a feeling like — let’s go.

I am one of the lucky ones. My treatment was successful. I was 100% reactive to all the chemo so there’s zero cancer cells in my breast tissue. It seemed like a blip and we were done and also like it took forever. But here I am. I rang that bell and came out on the other side.

Since I am a nurse, I knew that choosing the right doctors and the right hospital for my treatments was important. In Kansas City there are many options. I wanted a hospital where there was more of a personal connection. Along with that amazing nurse navigator, we dealt with my cancer and my appointments with reasonable timelines. I didn’t want my appointments all in one day. That wouldn’t work for me. That would have been too overwhelming. So, I got the information I needed in the way I needed it.

When you go through breast cancer, anyone who is also diagnosed picks up the phone and calls. It’s like being a part of the worst club that exists. I tell everyone to get a nurse navigator. Not only do they make your appointments, like I said, but it’s the other things that really help. For example, she told me certain treatments would make me feel icky, some more than others. She reminded me to bring a blanket, snacks, headphones, a book and told me how to talk to those in my life who want to help.

Everyone going through any type of cancer has their own story. This is mine.

Comprehensive cancer services in Kansas City

If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, you don’t have to face it alone. The oncology team at HCA Midwest Health is here to provide comprehensive diagnostic and treatment services that address your unique needs. Learn more about our oncology services here.