Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
FIGHTING IT HEAD ON
Women of all ages cope with and find ways to battle breast cancer
A common misconception of breast cancer is that it’s limited to older women. In truth, breast cancer has no age limit.
Breast cancer can affect women of all ages, and Dr. Chris Menendez has seen both younger and older women affected during his time as a breast cancer surgeon.
Menendez, who practices at Northwest Arkansas Breast Care Specialists in Rogers, has to differentiate between the two generations but still has the same goals for treatment and care for these women.
“Sometimes you’re dealing with women who may have a young damily that they may be the head of the household for or who may be thinking of having more kids,” Menendez said. “In those instances, you’re not just treating the patient, but treating the family. There’s also the emotion of not just having the cancer, but having to deal with surgery, possible chemotherapy, radiation, mastectomies and dealing with the whole surgery side of it.”
Menendez said that a majority of his younger patients seem to handle it pretty well and are pretty headstrong about it, even though they shouldn’t have to deal with it at that age.
“At times you can trace it back to genetic reasons by doing genetic testing, but most times it’s just a sporadic thing and there’s nothing you can really blame it on,” Menendez said.
Amy Stufflebeam, now 42, is one of those younger patients. When she was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma, stage 3 in October 2014, her first response was fear, but two things helped her cope with the diagnosis.
“I was able to find and talk with other breast cancer patients and survivors,” Stufflebeam said. “They made me feel not so lost and alone. Secondly, I had great medical professionals who guided me patiently and proactively from day one of the diagnosis and throughout my treatment.” Stufflebeam, who is a teacher in Northwest Arkansas, said that
Menendez was instrumental in helping her feel comfortable, and with making himself available to her husband, who was aiding her in her fight.
“He was transparent with his answers, compassionately optimistic with each step, and amazingly supportive throughout my experience,” Stufflebeam said. “Fighting cancer is much more a mental game than a physical one. It is imperative that you surround yourself with knowledgeable, empathetic and involved medical professionals.”
Now that Stufflebeam is a survivor, she has a simple outlook on life.
“I am very appreciative of the time that I am able to spend with family, friends,
and students,” Stufflebeam said.
A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE
As for the older patients, Menendez said that their age allows them to have perspective. They have seen the battle against breast cancer in their peers and other friends, and it typically isn’t as foreign to them.
“That’s not to say that it’s easy to do, it’s still a shock and you never want to have to do it,” Menendez said. “There’s a difference in how they approach it, just from the shock of it all. At the same time, it’s still cancer and it’s not anything that’s treated differently.”
Debbie Wainscott, 65, is a mother and a grandmother of two grandsons. She had recently moved in with her son and daughter- in- law when she got a call in July that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer.
She didn’t think she was strong enough to fight cancer, but she was able to lean on her family during that tough time and as she went through cancer treatment.
“Encouragement is powerful in the life of a cancer patient, and it comes in many forms,” Wainscott said. “Family and friends are walking this journey with me by bringing meals, sending cards, and calling me to see how I’m doing.”
Wainscott was extremely nervous about meeting Menendez, but she said he quickly quelled those fears by explaining every detail of her biopsy report.
“I left his office that day confident that he was a highly skilled doctor whom I could trust with this unexpected health crisis in my life, and also that he was a compassionate doctor who truly cares about his patients. Those first impressions have proven true throughout my treatment,” Wainscott said.
Wainscott is currently waiting for the results of a test that will determine whether chemotherapy will be helpful in preventing a recurrence of her cancer.
“I wait to find out what the next step of my cancer journey will be,” Wainscott said. “I’m learning there is always a next step, but my faith in God continues to provide a never-ending supply of moment-by-moment encouragement, which is always exactly what I need for each new battle.”