Breast Cancer: Katie's Patient Story

What happened, in summary

Katie Lazdowski was 33 when she was told on a Monday that she had breast cancer. After meeting with a local oncologist in western Massachusetts, she called Dana-Farber on Wednesday and met her new care team the next day. Within about four hours, Katie met a medical oncologist, surgeon, and radiation oncologist who had already reviewed her diagnosis together and developed a coordinated plan. The speed of that process helped reduce some of the uncertainty that had followed her diagnosis. Her father, who had previously been treated for melanoma, encouraged her to seek care at Dana-Farber, and both of her parents accompanied her through treatment. Early contact from the clinical team and help transferring her biopsy records made the health system feel easier to navigate during a stressful week. By the time of the story, Katie had finished active treatment. She and her husband were looking forward to growing their family and were fostering children with plans to adopt. Looking back, she emphasized how important the coordination, reassurance, and sense of being cared for had been throughout her experience.