What happened, in summary

Dwan Thomas, a chemical engineer, was diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer in 2017 after noticing something different in her left breast. At her OB/GYN appointment in March, she had a mammogram, ultrasound and breast biopsy. The diagnosis was HER2-negative, estrogen-positive invasive ductal carcinoma. Dwan chose MD Anderson for treatment because people she trusted recommended it and because the center was close to home. Her treatment included 6 months of chemotherapy, a lumpectomy, 1 month of radiation therapy, physical therapy and 2 reconstructive surgeries. One of the hardest periods came during Hurricane Harvey, just after she had started a second chemotherapy regimen. The side effects were stronger than expected, and she needed emergency care for pain, fatigue and shortness of breath while her family was also dealing with flooding. Dwan describes MD Anderson as a source of stability during that chaotic time, especially because her care team remained responsive even through the storm. Years after treatment, she joined MD Anderson’s Advance Team in 2022 to support fundraising and cancer-awareness efforts, turning her own breast cancer experience into advocacy for others. She also emphasized that even in a large cancer center, she felt personally cared for, with clinicians taking time to answer questions and help her feel steady through treatment and recovery.