Journaling through Breast Cancer: Lu Ann’s Story

Making health a priority can have a profound impact on one’s life—or even save it. More than a decade ago, Lu Ann Chmura, a Parma resident, decided to prioritize her health. An important first step in this process was finding a primary care physician (PCP). Many patients find providers through referrals from family or friends who have had positive experiences. For Lu Ann, her referral came from her mom. Lu Ann chose to make an appointment with the same PCP who provided care for her mother, and that PCP happened to provide care at Southwest General.

Following her first appointment, Lu Ann had a mammogram as recommended by her PCP. A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast used to detect potentially cancerous tumors or masses. Mammograms are crucial for breast cancer screening and are typically recommended for women starting between ages 35 and 40, or earlier depending on risk factors such as family history. Mammography is a critical, life-saving tool because it can detect cancerous masses in their earliest stages, up to three years before they can be felt manually.

An Unexpected Discovery

No one expects to get breast cancer, yet, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, one in eight women will be diagnosed with it in their lifetime. In 2014, Lu Ann was one of those women. A mass was detected in her left breast during her mammogram, and a subsequent biopsy revealed it to be malignant.

Lu Ann initially opted for a lumpectomy, a surgical procedure to remove the mass. However, due to insufficient margins (lack of normal tissue at the outer edges of the tumor removed), she subsequently underwent a mastectomy. Following this, she completed four rounds of chemotherapy and was ultimately declared cancer-free.

Navigating Cancer for a Second Time

After breast cancer, many women and their physicians are concerned about recurrence. Breast cancer most often recurs within five years of the original diagnosis, but after that period, the odds of it coming back decrease significantly. This was the case for Lu Ann, who remained cancer-free for almost 10 years.

However, in August 2023, Lu Ann noticed a lump in her right breast.

Discovering the lump prompted Lu Ann to return to Southwest General for a breast exam and diagnostic testing, after which a biopsy then confirmed what she feared—her breast cancer had returned. This time, the tumor was more advanced, requiring an aggressive treatment plan that included 16 rounds of chemotherapy and a mastectomy.

Despite the physical and emotional challenges, Lu Ann says her care team at University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center at Southwest General made fighting cancer a little easier. “The staff has been like family,” she recalls. “The nurses give you one-on-one treatment and make you feel special.”

Healing through Journaling

During her first bout with breast cancer, Lu Ann followed her care team’s advice and kept a daily record of her experience, including what she ate, how she felt and her vital statistics such as her temperature. The diary provided important information that helped Lu Ann and her caregivers understand how treatments affected her and allowed for adjustments to her diet and activities. Plus, as an avid journaler, the daily habit felt natural and comforting to Lu Ann.

After her 2023 diagnosis, Lu Ann began journaling on her computer, printing out each day’s notes and placing them in a binder to bring to her appointments. This time, her journal also contained personal details, photos of friends and family and even fun snaps of herself in various whimsical wigs—including two pink styles she bought to help keep her spirits up. Also, she documented current events such as April’s total solar eclipse. For her final journal entry, Lu Ann included a congratulations card signed by all her nurses. “It’s been a victory celebration, not just a ‘chemo diary,’” she says.

Reflecting on the Experience

Now done with her treatments and feeling well, Lu Ann highly recommends Southwest General to anyone facing a cancer diagnosis. “The care has been fantastic,” she says, praising the physicians, nurses and staff. While she doesn’t miss the cancer and chemotherapy treatments, she actually does miss her weekly time with her caregivers at Southwest General.

For women who may be behind on preventative care, Lu Ann advises, “Be proactive. Go for annual mammograms, because the earlier they catch it, the better it is.”