To complete our month-long focus on cancer, we asked our own Connie Newsome, Senior Program Associate and Executive Assistant, to talk about her experience with breast cancer, including her time at the Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University and how working in technology transfer influenced that experience. Thankfully Connie has been cancer free now for two and a half years.
Connie, how were you originally diagnosed?
I was diagnosed during an annual mammogram at Winship. When the results came back, I was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer, stage 2. Shortly after that I saw a surgeon and an oncologist. Both of these physicians had credentials that were really high. I also consulted with my internist who is one of Emory’s lead internists.
The treatment plan that was initially prescribed consisted of a regime of chemotherapy spread over 4 months, followed by radiation and surgery. My team of physicians gave me two options for radiation – one that consisted of 15 days the other of 30 days.
After consideration and consulting with several of my family, friends, and colleagues, I decided to go with the 30 days of radiation. Once radiation and chemo were complete I went back for another test and the cancer was more or less gone and then I had surgery. The doctors took out what might have been left, after the radiation and chemo treatment. Then I was cancer free and still am.
Given your time working in OTT, how did that factor in?
I’ve been in tech transfer almost 20 years now. The knowledge I’ve gained about medical research and how to go about finding information by being in this office was really helpful. I’ve met a lot of physicians outside of work that I’ve heard about through this office. Interacting with physicians outside of the patient setting and learning about their interests, getting to know them as people, seeing their dedication first hand adds a different type of comfort when you become the patient. I’ve been with my internist for a long time and she’s referred me to a number of Emory physicians over the years. When I had my hip replacements, my orthopedic physician had technologies that had come through the office. The same thing happened when I needed my shoulder replacement. By being in the tech transfer office, you really get to know what and who is involved in various specialties and research, which again is a comforting thing.
Did your background in technology transfer change your outlook?
Oh sure. I felt more confident knowing that I was being treated by some of the best doctors I could have at Emory. And my experience with Winship — I can’t say enough good things about it, I really can’t. Their triage program is unbelievable, what they do for families when patients are in these situations — they really do a fantastic job.
I should add that OTT has worked with quite a few physicians from radiation oncology over the years. Knowing them and their work certainly added to some of my comfort.
Is there any advice that you have shared since?
Going through a major medical event is quite a learning experience. The staff at Winship guides you through the process so well, I couldn’t ask for better people. They help take the fear out of things. When someone tells you that you have cancer, it’s like, “whoa!” At first, I was scared. You have to work on getting in the right mindset. I’m often asked, “how in the world did you handle that?”
For the 16 chemo treatments which lasted about 4 hours each, my two children took turns sitting with me. I created a routine for the radiation treatments by making my appointments first thing in the morning and I went, fixed myself a cup of coffee, the staff delivered my treatment and then I left for work. For thirty days straight. I was lucky and the treatment wasn’t that bad, but you get really fatigued. I never got sick, so I was in the office more than 50% of the time. If I got tired, I went home.
Do you have any final thoughts?
Each year since my diagnosis my daughter has organized a team of family, friends, and colleagues to participate in the Winship Win The Fight 5K fundraiser. The first year I couldn’t participate, due to my treatments, but I was there and waited for everyone at the finish line. The last two year’s I’ve been determined to walk the 5K and have successfully done so. I look forward to it each year and appreciate everyone who supports my daughter’s team.
Lastly, as I get closer to retirement I think about possibly volunteering at Winship, particularly in the section where they do the chemo therapy treatments. Quite often volunteers talk to patients. They have the little carts to push around and make sure patients have enough to eat. I was in there around Christmas time and, to occupy treatment time, the volunteers had patients making ornaments, which was pretty cool.
Ironically, Winship has a tradition that is very similar to one we have here in tech transfer. When a patient completes their chemo treatments, which is a pretty big deal at that point, the staff has a big bell and you get to ring the bell. It’s a big accomplishment. Here in OTT, when we sign a license agreement our director rings the bell after signing and the office breaks out clapping. There was something familiar, yet comforting, in the bell.
Additional information and resources can be found at the American Cancer Society in the breast cancer section of their website.