In Their Hands: Mary Beth’s Breast Cancer Journey

When Mary Beth Roy and her family moved to central Ohio from West Virginia seven years ago, she didn’t know it was for a reason beyond her husband’s job. But she believed, like she does in all things, that God has a plan for our lives and it’s up to us to trust that plan. So she did. And she believes it saved her life.

A year ago April, Mary Beth, who describes herself as “very compliant” when it comes to her checkups and medical care, went in for her routine gynecological exam and mammogram¹. She was told things looked good and she was “all clear.”

A few weeks later, though, she noticed something out of the ordinary on the surface of her left breast. When it hadn’t gotten better after a few weeks, she followed up with her gynecologist, who referred her to Mount Carmel breast specialist Dr. Kristine Slam for further evaluation. She saw Dr. Slam’s nurse practitioner, Sarah, who thought it looked like an infected gland. She started Mary Beth on an antibiotic, but also ordered an ultrasound just to be safe. It was a crucial decision.

¹This patient's OBGYN and primary care physicians are not affiliated with Mount Carmel.

She had the ultrasound the following Wednesday, which unfortunately revealed a mass in her breast. She was in for a biopsy on Friday and learned on Tuesday it was cancer, which had metastasized to three of her lymph nodes. It was a whirlwind week to say the least. “Everything happened so quickly,” she recalled. She met with Dr. Slam the very next day to discuss next steps.

She had surgery in late August and followed that with four rounds of chemotherapy in late September. “The margins were clean after the surgery,” Mary Beth said, “so the chemo was precautionary.”

She gratefully had the month of December off from treatment so she could enjoy the holidays with her family. “Everyone on my care team was so attentive and so committed to expediency while also respecting the need for recovery in between treatments.”

In January 2024 she returned for 25 rounds of radiation at Mount Carmel East and completed her treatment in February. “After radiation I told my husband I would give myself a couple of weeks to rebound before trying to return to many of my normal activities, but it was actually like digging out of a hole and took a little longer than anticipated.” But dig she did, and now, five months after completing radiation, she finds herself in a place of even deeper faith and immense gratitude.

“It was startling at first, but I’m very grateful for how quickly everything happened,” Mary Beth said, “and so blessed to have had the people I did and the care I received at Mount Carmel.”

"I had a dream team of providers,” she said before name-dropping breast surgeon Dr. Slam, radiation oncologist Dr. Alex Yaney, medical oncologist Dr. Jeanna Knoble, oncology nurse navigator Sara Bickley, nurse practitioner Sarah Baker, and plastic surgeon Dr. Christopher Zochowski. “Every single one of them was amazing.”

“I’m convinced there are no better doctors on the planet than the ones who took care of me,” she added. “I cannot say enough good things about them. And I didn’t pick any of them! They were all referred to me. God brought me here and placed me in their hands. He made me pay attention to abnormal changes in my body. He gave me my family and friends, who were the best support team I could possibly have imagined. It’s because of Him that I’m here today.”

As such, Mary Beth is forthright about sharing her experience and what she’s learned in hopes they might help others.

Her first lesson is about trusting your instincts. “If you sense something’s not right with your body, don’t ignore it,” she advised. “Talk to a medical professional. Ask more questions. Get a second opinion. Advocate for yourself.”

She’s also keen to educate women about dense breast tissue. “Ask your doctor if you have dense breast tissue, because you may not know,” she recommended. “If you have it, ask for additional screenings like an ultrasound or an MRI. Mammography is a wonderful tool, but abnormalities in dense tissue like mine can be missed.”

Finally, she’s a big believer in support – something that made all the difference in her journey. “If you’re going through this, find someone you feel comfortable talking to. Don’t try carrying this burden alone. Get the support you need. My faith and my family were that for me. Be sure to find yours.”

Learn more about Mount Carmel Cancer Care.