Local Breast Cancer Survivor Urges Women to Get Mammograms

Breast cancer survivor Joanne Matney shares her story to raise awareness during Breast Cancer Awareness Month
 
STOCKTON, Calif. - Oct. 29, 2014 - PRLog -- Hoping to encourage other women to get regular checkups, breast cancer survivor Joanne Matney, 69, is sharing her personal journey through cancer for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. After a mammogram showed suspicious results in July of this year, Matney received a biopsy that confirmed she had breast cancer.

“I’ve never been a worrier and after my diagnosis, I didn’t feel fearful,” Matney says. “I’m the type of person that assesses the situation and figures out the next steps. I have so much trust in all of the doctors I came in contact with and didn’t feel like worrying was necessary or helpful.”

Matney credits her positive and pragmatic attitude about breast cancer to the care she received. After undergoing surgery to remove the tumor, Matney received a radiation therapy treatment called Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation (APBI) at St. Teresa Comprehensive Cancer Center in Stockton.

“APBI using a multichannel catheter is a relatively new radiation therapy treatment for breast cancer that provides excellent outcomes in short periods of time,” says Dan Vongtama, M.D., Board Certified Radiation Oncologist with St. Teresa Comprehensive Cancer Center. “The treatment is delivered through an internally implanted radiation device and administered over five days. This is a more convenient option for early stage breast cancers, compared to standard external radiation therapy which can require up to six weeks of treatment.”

“I have never needed any medical treatment like this before, but I never felt uncomfortable at the cancer center,” Matney says. “The people were all so caring and by the end of the week, it was more like seeing old friends than getting cancer treatment. I had no side effects, no pain, and I was able to attend my granddaughter’s wedding a week after treatment with no issues.”

Now, Matney is getting regular checkups with her physicians. She believes the most important thing women can do is get a mammogram once a year.

“I never felt the breast lump and I don’t know that I would’ve found it if I didn’t get my mammogram,” she says. “I want people to know that it’s important to have a mammogram every year. If done regularly, mammograms can detect cancer early when it’s much more treatable.”

St. Teresa Comprehensive Cancer Center, a 21st Century Oncology affiliate, is located at 4722 Quail Lakes Drive, Suite B, Stockton, CA 95207.

For more information about our services, visit www.StTeresasCancerCenter.com or call (209) 472-1848.

About 21st Century Oncology:

21st Century Oncology is the largest global, physician led provider of Integrated Cancer Care services. The company offers a comprehensive range of cancer treatment services, focused on delivering academic quality, cost-effective patient care in personal and convenient settings. The company operates 175 treatment centers, including 140 centers located in 16 states. The company also operates 35 centers located in six countries in Latin America. The company holds market-leading positions in most of its domestic local markets and abroad.

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