Mindy Mobley had done everything right to keep an eye on her health: she underwent numerous mammograms, ultrasounds, biopsies, and even a surgery for removal of a benign lesion. But it wasn’t until she started working with Lexington Clinic gynecologist Clarissa Beiting, MD that she learned she was considered high-risk for breast cancer. “Due to my dense tissue and family history of breast cancer, she recommended a screening breast MRI, which is how my cancer was detected,” Mindy said. “Her wise advice led to an earlier diagnosis, without having to jump back on that roller coaster of callback mammograms and ultrasounds.”
Treatment advanced quickly through Lexington Clinic’s Center for Breast Care. Just three days after her initial diagnosis, Mindy met with oncologist Rachel Harper, MD, and her breast surgeon the day after that. The following week, Mindy received her port for chemotherapy at Lexington Clinic’s Ambulatory Surgery Center. Two weeks to the day after her diagnosis, Mindy had her first cancer treatment in August 2019. Over the next six months, she underwent chemotherapy and surgeries, leading her to be declared cancer-free in January 2020.
Mindy said everyone at Lexington Clinic treated her with respect and care. “It made all the difference! From the skilled techs at my initial MRI, to the unparalleled care of the entire Center for Breast Care team during my biopsy, Dr. Harper’s team…every single person I encountered treated me with kindness and genuine compassion, and they still do!”
Now that she’s through her own journey, Mindy encourages other women facing cancer. “The reality of battling breast cancer does sometimes feel quite lonely. There will be days that seem almost too much to endure…treatments can be incredibly difficult, and at times, painful. But I found that focusing on just the next day, when I wouldn’t feel so terrible, or when I could go enjoy something with my children, or laugh with a friend is what will get you through.”
Cancer is intimidating, but Mindy reassures those facing it. “Treatment and surgery today look so much different, even from when I was going through it in 2019! Trust your providers to walk with you through this and reach out to others who have walked this path before you.”
Mindy now works at the Center for Breast Care, alongside Jessica Schorck, APRN, WHNP, who monitors Mindy’s health as part of her survivorship care team. “After her cancer diagnosis, [Mindy] was found to have an ATM mutation. This is a hereditary predisposition for cancer and requires additional care along with her breast cancer surveillance, which is my specialty,” Schorck said.
Schorck explained every Center for Breast Care patient receives a personalized treatment plan that starts with an individual risk assessment that looks at risk factors, family history, and breast density. She works with patients to educate them on their options and lets them make informed decisions about their care. “I tell each patient that this is not about a ‘cookie cutter’ plan. All interventions are optional, and it is my job to help manage the plan that allows patients to be as proactive as they desire to be.”
The Center for Breast Care’s multidisciplinary team works fast to coordinate care, so patients don’t have to wait long to begin their treatment. “When a newly-diagnosed breast cancer patient has their initial consultation with us, they frequently leave that day with a well-defined plan. We always confirm they have all their and their family’s questions answered. If no further work-up is needed, they meet with our surgery scheduler the same day,” Schorck explained.
She said Center for Breast Care patients get more than just fast treatment, they get a team of experts who care. “I constantly hear how kind and helpful the entire staff is. This team, from providers to staff, treat patients the way they would want to be treated. I have heard patients at other places say they felt like ‘just a number.’ Here, they will get to know their care team and we will get to know them. We aren’t just treating the disease, we are treating the person. This is at the heart of how we practice and I am very proud of that.”
Having experienced that care firsthand, Mindy shared Schorck’s view of what makes the Center for Breast Care truly exceptional. “Whatever you may be facing, whether it is just figuring out where to start with your screening mammograms, wanting to jump off the carousel of the ‘diagnostic callbacks,’ and truly get answers for how to best manage your breast health, or you have gotten a diagnosis, look no further than the amazing team here at Lexington Clinic’s Center for Breast Care. We are here to walk you through every single step, question, and concern. I say this not just as an employee but as a patient: this whole team is second to none!”
See how the Center for Breast Care can make a difference for your health at LexingtonClinic.com/BreastCancerCare
