Delayed screening, devastating diagnosis: How COVID-19 cancellations impacted one woman’s health

Karen is one of millions of women across the country whose mammogram screening was cancelled during COVID-19. When she finally rescheduled It—nearly four years later—the results came with devastating news. Karen had breast cancer.

According to the American College of Radiology, breast screenings dropped significantly after the pandemic, and remained stagnant for a few years. For 59-year-old Karen, and so many women who postponed and deprioritized their annual breast screenings, this kind of delay can make a world of difference.

A postponed mammography screening

“I'll be honest, I was really scared to go,” says Karen. “It had been on my mind, and I had delayed it for so many years because life was busy, and I just kept putting it off.”

Karen’s cousin is a breast cancer survivor and encouraged her to join the American Cancer Association’s fundraising walk in Point Pleasant, NJ. This was the catalyst Karen needed to finally schedule her appointment.

“I saw all the survivors in pink shirts and pink ribbons, and something hit me at that moment,” says Karen. “I am making my appointment. If it can happen to all these women, it can happen to me.”

A diagnosis no one wants to hear

Both the mammogram and the ultrasound revealed the grim news—Karen had breast cancer in her left breast. Her biopsy confirmed it was a fast-growing cancer known as HER2+, and she was immediately referred to Bonni Guerin, MD, a breast medical oncologist at Overlook Medical Center.

“Karen’s is an aggressive form of cancer, but we caught it at stage two before it spread to her lymph nodes,” says Dr. Guerin. “When we catch it in its earliest stages, HER2+ is curable. Karen’s story could have been very different if she had waited any longer to get tested.”

Chemo takes a massive toll

From the start, chemotherapy was tough on Karen. She was sick throughout the 18-week treatment, so severely that she was admitted twice to the hospital. She lost close to 70 pounds from diarrhea, dehydration, and an intestinal infection. She also lost so much strength she was barely able to walk.

“I tried to keep a positive mindset by focusing on my family, friends, and kids at the elementary school where I work. But there were days when I found myself losing hope,” says Karen.

Reducing future breast cancer risk

Karen also chose to have a double mastectomy, removing any potential risk of the cancer returning. Marc Mandel, an Atlantic Health System breast surgeon, performed the procedure.

“We did a sentinel node biopsy to be certain the cancer had not spread to Karen’s lymph nodes, and it hadn’t,” says Dr. Mandel. “However, we found calcifications in her right breast that could potentially lead to cancer. So, although it was a difficult decision, Karen’s choice to undergo a double mastectomy was a wise one.”

A clean bill of health

As Karen finished her last round of preventive treatment, she reflected on the support, knowledge, and comfort Drs. Guerin and Mandel provided throughout the most difficult health challenge of her life.

“At my final visit with Dr. Mandel, He gave me a fist pump and he said, ‘You did it, everything looks great,’ and this brought me to tears,” she says. “When I showed Dr. Guerin the picture of me crossing the finish line at this year’s survivor walk, she told me I was her hero. With this kind of support, I want to do my part by sharing my story and encouraging women to get their mammograms.”

A future full of life

Just one year after her diagnosis, Karen attended her second annual Point Pleasant walk with her cousin, this time wearing her own pink survivor T-shirt. She’s also back to doing what she loves—decorating her home, floating in her pool, spending time with her children, family, and friends, and working at the school. She also sees Dr. Guerin regularly to monitor her progress.

“I think I was the most fearful person in the world to go get a mammogram,” says Karen. “It’s why I delayed my screening all those years. But being scared is not a rational reason for not going. Catching and treating cancer early is better than any alternative.”