Navy Veteran Shares Story Of Breast Cancer Battle
Navy Veteran Tiffany Fenix shares her story of how one VA nurse's phone call led to an early breast cancer diagnosis, and possibly saved her life.
Breast cancer is a devastating disease that affects one out of eight women and one out of every 833 men in the United States. Early detection through screening can greatly improve a Veterans chance of surviving it. That’s why the Washington DC VA Medical Center Women’s Health Clinic staff strives to reach out to Veteran’s and remind them of important screening deadlines and opportunities.
Navy Veteran Tiffany Fenix believes one of those calls, she received in early May, likely saved her life.
“I had some tissue removed back in 2008, and never thought about it again,” said Fenix. “But then this VA nurse called me to check in. I had no intention of getting screened, but she pressured me to come in and that’s when they found the cancer.”
Fenix is a 42-year-old Navy Veteran, and a breast cancer survivor who underwent a bilateral mastectomy this summer at the Washington DC VA Medical Center. She credits the VA staff who treated her, and the nurse who made that call, with saving her life.
“When I got the diagnosis, I didn’t know what to do. It was so much to think about but my sister, who is a nurse, and the doctors helped me make decisions and get to my medical appointments,” said Fenix.
A dedicated team of surgeons, doctors and nurses took on her case and developed a treatment plan for Fenix. The Oncology team at the DC VA Medical Center meets bi-weekly to discuss every Veteran’s treatment progress and tailor a plan for what support they may need next. For Fenix, the team recommended surgery to remove the cancer, and then radiation, five times a week for five weeks. But after several biopsies discovered more tissue to be removed, Fenix made the decision to undergo a bilateral mastectomy to remove her breasts.
A team of surgeons worked on Fenix to remove the cancer, and then a second team of plastic surgeons set about rebuilding Fenix’s breasts. The fact that so many medical professionals were working on her at one time still amazes Fenix.
“I had at least 12 people focused on me. I had an entire team who came in to remove the cancer, and then another team came in to reconstruct my breasts,” she said. “The surgeons at the DC VA are amazing.”
Less than a month after her reconstructive surgery, Fenix is back at work, chopping wood and riding around in her F-150 with her dog, Aspen. She is not done with appointments, and she is still processing all that she has been through in the last six months, but Fenix is using her experience to encourage Veterans to take screening seriously.
“Veterans don’t ask for help. That is why the people at the VA who keep calling, keep coaxing us to come in are so important,” she said. “Listen to them, get screened. And if you get a diagnosis, be vulnerable and open. Don’t just close into a cocoon. Reach out for help, it is there.”
Fenix used online forums to find support and leaned on her partner, who was her rock every step of the way. She said there are plenty of people to thank for getting her through her breast cancer battle, but the one she is most anxious to find is the nurse who called her back in May. She asks every nurse she talks to at the medical center or on the phone, but so far, no one has come forward.
“If there is anything noteworthy about my story, it’s her,” said Fenix. “I hope she reads this article and realizes what she did for me. She didn't just take the time to call, she continued to apply pressure. If it wasn’t for that, the cancer would have left my milk duct and eventually killed me. She saved my life. But that’s what makes the VA great, the people who work there don't give up on us Veterans."