Patient StoryJul | 6 | 2023
In July of 2021 on their last day of family vacation, Katie Britton noticed a lump in her breast and made an appointment with her PCP who recommended a mammogram. After years of getting mammograms every six months due to a history of dense breast tissue and calcifications, Katie was given the all-clear for yearly mammograms. Only 7 months later she was diagnosed with breast cancer. “When I got the call, my heart just started pounding and I was in shock, I didn't really ask too many questions. It was out of the blue, I don’t have any family history of breast cancer.”
At the recommendation of a friend, Katie and her husband made the choice to come to Mass General to be cared for by breast surgeon, Michelle Specht, MD. “I felt really confident with her in a way that I hadn’t with anyone else. Dr. Specht spent time introducing the care team and the course of treatment."
Living in Newton, MA, Katie had her surgery at Mass General Cancer Center in Waltham and received treatments close by at Mass General Cancer Center at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. "Living a mile away from NWH, I used to think I could ride my bike to my radiation appointments, but the valet guys are so nice, so I chose to drive. A lot of my follow-up appointments are at NWH, and having Dr. Specht there, it really is incredibly convenient.”
“You don't really realize how much of a support system you have until you really need it. My husband basically took over running the household. We had dinner coming from friends and family twice a week. Other people I know that have gone through this gave us the advice to be really concrete with the support that you need from friends and family and your community. Make it really clear, don’t leave anyone guessing. We tried to keep our kids' lives as normal as possible. We wanted to keep their routines, continue to drive them to practice after school, and be there for dinner.”
Katie participated in two rounds of the PAVING the Path to Wellness program with Amy Comander, MD and another oncologist out of Colorado upon Dr. Comander’s recommendation. Each program ran for 12 weeks and included a mix of education and social support, helping individuals diagnosed with cancer integrate wellness practices into their daily lives. “The PAVING program was amazing. It was nice to be in a group of people that all had the same experience, and while everyone was at different ages and stages of life, we all had this single connection point. It's nice to not be the only young person in the room. I was diagnosed when I was 42. I made some really good friends, people that I'm still in touch with today.”
“I joke with people that I just wanted everything. I did chemo and a double mastectomy with reconstruction, 25 sessions of radiation and physical therapy, mental health therapy and wellness groups, acupressure, the PACT program, PAVING program…you name it, I'll sign up for it.”
Katie worked with nutritionist Carol Sullivan, MS, RD, CSO, LDN and mental health clinician, David Bullis, PhD, crediting every member of her care team for keeping her as healthy as possible during treatment and beyond. “It’s funny, it didn’t really feel like extra. I am so appreciative of my whole care team.”
Having led a healthy lifestyle prior to diagnosis, Katie’s family was equally as shocked as she was after diagnosis. Being a spin instructor, vegetarian, and generally following healthy habits, Katie was determined not to let this cancer diagnosis change that.
Not letting her treatment keep her from trusting in herself and her strength, Katie kept up with her fitness goals and nutrition routine. “Even during radiation, I kept thinking, once I am done with this, I just want to rebuild my strength and my stamina and be able to do the things that I normally do in my life like gardening and being outside. Amy Sinclair, MD was amazing at helping me set goals around my physical strength and stamina. And back in January of 2023 I got re-certified to teach spin classes. I teach two a week and one other strength and cardio class a week. And some days it feels like too much, but it has been great.”
“I think it's funny, I catch myself sometimes saying that in the end, having cancer was a good thing. And then I have to remind myself, no, having cancer sucks and no one should ever have to go through it, but it is this big realization of how short and fragile life is. For both my husband and I it became a reason, along with COVID, for both of us to really rethink our careers and reprioritize what we’re doing with our lives. Having been through treatment and all the things that I have, if that hadn't happened, I'd probably still be working. I'd probably still be running around like a crazy person.”
“When I was working with John Dubois, MD we were talking about how I'm just not really quite sure how you just become a normal person again after cancer treatment. You’ve been through so many things and sometimes it just feels hard to have a connection to the people that you used to feel really connected with because they haven't been through this whole experience like you have. He gave me this analogy of that I still think about today: ‘You were in this big canyon and you've climbed your way back up almost to the top and you can hear the people up there, you can even talk to them, and you are so close to being at the top of the canyon again. Except everybody else that's up there doesn't even realize that there's a canyon.’ And there are times when I'm talking to someone and I'm thinking, yeah, they don't realize that there's a canyon.”
Katie BrittonI joke with people that I just wanted everything. I did chemo and a double mastectomy with reconstruction, 25 sessions of radiation and physical therapy, mental health therapy and wellness groups, acupressure, PACT program, PAVING program…you name it, I'll sign up for it.
An integral part of one of the world’s most distinguished academic medical centers, Mass General Cancer Center is among the leading cancer care providers in the United States.
