After noticing a dimple on her right breast, Jennifer Diaz instinctively scheduled a mammogram, which revealed breast cancer. Specifically, stage 2B ER+/HR+/HER2 – invasive ductal carcinoma of the right breast.
“Valley-Mount Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Care was on my list of places to get an opinion from, and I was personally recommended by a previous breast cancer patient,” said Jennifer, 37 years old. “Upon meeting with Eleonora Teplinsky, MD, Head of Breast and Gynecologic Medical Oncology for Valley-Mount Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Care; and Laura Klein, MD, Director of the Breast Center for Valley Medical Group; I found a team I felt very confident with.”
Through discussions with Dr. Teplinsky and Dr. Klein, Jennifer and her care team devised a personalized treatment plan. This plan included a lumpectomy, where the cancerous tumor and a small amount of surrounding breast tissue are removed, leaving the breast largely intact. Dr. Teplinsky determined that Jennifer would also be a candidate for a clinical trial – a research study that tests how well new medical treatments or interventions work in select patients.
In Jennifer’s case, the trial would be Ice Compress. This clinical trial evaluates the effects of a novel cryo-compression device, which provides cryotherapy or compression therapy, on the incidence of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. A common chemotherapy side effect, neuropathy causes numbness, tingling, pain, and sometimes weakness in the hands and feet.
“I was willing to try anything I could to combat the potential long-term side effects from chemotherapy, especially neuropathy,” said the Clifton native. “As a woman in my 30s who works as a photographer, I was very open-minded during treatment about preventing any additional symptoms. I did my research and asked many questions, which made me comfortable agreeing to it.”
Dr. Teplinsky, with assistance from Valley’s clinical trials team, oversaw the treatment, which in Jennifer’s case was a 12-week protocol.
“I kept the purpose of the clinical trial at the top of mind and really stayed motivated to finish,” says Jennifer. “Getting comfortable and enduring the time it takes to do compression during chemotherapy was a challenge, but worth it.”
As a result of the clinical trial, Jennifer is proud to state she did not experience neuropathy, and now with all of her breast cancer treatment completed, she is thriving.
“I was a student at the time of my diagnosis and took time off to get through treatment,” Jennifer reflects. “I have now graduated and am adjusting to life after cancer. I am proud to be a survivor. Through my experience, I am inspired to explore a career in healthcare to help others with their journey.”
“For anyone who may be going through something similar, know that you are your best advocate,” says Jennifer. “Take control of your medical experience, do your research, and ask questions to make the most informed decisions. Also, be honest with yourself and trust your intuition.”
For more information about clinical trials at Valley, click here.
Additional Surgical Information:
Jennifer’s surgical care also included an oncoplastic rotation flap and balancing procedure for local breast reconstruction, a type of tissue rearrangement using techniques from both oncology and plastic surgery to remove breast cancer while also reshaping and reconstructing the breast; and a right axillary lymphovenous bypass, a procedure that connects lymphatic vessels to nearby veins to redirect lymphatic flow and help prevent lymphedema, a swelling that occurs when the lymphatic system fails to drain properly.