From caregiver to patient: A mammographer’s cancer journey deepens patient connection

Kristen Scott and her dog, Sulley, who helped her through the healing process.

As a mammographer at Elkhart General Hospital’s Breast Care Center, Kristen Scott has helped countless women through their breast cancer screenings. She never imagined she would walk the same path as these patients.

“I believe God put me at the Elkhart Breast Care Center at the right time,” she said. “Because I was working there, I thought I needed to be on time with my mammograms.” After missing a couple years, she maintained regular annual mammograms after 2018.

So she wasn’t expecting unusual results in 2020. But the radiologist saw a suspicious area.

“While the imaging was going on, I could look and see it was not very good,” she recalled. A diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound followed very swiftly, revealing two masses in Kristen’s left breast.

Dr. Samir Patel, radiologist with Radiology, Inc., performed the biopsies and confirmed Kristen’s breast cancer diagnosis.

“He’s definitely my hero,” she shared. “He said it didn’t look great, but we were very hopeful.” She added that he called her on a Saturday with the biopsy results, because he didn’t want to give her the news that Monday — her birthday.

The weeks between diagnosis and surgery proved challenging. While continuing to work, Kristen listened to patients share stories about close friends or relatives battling breast cancer. “That’s one of the hardest times I’ve been through,” Kristen said.

Kristen had a lumpectomy, reconstruction, lymph node removal and a second surgery to help ensure as much cancerous tissue was removed as possible. After giving her body about six weeks to heal, she began radiation therapy with the Beacon care team.

Kristen Scott at work in the Elkhart General Hospital Breast Care Center.

After 20 radiation therapy sessions and with several years of medication to help prevent a recurrence, all of Kristen’s mammograms and MRI scans have been and remain clear.

“My care was absolutely top notch,” Kristen shared. “Overall, I can barely tell I ever had the surgery.”

Dr. Patel describes Kristen as “a remarkable woman, intelligent, compassionate and selfless. “I am grateful to have been part of the medical team involved in Kristen’s care, and I continue to see firsthand the wonderful care she provides to each patient.”

Kristen said her experience has helped her better understand what patients in the Breast Care Center are going through. “I think I have more empathy,” Kristen said. “I try to always reach out to the people going through it and share my experience, let them know that I did it and they can do it, too.”

She emphasizes to newly diagnosed patients that they’re not alone: “You feel like you’re all alone. But really, there are lots of people who have been through the same thing.”

Dr. Patel echoes her perspective.

“Women are never alone, from breast cancer screening to diagnosis to treatment,” Dr. Patel said. “A team of medical professionals will be there to partner with and support a woman with breast cancer, along with the most important people in their life.”

In addition to the Beacon care team, Kristen has also found strength in her faith, family and friends. Her husband, Jason, provided unwavering support. “I’m so thankful to my husband for all his love and support during all my treatments,” she said.

Her dog, Sulley, also offered great comfort. “His constant companionship and long walks really helped me through the healing process,” she shared. “He always made me feel better no matter how bad I felt during treatments.”

Schedule your mammogram today

Mammography is the best tool for detecting early breast cancer. Annual mammograms starting at 40 have helped cut breast cancer deaths by more than 40 percent. Here is where you can find a Beacon location near you in Indiana and Michigan that offers breast cancer screenings. Schedule your mammogram today.