Nurse Turns a Chance Patient Meeting Into a Breast Cancer Community

"You have breast cancer." Those four words still haunt me every day, and the continual side effects of treatment remind me where my body has been. But somehow there is good intermixed with all the bad. And one blessing that stands out the most is the gift of an amazing oncology nurse.

I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in June 2022 at 42 years old, with young children at home, no genetic mutations and no family history. When a web search of triple negative brings up words like aggressive and high rate of recurrence, it is hard not to be scared. Crying in the shower became my new normal.

Chemotherapy came first in my long road of treatment. Needles and blood are not my favorite, so having my port accessed, seeing tubes attached to my body and watching the chemotherapy flow straight into me came with a lot of anxiety. From the beginning, Fuller held my hand through it all, making sure I was comfortable and explaining all of the procedures and medications. One week I spiked a high fever, and when Fuller stepped into the room it immediately calmed the nerves of both myself and my husband. Her compassionate presence just has that effect on us. If Fuller is there, we feel safe and cared for.

Now, whenever I go to the clinic for any appointment, no matter which doctor I may be seeing that day, I know that if Fuller is there she will pop her head into my room to chat and check in with me. She makes my time at the clinic feel less like cancer care and more like meeting up with a friend for coffee. And I know I am not the only patient of hers who feels this way.

How do I know? Because a serendipitous meeting I happened to have with another breast cancer patient online led to Fuller building us a community. Through our online chat, we discovered that we had the same oncologist and were receiving our chemotherapy treatments at the same clinic on the same days. We met in person at our next infusion and quickly bonded, as we were close in age, both with young children and on very similar treatment plans. Talking to each other about all that we were going through really helped me feel less alone.

When Fuller saw how much we both enjoyed our new friendship, she helped us form a support group at the clinic for breast cancer patients in their 30s and 40s. Women in this age range often feel younger than most women in typical breast cancer support groups. Having a community that also understands what it is like to deal with possible future fertility issues, talking to your children about your diagnosis, dealing with early onset medical menopause and so many other issues that we face as young women in cancer treatment has been one of the biggest blessings to me both during and after treatment.

Fuller not only helped us create the support group, but she continues to be involved. She and a licensed clinical social worker collaborate to invite new patients, guide twice-monthly meetings and provide medical and emotional support. Fuller has lifted the spirit of every one of us fortunate enough to be part of this community. Sharing my story and experiences to help support newly diagnosed patients within the group today gives all the early fears and bad days I had three years ago a new purpose, and for that I will always be thankful.

Janet Fuller is truly an exceptional oncology nurse. I am grateful she came into my life when I needed her most and for the immeasurable amount of comfort she has provided to me and my breast cancer sisters. I am truly honored to call her my nurse and also my friend.

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