Lisa Marshall wants women to know how important it is to prioritize their own health.
“One thing I would say is that I encourage women to get their mammograms,” she said. “Like so many of us, I work full-time. We get so busy and we don’t put ourselves first.”
For several years, Marshall focused on her work commitments and serving on the Henrico County School Board. By age 57, a busy schedule occupied most of her time, and mammograms were not a main concern despitenational guidelines that recommend them annually for women at that age.
“I actually went four years between mammograms,” said Marshall. “That’s something I really regret, that I didn’t go sooner.”
In late 2017, she decided it was time to finally arrange a routine screening. The result was abnormal. A follow-up ultrasound and biopsy confirmed HER2-positive breast cancer.
“I was shocked because I don’t have a family history of cancer,” said Marshall.
In February 2018, within three days of her diagnosis, she had her first appointment at the Breast Cancer Collaborative Care Clinic at VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center.
“It’s a great program,” said Marshall. “You get to meet with everyone in your care team: the nurse navigator, social worker, surgeon and the medical and radiation oncologists. I was extremely anxious, and over the course of meeting with them, my anxiety came down. You leave with a plan, and I came out of there feeling so hopeful.”
She also learned that her tumor was located under the axillary lymph nodes, and even though it testedHER2-positive, there wasno evidence of disease in either breast. This phenomenon, known asoccult cancer,occurs when the origin of a malignancy is unknown. It affects less than 1 percent of breast cancer patients, according to the American Cancer Society.
Marshall’s treatment plan began with chemotherapy under the care of Massey medical oncologist Mary Helen Hackney, M.D., and she was pleased with the care she received.
“Everybody at Stony Point was great and so caring,” said Marshall. "Several of the nurses shared their personal stories of breast cancer survivorship, and that gave me hope. It was just a really good experience.”
Upon completion of chemotherapy treatments, she underwent surgery to remove the remainder of the tumor and surrounding lymph nodes. The procedure was performed by Kandace McGuire, M.D., chief of breast surgery and director of the Breast Cancer Collaborative Care Clinic.
“Dr. McGuire has such a warm personality; she’s so caring,” said Marshall. “I was very lucky that she called to say the lymph nodes were clear and that they didn’t find any remnants of the cancer.”
After surgery, Marshall had radiation treatments under the care of radiation oncologist Todd Adams, M.D. Radiation was followed by regular infusions ofdrugs designed toblock HER2 receptors anddecrease the chance of recurrence.
Prior to concluding infusion treatments, Marshall had a clear mammogram. She is currently not showing any signs of cancer, but she will continue seeing her oncologists for regular follow-ups.
“I’m so very grateful for Massey and have completed my treatment plan with a good prognosis,” she said.
Marshall credits her family – husband, Lem, and children Emily, Jack and Lauren – as being a source of encouragement. She found anadditional layer of supportfrom Emily and Jack, who were both medical students atVCU School of Medicineduring her treatment.
“It has been a comfort having my children nearby in medical school as I battled my cancer this year,” she said.
Emily Marshall, a recent M.D. program graduate, is now beginning a family medicine residency atthe Medical University of South Carolina, andJack Marshall, a rising fourth-year M.D. student, is interested in pursuing a sports medicine fellowship.
An interesting twist to her story is that two childhood friends of theMarshall siblingsare alsoVCU School of Medicinestudents.
Hannah Shadowen, a rising second-year M.D.-Ph.D. student, and her sisterCarrie Shadowen, a rising third-year M.D. student, attended elementary schoolwith Emily and Jack at Saint Bridget Catholic School in Richmond, VA.Their parents also worked with both Marshall and her husband at different times.
“I just think it is an extraordinary coincidence that they would all be accepted to VCU and end up attending at the same time,” said Marshall. “My children are receiving excellent medical training in such a supportive, caring environment, for which I am grateful.”
In terms of her health, Marshall maintains a similar positive attitude.
“The message of hope is so great,” she said. “What I’ve tried to do is look at each phase that I’m at as one day at a time. You have to make that mental commitment.”