Linda Martin
Thanks to the care and expertise of the medical team at Fort Walton-Destin Hospital, Linda was given a second chance at life.
“Be Proactive in Your Health.” Early detection with Genius 3D Mammography at Fort Walton-Destin Hospital saved my life twice in this past year! My name is Linda Martin, I am 65 years old and a registered nurse. When hearing the words “you have cancer,” I became a patient with all the worries and concerns that go along with the diagnosis of breast cancer.
My first breast cancer was discovered on my left breast in October 2017 using the 3D Genius Mammography Exam. I had a lumpectomy and the diagnosis was Ductal Carcinoma In Situ-0 (DCIS), Estrogen and Progesterone positive. I received radiation therapy after surgery and was placed on the drug Tamoxifen.
At my six month follow-up mammogram, to our surprise, the 3DGenius discovered suspicious clusters that appeared to be cancer in my right breast and surgical lumpectomy was done to remove them. I was diagnosed with an Invasive Tubular Cancer. A sentinel node biopsy confirmed by pathology that there was no evidence of cancer in my sentinel lymph node. I then had another round of radiation on my right breast. After healing, now I will be placed on the drug Arimidex for the next five years to help prevent the reoccurrence of these cancers.
I believe that discovering my two different breast cancers early due to this new technology has provided me with the best outcomes in fighting my breast cancer. However, it is a team effort! I wish to thank the Radiologists and of all my healthcare providers for their excellence in care and professionalism. I also want to thank my family and friends who supported me along this journey this past year. And a most important thank you goes to my best friend who supported me through it all and was always by my side. Love you peep!
Most importantly, a special loving thank you goes to my amazing husband, whose incredible instincts and attention to details truly saved my life. I am able to say, “I am a breast cancer survivor.” I look forward to watching our grandchildren grow up, spending time with family and friends, working out with my trainer to continue a healthy lifestyle and enjoying life to the fullest with my loving husband by my side. Be Proactive!! Do your monthly exams and yearly mammograms. Early Detection Is Key To Saving Lives!