A cancer diagnosis often is the least-expected news you’ll ever receive. At age 38, it certainly wasn’t on Catherine Thompson’s mind. But once you know you have cancer, it’s what you do next on your journey that can make all the difference in overcoming it.

Acting Quickly After Finding a Breast Lump

Catherine’s journey started when she felt a lump in her breast, which she knew wasn’t normal for her. She saw her gynecologist the next day to have it evaluated, and her doctor referred her to Virtua breast surgeon Lori Timmerman, DO, for further evaluation and a biopsy.

A week later, she received earth-shattering news—she had breast cancer. Through further diagnostic testing and imaging, she learned it was stage 3B. This means that cancer was found beyond her breast, but it hadn’t spread (metastasized) further. The tumor was also HER2-positive/hormone-negative, which are specific tumor characteristics that help stage your cancer and guide treatment.

After overcoming the shock of her diagnosis, Catherine went into survivor mode. As a single mom, it was tough to explain to her then-10-year-old daughter that she was sick. She explained simply that she was going through changes, without providing too many details that could scare her. Catherine focused on keeping life normal for her, making sure to schedule fun activities.

“I was determined to make it to the other side of it,” said Catherine, a software engineer from Gloucester County. “I held onto my faith and surrounded myself with loved ones who could help me get through it.”

All the Breast Health Care She Needed

The Penn Medicine | Virtua Health Cancer Program offered all the expertise and high-level treatment that Catherine needed—and all in South Jersey. She required a multipronged treatment approach that included chemotherapy, surgery, breast reconstruction, radiation, and targeted therapy. This thorough, multidisciplinary approach helps eradicate cancer and prevent it from returning in the future.

Coordinating all those services was a little easier on Catherine with the help and support of her breast cancer nurse navigator, Maria Minardi. “She organized my care plan and set up all of my necessary appointments,” said Catherine.

Many Stops on Her Breast Cancer Journey

Catherine’s treatment plan started with six rounds of chemotherapy. She was always surrounded with support during her infusions, accompanied by her then-fiancée, twin sister, or future mother-in-law. But she also felt tremendous support from the chemotherapy team, which shared advice on the importance of staying hydrated to minimize side effects and supplied her with ice packs for her hands and feet to prevent nerve damage.

Catherine began losing her hair after the second round of chemotherapy, so she shaved her head. It took time for her and her daughter to adjust to this loss, but Catherine made the best of it by experimenting with various wigs and learning to style headwraps from YouTube tutorials.

Soon after completing chemotherapy, she had a double mastectomy, removing both breasts.

“When it comes to breast cancer surgery, I make sure women know they have options,” said Dr. Timmerman. “I give patients all the best potential choices and talk it through with them, but I want them to confidently decide what’s best for them.

Dr. Timmerman performed the mastectomy, which was immediately followed by breast reconstruction surgery with Penn Medicine | Virtua Health microvascular and plastic surgeons. “I chose to have breast reconstruction using the DIEP flap procedure and implants,” Catherine said.

The DIEP flap procedure uses skin, fat, and blood vessels from deep in the abdomen to recreate the breast shape. It can be used with implants to meet a woman’s unique needs.

“On the bright side, I ended up with a flatter stomach due to the DIEP flap surgery, and now I love how my clothes fit,” she said.

She also opted to have nipple reconstruction, which helps give the breast a more natural look after a mastectomy.

While she was recovering from surgery, Catherine started the next step of her treatment—25 rounds of radiation therapy with radiation oncologist Catherine Kim, MD.

“Everyone there was wonderful and supportive,” she said. “The best part was ringing the bell to mark the end of my radiation treatment and celebrating with the team.”

Completing the Last Step of Cancer Treatment

The final leg of Catherine’s breast cancer treatment journey included a targeted therapy infusion of Herceptin every few weeks. Herceptin is an antibody drug that targets HER2-positive cancer cells, working to slow or stop their growth. Treatment with chemotherapy and Herceptin can minimize the risk of cancer returning, compared to chemotherapy treatment alone.

Through all the steps on her now-complete cancer treatment journey, Catherine credits her ability to stay positive to the loved ones who helped her laugh and the connection she felt in online breast cancer support groups.

“I felt way too blessed to be stressed,” she said. “I prioritized protecting my peace and held tight to my family and friends who did, too.”

Making Your Mess Your Message

Catherine has become an inspiration to other people experiencing cancer. After she shaved her head and completed chemotherapy, her hair started to come back in a completely different texture than before her treatment.

After many Google searches, she learned that “chemo curls” can happen after chemotherapy. The chemotherapy drugs destroy cancer cells, but also can affect healthy ones, like hair follicle cells. While this is often temporary, it can be months or years for a person’s former hair texture to return.

Catherine’s experience with these curls inspired her to start ChemoCurls.com, a line of nourishing hair products, gentle styling tools, and other accessories she created to help people style their new curls. Her main goal is to help individuals undergoing chemotherapy maintain their beauty and confidence while protecting and celebrating their hair through this journey.

With the advice of making her mess her message, Catherine said, “It was inspiring for me to share my experience and create something positive to help other people going through treatment.”

Focusing on You, So You Can Get Better

You don’t have to face breast cancer alone. The Penn Medicine | Virtua Health Cancer Program offers every available treatment option. Learn more and schedule an appointment.