Tammy Clark has been a nurse for over 30 years, but navigating her own difficult diagnosis throughout the past year has been a new, vulnerable experience for the caregiver.
“I went to the Breast Diagnostic Center for my annual mammogram at the end of May,” Tammy said. “They called me back for an ultrasound, which wasn’t uncommon for me, but then they called me back for a biopsy.”
Dr. Shawn Johnson with Breast Diagnostic Center did Tammy’s biopsy on June 6, 2024. “I got the results in MyChart,” she recalled, “I’m a nurse, but I work with kidneys. I didn’t know what any of the words meant. I only saw the word, ‘cancer.’”
Dr. Johnson wanted Tammy to meet with an oncologist and asked if she had a preference for where she would receive her care. “I asked him where he’d send his wife, and he said Parkview [Packnett Family Cancer Institute], so that’s where I went.”
Swift intervention
Tammy had stage 1 breast cancer. She saw Melanie Clark, MD, and Lindsay Hardley, DO, Oncology Breast Care Team, within days. “My first treatment was July 3, if that tells you how quickly everything happened,” she said. “There’s no messin’ around when it’s cancer, that's what I've learned.”
In addition to a double mastectomy, Tammy had 16 rounds of chemotherapy. “The biggest thing for me was, I didn't want to outwardly appear sick. It was my mental way of saying I wouldn’t give into it.”
Tammy and her husband shaved off her hair on July 18 and, while she had a wig, it didn’t feel like a good fit. Tammy’s nurse navigator set up an appointment for her at the PFCI Wig Boutique. “From the second I walked in, I felt comfortable,” she said. “The gal who helped me was so sweet and she knew so much. I cried, and she let me. She took care and took the time. We looked at all the wigs and actually had fun! I was able to relax, and she helped me choose a wig that was all about me. And that made all the difference.”
She went with a shorter cut and got lots of compliments. “When I walked out with my wig, it felt so good. I looked more like me, and I didn’t look sick.” She was also given extensive knowledge about caring for her wig, so she could keep it nice.
Paying it forward
“When the navigator scheduled the appointment, she told me it was no cost, all from donations from people who have had cancer or a loved one who did. I have to say, when I go in for labs or infusion, there are always little things, like hats people have knitted or bookmarks or bracelets. I always feel like they're full of prayer, no matter who makes or gives them. Someone thought about people with cancer and wanted to make their journey a little easier. It felt like that with the wig. Someone wanted to make my journey easier.”
Inspired by the gesture, Tammy donated to the Transformative Cancer Care Fund (TCCF) for the wig boutique so that others could have the same experience. “Those little things have meant so much. You feel the support and the love.”
Focused on the future
Tammy will be on oral chemo through August and has one surgery after that. But she is hopeful, knowing she’s getting close to wrapping up her treatment. More than anything, she feels grateful.
“In addition to the wigs, everyone at PFCI took care of everything before I even knew I needed it. I've never been treated for cancer anywhere else, but know people who have, and I feel like their experience isn’t the same. Sitting in infusion, you see a lot. From the greeters to the nurses, to the technicians and doctors, everyone has been phenomenal. I can’t get over how joyful they are. They’re happy to be there and tremendous with people. People care, and that's my only experience at Parkview. I feel very blessed.”
Offering support
The Transformative Cancer Care Fund (TCCF) was created to assist the Parkview Packnett Family Cancer Institute in delivering exceptional patient-centered care. By providing support for non-insurance-covered services, the Parkview Health Foundation aims to alleviate the burdens faced by cancer patients and their families. Find out how you can make a donation here.
