In October 2021, Julie Petty and her youngest daughter moved from California to Montana, seeking a fresh start. Little did they know this new chapter would bring unexpected challenges.
Despite moving to a new town and getting settled into a new job, Julie made sure to get her routine screening mammogram, prioritizing her health. After the initial mammogram, the physician noticed something irregular, and Julie underwent additional testing and a biopsy. When she received the call that it was cancer, Julie didn’t want to believe it.
“In fact, when I got the phone call, I laughed, and I said I don’t think you have the right person?” she said. “It was shocking.”
It was found that Julie had an aggressive form of breast cancer that had metastasized. In consultation with her oncologist, she would undergo surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.
Julie faced her diagnosis with a mix of trepidation and determination. The chemotherapy and radiation treatments were taxing on her body and her spirit as she continued to work a full-time job through her treatment. Being new to the area and away from friends and family, the compassionate staff at the Intermountain Health Cancer Centers of Montana became her lifeline. The kindness and compassion of her care team helped her through the darkest days. “They were amazing and went above and beyond. I really can’t say enough about the staff,” she said.
After finishing her initial treatments, because of the nature of her cancer, her oncologist recommended a clinical trial that could benefit her. Julie’s cancer was found to be estrogen receptor-positive (ER-positive), where the cancer cells have receptors that bind to the hormone estrogen, which promotes their growth. This type of breast cancer is typically treated with hormone therapy that blocks estrogen from binding to these receptors, thereby inhibiting cancer growth.
In Julie’s case, she chose to participate in a clinical trial involving a drug that blocks estrogen receptors from interacting with cancer cells, offering an alternative to traditional estrogen blockers. Julie was intrigued by the potential to help women in the future by participating in the trial and the prospect of not having to take an estrogen blocker. As part of the trial, Julie will take a daily pill for five years and undergo regular check-ups, lab work, and physical exams every three months.
Now two years since completing her chemotherapy and in remission, Julie’s story is a testament to the strength and resilience of women facing breast cancer. The journey from diagnosis through treatment comes with many decisions, from choosing treatment options to navigating and advice and suggestions from family, friends and other. Julie’s experience underscores the importance of personalized care and the advancements in medical research that offer new hope to patients.
In the last decade, cancer treatment has seen significant advancements, particularly in the realm of genetic and molecular testing. These advancements have paved the way for precision medicine, which tailors treatments to the individual characteristics of each patient’s cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, precision medicine has moved cancer treatment from a one-size-fits-all approach to one where doctors can choose treatments based on the detailed genetic information of a person’s specific cancer. These advancements have made it possible to create more effective and personalized treatment plans, improving outcomes for many patients.