Holly Allen remembers exactly where she was when she learned of her breast cancer diagnosis. On November 20, 2023 at 1:30 p.m., Holly was sitting at her desk at work when her primary doctor called with the news and her life changed. Holly felt like she lived at Mayo Clinic for the next six weeks as test after test was run on her.
She underwent a 3D mammogram, an MBI (molecular breast imagining), an MRI ultrasound to guided biopsy and a MRI guided biopsy. Ultimately, a very small 9 mm cancer was found on her right side. Holly was diagnosed with invasive mammary carcinoma Nottingham I of III.
Holly actually works for Mayo Clinic as an appointment scheduler for oncology. As a result, she was familiar with a lot of the providers. She had heard about Dr. Mara Pilitin and her work using robotics; Holly knew she wanted Dr. Pilitin to be her doctor. Holly was able to get into the breast clinic for an appointment within the week.
A robotic breast cancer study was being done at Mayo; Holly knew she wanted to be involved in the study. Holly needed to randomize in the study. She needed to have a BMI under a certain amount and breasts under a certain size. Holly literally jumped for joy and cheered when she learned she had been selected for the robotics study.
Holly became the second person in the study. She knew there was a better recovery with robotic surgery with the fewer incisions necessary. Although the use of robotics is relatively new, Holly was aware that several doctors in the gynecology department were also using robotics successfully.
Holly was given the option of a lumpectomy with follow-up radiation or a double mastectomy. She knew she wanted to do her best to ensure the cancer was totally removed and didn’t want to undergo radiation so she opted for the double mastectomy. Dr. Pilitin performed the surgery robotically; the result was a much smaller incision at the side of Holly’s breasts. Dr. Pilitin had shown Holly the machine that would be used in her surgery ahead of the actual surgery since she knew how strongly Holly felt about its use.
Holly’s cancer was located far to the back of her breast against her chest wall so that Dr. Pilitin made sure to clear the margins and then took a bit more to ensure that all of the cancer was removed, knowing Holly’s opinion. Holly’s lymph nodes on her right side were also removed, but tested negative. The double mastectomy was performed on December 13, 2023.
Expanders were placed in her breast area and remained in place from February until August. Dr. Aparna Vijaysekaran was the plastic surgeon for her reconstructive surgery during which saline implants were placed in her breasts. Holly opted for larger breasts, wanting to have her breasts proportionate to her body. As Holly declared that she figured she might as well have some benefit come of all this!
Because of her age (47), Holly was prescribed Tamoxifen as a follow-up medication; this blocks the effect of estrogen and basically put Holly into menopause. She will be taking the drug for the next five years. Side effects of Tamoxifen are much like menopause – brain fog, night sweats, joint pains and hot flashes. She’ll undergo her one-year checkup in October and have six-month checks with a manual exam and an MRI from then on.
Holly had been having regular mammograms before the cancer was found and had been called back every year due to her dense breasts. She had gotten 3D mammograms as well as an MBI the year before; it was suggested once again so she did it. An MBI works much the same as a mammogram, but with less pressure on the breasts. The breasts are scanned from both the top and sides with the machine scanning the breasts for about 10 minutes. Holly said she hadn’t any feeling that this time the results would be different except she had felt an inner “itching” beforehand.
Friends and family were crucial in getting through this time. Holly remembers calling her friend Elizabeth Fuglested on her way home to Chatfield from the clinic when she was diagnosed. Both Holly and Elizabeth were “ugly crying all the way.” Elizabeth immediately left her job that day to come and support Holly and continued to be there for her friend throughout. Holly’s sister came and took care of her after her mastectomy.
Holly’s husband Darrin remembers when Holly called with the news of her diagnosis. He was delivering for Schott Distributing and was in a back room at Walmart. When Holly said, “Are you ready for this?” he started to look for a place to sit down. He remembers “crying his eyes out” and his body was numb. Holly calls Darrin, Elizabeth, and friend Amy Turner her “rocks.”
Holly hadn’t known her grandmother had breast cancer at the same age until after her own diagnosis. Holly was tested for other cancers and the results were negative. She took part in the tapestry study at Mayo which uses genetic sequencing data. Holly encourages anyone with breast cancer in their family history to undergo testing for the BRCA gene. Holly’s results actually came back negative.
When asked what type of mammogram was best, Holly replied that she felt people should go one step farther than 3D. She feels that diagnostic testing is even better. Her advice to everyone is, “Get your mammograms! Do your screening! Don’t say, ‘I’ll be fine!’ Do them; don’t put them off!” Holly feels that even men should learn how to do breast self-exams and do them. She has been told her daughters, Addie and Autumn, will need to begin getting mammograms at age 37.
Holly is working – she actually has two jobs. Her full-time job is in the appointment office at Mayo; she has worked at Mayo for 25 years. Her “fun job” is at Real Deal, a clothing, boutique and home decor store in Rochester. Noting that she can’t resist buying the merchandise, Holly jokes, “I pay to work there!”
According to Holly, she was in shock until after the first surgery. It was hard for her to process; she was in disbelief for so long. Now she feels like she’s living in a dream. She knows she’ll start “freaking out” right before her yearly check in October, but has made plans to go out with friends to celebrate once it’s over.
Holly has some items she wants to share with someone else who could use them. She has three breast cancer pillows which she used after her surgery. The pillows cushion the breasts especially in the car with a seat belt when you’re heading to follow-up doctor appointments. She also has some button front pjs and a robe with drain pockets to give away. Other people had shared the items with her; she appreciated it and now she wants to pass them on to someone who needs them and could use them. Anyone interested can email wanda@fillmorecountyjournal.com or contact Holly if you know her personally.
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