Cancer can't keep Magdalena down
To meet Magdalena, a breast cancer patient and survivor, is to come into contact with a “force.” She is at once articulate yet expressive, realistic yet hopeful. She has led what most would call an extraordinary life, but one also filled with the agony of a cancer diagnosis.
Magdalena’s journey with HonorHealth began in November 2022 after her mammogram showed cancer clusters in her right breast. She credits her regular mammograms with early detection.
“Healthy people get cancer too. There is no rhyme or reason,” says Magdalena. “I have been active all my life, had mammograms since age 40 and ate a healthy, organic diet all my life — even using organic shampoos — but out of nowhere came this cancer.”
The next step was biopsies, which she had done with her radiologist in Sedona. The results came a few days later when she got the call with the news — “it’s cancer — a carcinoma.” She was immediately referred to Dr. Brenda Moorthy at HonorHealth Cancer Care, who scheduled an appointment to review her case within 30 hours.
“When I heard ‘cancer’ I hung up the phone and dropped to my knees,” recalls Magdalena. “Since that moment life has been divided into before cancer and after cancer.” By the next day she was ready fight. Magdalena met with the team at HonorHealth who walked her through all the treatment options for her particular cancer, breast carcinoma in situ, which affects the milk duct cells. She immediately opted for a double mastectomy and reconstruction, which she knows some may think was too aggressive, but she thought for her lifestyle was the best option. Her cancer care team also recommended genetics testing to eliminate the presence the BRCA mutated genes. The test results were negative, which provided a layer of relief, for both her and her daughter.
HonorHealth Cancer Care touches 45 percent of people with cancer in the Valley. Beyond her treatment plan, Magdalena’s journey included multiple surgery-ready visits, insurance authorizations and visits to Tina’s Treasures for post-surgery products such as compression garments and support bras.
“The process is overwhelming with details, possible treatments needed in future, phone calls, etc. But HonorHealth made it all so easy for me and guided me through it,” Magdalena explained. Once the preparations were made for treatment and surgery, the recovery time preparations began. As a single woman, she will tell you that you really find out who your friends are when navigating the cancer journey. Post-surgery restrictions limited her activity for five weeks during the healing process and she required assistance with daily care, such as bathing, eating, driving to appointments and getting around the house.
True to her nature, her generosity and action didn’t stop there. Magdalena’s new understanding of vulnerability led her to focus her activism and resources to benefit HonorHealth’s Cancer Patient Assistance Fund, which offers financial support to cancer patients in need. Grants help ease necessary financial challenges such as reliable transportation to appointments, post-surgery products, buying medicine and perhaps helping with everyday expenses while rehabilitating.
“It is so hard being in this solo and finding the right help. That’s why I now donate to HonorHealth because I know how overwhelming finding the care you need can be after diagnosis and surgery,” recalls Magdalena. “My own situation helped me realize this — what if my friends couldn’t drive me or help take care of me? What if I didn’t have savings to get the care or relief I needed?
Magdalena is happy to report she is cancer free and has since resumed her active lifestyle. She is a charming yet vocal advocate for screening and early detection, writing articles for her local papers and sharing her cancer journey through her robust social media network. “I am an athlete and I understand the right mental attitude,” she reflects. “Cancer is not a death sentence but it’s not a sprint, it is definitely an endurance race.