Beating Breast Cancer at Kelsey-Seybold Clinic

All it takes is 2.5 centimeters to turn your world upside down. Just ask Susan Williams.

While visiting family in England in February 2001, Susan found a lump in her right breast. She had a history of cysts, but this lump felt different. Knowing she needed answers quickly, she asked the first of many tough questions: where to go for diagnosis?

“I was in no-man’s land,” said Susan. “I could have gone anywhere in the city for diagnosis, but the options were overwhelming. I dreaded the prospect of navigating an unfamiliar and confusing medical system, but also knew that time was critical.”

Lyndall Harrison, M.D., a longtime Williams family friend and Kelsey-Seybold’s Chief of Allergy and Immunology, recommended that Susan go to Kelsey-Seybold’s Breast Diagnostic Center, located at the Main Campus.

Susan said, “He looked at me matter-of-factly and said, ‘Here’s a place where I think you’ll be happy. You’ll be in excellent hands with the Kelsey-Seybold team.’ So, I made up my mind. Lyndall was referring me to the Breast Diagnostic Center as a physician and a friend.”

“I was immediately impressed by how many experts focused on my case,” said Susan. “I had a breast surgeon, radiologist, breast clinic nurse, and woman’s health specialist who were on my case. Waiting for diagnosis was an uncertain time for me, but it helped enormously to know that I had an entire team of specialists on my side—and it was all under one roof.”

The lump turned out to be Stage 2 cancer – 2.5 centimeters wide and fast-growing. Though it was caught relatively early, treatment needed to start immediately.

“My Kelsey-Seybold medical team was on the case from the very beginning. They firmly believed that my cancer was not a disease to treat, but a disease to cure,” said Susan. “We evaluated the treatment options available, and decided on mastectomy. It was a big decision, but my doctors, particularly my gynecologist, Dr. Joyce Holz, and my oncologist, Dr. Xylina Gregg [who has since moved out of state], were wonderful – very affirmative and understanding.”

Susan’s treatment involved surgery and chemotherapy, and knowledge was key. “I had all the information I needed to become as comfortable as possible with each step. I kept a notebook of questions and my doctors always took time to answer me. I always had information and support at my fingertips.”

Much of Susan’s treatment was available at Kelsey-Seybold’s Main Campus at 2727 West Holcombe Boulevard, which made the process easier. “Many of my appointments were scheduled back to back, and I went from one floor to the next – not all over town. I also had blood work done at Kelsey-Seybold’s Kingwood Clinic, which is right in my neighborhood.”

“When it comes to breast cancer, time is very important,” she continues. “Having so much of my treatment in one place allowed me to stay on top my disease. My doctors talked to each other regularly and worked from the same chart. Nothing got lost in translation. I drove to one place for treatment instead of three or four, and that helped me keep my life as normal as possible. I often asked myself, ‘Why would I go anywhere else, when I can see my surgeon, my oncologist, and my gynecologist in one place?”

Today, even though it’s been five years since her diagnosis and she’s now in remission, Susan still counts on her Kelsey-Seybold cancer team. “I see my surgeon, my oncologist and my gynecologist every six months for follow up. I’ve been able to put breast cancer behind me, but they are still keeping tabs on my health. It gives me great peace of mind.”

What advice does Susan have for other women facing breast cancer? “When you look at the Texas Medical Center skyline, the maze of choices can be overwhelming. It’s a challenge to find a place to start, but here is what I know… Everything I needed to beat my breast cancer was right here at Kelsey-Seybold. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience.”