Author: Leslie Toldo
When Laurie Tucker found a lump in her left breast during a self-exam in June 2023, she did not waste any time getting in to see her doctor.
“She sent me for a mammogram. I had not had one since 2019,” Laurie said. “After the test, I had to go into a separate room and talk to the radiologist. He saw something suspicious.”
Laurie has dense breasts, which can make it hard to see abnormalities in the breast. Her doctor ordered a biopsy.
“They called me the next day and said it was cancer,” Laurie explained. “It had spread to my lymph nodes.”
The overwhelmed 49-year-old started chemotherapy in August.
“I am a teacher and I wanted to start the school year with my students, but the doctor said, ‘no’,” Laurie said.
After 14 rounds of chemotherapy, in February 2024, Laurie had a lumpectomy. Her surgeon also removed more than a dozen lymph nodes. The next step in Laurie’s care plan was radiation.
“A friend’s mother, who had just gone through traditional radiation, suggested I look into proton therapy,” Laurie said. “She told me protons have a lower risk for long-term side effects.”
Happy to learn proton therapy was available close to home, Laurie made an appointment at the McLaren Proton Therapy Center in Flint, hoping she would be a candidate.
“Dr. Hesham Gayar was so thorough,” Laurie said. “He talked with my husband and me for a long time about how proton would be a good option.”
Left-sided breast cancers, like Laurie’s, are especially viable candidates for proton therapy because the tumors are located close to the heart.
“The photon beams used in traditional treatment leave an exit dose of radiation as they leave the body. That means healthy tissue and organs- like the heart- can be damaged. In fact, there is a risk of heart issues later in life.” said Dr. Gayar, a radiation oncologist, and Medical Director of the McLaren Proton Therapy Center.
Convinced proton therapy was the right option for her, Laurie began treatments. After the 25th session, Laurie had some redness from the radiation. After nearly a year-long battle with breast cancer an exhausted Laurie did not believe that she could keep going.
“I told my nurse at the proton center that I wanted to quit, but then she asked me if I would regret that decision if I quit and the cancer came back. When she said that, I knew I had to finish,” Laurie said.
It was neither the first nor the last time the staff at the Proton Therapy Center gave Laurie the hope and courage to keep fighting.
“They were wonderful. I hugged them all on the last day and I cried. They made me feel comfortable. They were very welcoming,” Laurie said. “During my last week of treatments, I brought them cookies.”
On May 7, 2024, Laurie rang the bell in the lobby at the McLaren Proton Therapy Center, celebrating the end of her treatments. Still exhausted, she is nevertheless optimistic about the upcoming school year. After not being able to work for a year, she plans to be back in the classroom, teaching first graders.
“Everybody told me cancer would be the hardest year of my life, but that in the end I would come out stronger. I knew it would be a journey,” Laurie said. “Cancer literally takes everything from you- I lost my hair, a lot of weight, and muscle. But you have to fight, and in the end, you do come out stronger.”
For more information about the McLaren Proton Therapy Center or set up a consultation to find out whether you are a candidate, visit mclaren.org/protontherapy.