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Aimee Schweers opted for a double mastectomy
POLAND
Breast-cancer survivors are members of a powerful, supportive sisterhood.
But, said survivor Aimee L. Schweers of Poland, “it is not a group you want to join. There is no positive side for me other than the people I have met and friends I have made had this not happened.”
“It’s a sisterhood. It’s so powerful,” said Schweers, who had a double mastectomy Aug. 21, 2014.
For Schweers, the short time from her diagnosis to her surgery was a whirlwind of medical appointments and emotions
Events moved quickly.
The initial diagnosis July 3, 2014, of stage zero, called “carcinoma in situ,” meaning the cancer had not spread, which called for a relatively simple lumpectomy.
However, she had a magnetic resonance image July 14, which led to a second and much more serious diagnosis July 23 of stage 2 invasive musinous carcinoma. That led to the double mastectomy.
Her physician, Dr. Nancy L. Gantt, professor of surgery at Northeast Ohio Medical University and co-medical director of the Joanie Abdu Comprehensive Breast Care Center in Youngstown, said an immediate mastectomy of one breast was necessary.
Schweers, 44, however, opted to have both breasts removed as a preventive measure “so I wouldn’t have to go through this again.”
She said there are a lot of reasons people might choose to have a double mastectomy.
“Let’s face it. You get one taken off, they will look different,” said Schweers, a part-time prevention trainer and administrative assistant for the Mahoning County Mental Health and Recovery Board.
Initially, Schweers’ cancer was discovered by a routine mammogram.
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Friday was National Mammography Day, which occurs annually on the third Friday in October.
Schweers is a 1989 graduate of Poland Seminary High School and graduated in 1993 from Kent State University with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.
She and her husband, Dennis, a Poland Township patrolman, have two children, Audrey, 16, and Adeline, 13. Her parents are James “Jim” and Patricia Scharville of Poland Township, and her brother, Dan Scharville, lives in Hudson.
Schweers’ initial reaction to being diagnosed with cancer was disbelief.
“I have no family history of breast cancer, which is why I couldn’t believe it was happening,” she said.
Her husband was with her at the doctor’s office to get the results of the biopsy for the first diagnosis.
It was taking a long time, so Dennis left to take one of their daughters to softball practice.
But, just after he left, the doctor came back into the office with a nurse, she said.
“I knew something was up. It was diagnosed as stage zero. We had caught it early. It was noninvasive, and I was advised to go to the Joanie Abdu Breast Care Center and get an MRI,” Schweers said.
“My husband and mother were with me when Dr. Gantt came in and told me about the second diagnosis. She said that the lumpectomy was ‘off the table’ and that I needed a mastectomy,” Schweers said.
Her cancer has changed her life.
“You just have to get used to your ‘new normal.’ That’s what survivors say,” she said.
But, Schweers said, “I’m alive. I’m the same person. I just look a little different.”
“When you have so much to live for – husband, children, parents, friends – you have to stay strong, stay positive and lean on people for help,” she said.