Just weeks after her annual mammogram results came back clear, Nicole Keen discovered a new lump on her right breast during a self-examination.

Nicole already had a lot going on: She had a toddler, and the day she felt the lump was her first day at a new job as the head of the legal department for a global manufacturing company. Nevertheless, her gut told her to call her primary care physician.

Within a short time, Nicole received a follow-up mammogram, an ultrasound, a biopsy and then a diagnosis: Stage IIIA hormone receptor-positive, HER2-positive invasive ductal breast cancer, with a prognostic stage of IIB.

The morning Nicole’s primary care physician referred her to Compass Oncology, Nicole scheduled a same-day appointment with a Compass medical oncologist who specialized in treating breast cancer.

“My instinct was to get answers and begin treatment as quickly as possible. That’s just who I am. Until then I had never been hospitalized, broken a bone, or faced a major health challenge, so the diagnosis completely upended my world. I coped by focusing on what I could control: getting everything organized, making decisions and moving forward with treatment. Having a plan gave me a sense of calm,” Nicole said.

Compass offers comfort amidst the uncomfortable

Three weeks after meeting her doctor at Compass, Nicole began 16 rounds of a multi-drug combination of intravenous chemotherapy at a Compass Oncology Cancer Center located just 10 minutes from her house. The close-to-home care provided an extra layer of solace, as did her oncologist’s approach.

“I felt very comfortable with my doctor’s guidance and treatment plan. He had a good balance of knowledge and matter-of-factness but also being down-to-earth. He was steadfast in his recommendations, thoughtfully responded to my many questions and kept me grounded throughout the process,” Nicole said.

That’s not all. Nicole raved about the entire spectrum of Compass professionals who guided and cared for her.

“They were amazing. They brought comfort in an uncomfortable situation … At Compass, everyone is supportive, connected and focused on making the process as easy as possible. Everyone is so welcoming, they know your name and they help you feel genuinely cared for. You don’t feel like patient number 8,000; they treat you as an individual. Everyone is kind and attentive, and the clinic is clean, organized and thoughtfully designed,” Nicole said.

Nicole’s body reacted well to the chemo treatments. She continued working full-time, had energy to mother her little girl and did not suffer severe side effects. She attributes much of her body’s resilience to her consistent, life-long focus on healthy habits.

“I think I handled everything so well because I was healthy to begin with. I’ve been active my whole life. I ate well, I was a dancer, I worked out a lot,” Nicole said. “During treatments I continued to stay as active as possible – lots of walking! I also prioritized high-protein meals, stayed hydrated and incorporated supported therapies like acupuncture. I believe those efforts made a meaningful difference.”

Personalized care formed a “medical family” at Compass

Following chemo, Nicole underwent lumpectomy on her right breast and a double breast reduction and lift, plus she had eight lymph nodes removed. Nicole chose to have this portion of her care completed outside of Compass and said she appreciated the collaboration between Compass providers and those from different organizations.

Next, Nicole returned to Compass for 15 rounds of radiation treatment. She noted that her radiation oncologist provided personalized care while listening to and addressing her concerns.

“As someone who is biracial (Black and White), I was concerned about the potential for skin discoloration from radiation. I had seen photos online of Black women experiencing significant hyperpigmentation from treatment, which made me anxious. I discussed it with my radiation oncologist, and he recommended a protective film to place over the skin. I’m incredibly grateful that he did. It worked great, and the entire experience was much easier than I anticipated. The whole radiation team was amazing,” Nicole said.

Following radiation, Nicole underwent a year of immunotherapy, consisting of monthly in-office infusions. Throughout the extensive treatment plan, Nicole said she felt cared for by the Compass team.

The support even extended beyond treatment, as Compass helped Nicole access in-house physical therapy after surgery and radiation, helping her regain strength and mobility.

While the bulk of her active treatment is behind her, Nicole remains on hormone therapy and visits Compass every six weeks for lab work and bone-support infusions.

Looking back, Nicole says her experience with cancer showed her just how resilient she can be. At the same time, it reinforced the importance of having a village of supporters and allowing them to help during tough times. With that in mind, she expressed heartfelt gratitude to her family, friends and the Compass community.

“The Compass staff have been an important part of this crazy and unexpected journey, and I’m so thankful,” Nicole said. “Compass felt like a medical family. When I tell others about Compass, I tell them it ticks all the boxes. It’s a great clinic, the doctors, nurses, lab technicians, office staff and care teams are excellent, and they guide you through one of the most difficult and scary things you’ll ever go through.”

Written by Jessica Poe