— Lashawn, 45

Navigating the Recurrence of Cancer

Lashawn had been the image of recovery after her initial bout with breast cancer. Post-treatment — which included a double mastectomy, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy — she returned to an active life as a wife and mother, running and cycling in addition to her career as a real estate agent. Eighteen months after completing treatment, a seemingly minor back pain signaled the return of her battle with cancer. Lashawn credits her connection with Ardynn for helping her through the recurrence and helping guide important decisions she needed to make along this new journey.

Situation

Cancer recurrence 18 months after treatment for breast cancer.

Priorities

Maximizing time with her husband and three young children.

Facing the reality of recurrence

Lashawn’s situation
At 45, Lashawn had been the image of recovery after her initial bout with breast cancer. Post-treatment — which included a double mastectomy, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy — she returned to an active life with her husband and their three children, enjoying running and cycling in addition to a successful career as a real estate agent. However, eighteen months after completing her treatment, a seemingly minor back pain signaled the return of her battle with cancer.

Enter advocacy through Ardynn
Lashawn was surprised and overwhelmed by her diagnosis. She struggled to truly understand her prognosis and the various side effects – and tradeoffs – of the treatment options being discussed. Her priority was to be able to spend as much time as possible with her young family. She wanted to choose treatment that would maximize her time, but was unclear as to how to make that decision.

Sensing her uncertainty and frustration, a nurse at Lashawn’s primary care provider’s office suggested she investigate Ardynn for objective advocacy. Lashawn reached out and was connected that same day to an Ardynn advocate who quickly illuminated the murky path.

Educational empowerment
The advocate used education as a first step to help Lashawn understand and process her diagnosis and prognosis. Since this was a recurrence, the advocate helped her understand how that affected her prognosis and treatment options, explaining key concepts and therapies like tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors in simple terms. This information — and the confidence it instilled — allowed Lashawn to make informed decisions and empowered her to actively engage in her care rather than being a passive participant.

Medical communication
The advocate also played a vital role in preparing Lashawn for medical appointments, helping her understand how her cancer history impacted her current condition and helping identify key questions to ask. The advocate’s support ensured Lashawn could communicate effectively with her care team and fully participate in treatment decisions.

Many forms of support

Navigating new protocols
Ardynn plays an essential role in empowering members to explore and navigate new treatment protocols and medical evidence by translating complex information, facilitating access to the latest research, and prompting discussions with healthcare providers about emerging therapies, clinical trials, or personalized options – not to mention providing emotional and logistical support. Lashawn greatly appreciated her advocate’s help in all these areas. What were once overwhelming decisions became informed, proactive steps toward a better outcome thanks to the knowledge, agency and confidence fostered by Ardynn.

Emotional and logistical support
Lashawn’s advocate was a tremendous support when it came to emotional discussions with her family — particularly her husband, whose mother had died from breast cancer — offering a frame of hope and realism. Her advocate coordinated Lashawn’s care, introducing her to specialists at top research centers as well as local care providers who managed logistics amidst her family and professional life.

Community and peer support
Recognizing the power of community, Ardynn connected Lashawn to a local cancer support group, providing empathy, practical advice, and emotional support from peers who understood her journey firsthand.

Support around financial strain
The cancer recurrence caused significant financial distress due to treatment costs coupled with Lashawn’s reduced work capacity. Her advocate assisted her in navigating her benefit plan and connected Lashawn with resources to reduce the economic stress.

Summing up

Holistic patient advocacy was crucial in addressing not only Lashawn’s medical realities, but also the emotional, professional and financial aspects of her life. Lashawn’s connection with Ardynn began with a medical crisis, but ultimately redefined her healthcare approach and experience by enabling informed decision making and emotional resilience even amid serious health challenges.

This story is illustrative based on a real Ardynn case; name and likeness of the member has been changed to respect their privacy.

“I was overwhelmed when I found out I was no longer cancer-free. Ardynn helped me understand and sort through my options so I could decide on treatment that seemed best for me and my family.”

LASHAWN