Sylvia Luna

"It has taken a lot of teamwork and spiritual encouragement from my family to help me through all of this," says Luna (upper right) along with niece, Catrina Saenz; sister, Elizabeth Saenz; and her father George Marquez.

Sylvia Luna's world was turned upside down in September of 2006.

"I had gone in to the doctor for my allergies and mentioned that I had recently noticed a lump near my right breast," says the 47-year-old Luna. "They scheduled me for a mammogram the very next day. I received my cancer diagnosis from the radiologist who urged me to seek treatment immediately. I was shocked and stunned. My reaction at the time was 'wow.'"

That initial shock was the start of a year-long journey for Luna in her battle with breast cancer. Cancer was found in her right breast. Luna started her care at Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz. in September of 2006, in the Breast Clinic.

Following a biopsy, Luna's care at Mayo started with pre-operative chemotherapy which lasted for four months. Chemotherapy uses drugs to destroy cancer cells. Because chemotherapy affects healthy cells as well as cancerous ones, side effects are very common.

Tired and exhausted

"The side effects were very hard," says Luna. "My chemo was very heavy. I was left feeling very tired, exhausted and spent a lot of my days sleeping. It was difficult for me to feel this way because I have always been a very active person."

During this time her family became her partner in care, continually supporting her and helping her through the difficult times during treatment. They took an active role in her care by following specific medication schedules which greatly minimized Luna's nausea.

Her sister Elizabeth Saenz, of Glendale, Ariz., was a daily visitor. "Sylvia and I are very close. She is like a second mother to me," says the 35 year-old Saenz. "I was very scared, but Sylvia actually helped me get through it. I went with her to all of her appointments because I couldn't imagine her going through this alone. My husband and children were very understanding and the rest of the family pulled together so that I could be with her at every appointment."

Family trip for treatment

Liz's home is 10 minutes away," says Luna. "Every day she and my three-year-old niece, Cat, would make the trip to Mayo. She really had a hard time with all of this. She took this very personally, and at the beginning when I was first diagnosed she broke down. I told her to hang in there and stick with me."

"The support Sylvia received from her family during this time was very important," says Donald W. Northfelt, M.D., a Mayo Clinic hematology/oncology specialist who was part of the team caring for Luna. "At Mayo, we recognize the value of the family support and try to capitalize on that in patient care by making the family members' part of the team. It is very important to have family members present at cancer treatments and consultation visits."

"I tell people about Mayo Clinic every day," says Luna. "From the beginning to the end of my treatment, I always felt like a person not just a number. The genuine compassion I received by all of my doctors and the staff was amazing. I always knew that I was receiving the best care possible by professionals who really cared about me and wanted to fight for my life too. It really helps in your will to survive this disease. Mayo made a huge difference along with my family during this journey. During my time there, I felt like I was in heaven."

On February 14, Luna had a double mastectomy. "My entire family and friends were there with me during the surgery," says Luna. "My surgeon, Barbara Pockaj, M.D., came out and told my family that everything had gone well and answered their questions and concerns. I remember my sister telling me everything went well and that I was going to be fine."

Luna was hospitalized for two days following the surgery. Following the procedure Luna received a six-week course of radiotherapy to the chest wall/mastectomy site to reduce the risk of the cancer coming back in that area. Today, she is doing well and continues seeing specialists at Mayo Clinic every six weeks.

Strength in numbers

"She has always downplayed her strength," says Saenz. "She is a very strong and determined person. From the beginning she said she was going to fight this."

Cancer has affected several members of Luna's family. Her mother is a four-year cancer survivor and her brother is a one-year cancer survivor.

"It has taken a lot of teamwork and spiritual encouragement from my family to help me through all of this," says Luna. "That is what keeps me going each and every day. I now enjoy each and every day of my life and live it as though it is my last. My faith has brought me through many things and definitely played a major role in my fight against cancer. I am so happy to be alive. I now look forward to sharing my story with others and offering encouragement and hope to breast cancer patients. There is definitely life after cancer."