What would you do if you knew? One woman’s battle with breast cancer

Most people would need a genuine crystal ball to predict that they will get cancer, but not Idaho Falls native Leslee Martin. Instead, she knew through genetic testing that a very strong family history of breast cancer would make it likely that she would battle the disease at some time in her life. And she did — 17 years after her mother’s diagnosis in 2005, just one breast cancer case among many in her maternal family line.

“I’m one of those people who believe that knowledge is power,” said Leslee.

That phrase became a mantra during the years leading up to her own breast cancer diagnosis. Beginning in her early 30s, she kept to a strict schedule of annual mammograms so that she would know if something was wrong.

She became doubly diligent in 2016, after her father was diagnosed with brain cancer, and genetic testing showed that he and Leslee both had the CHEK2 gene mutation. The CHEK2 gene suppresses tumor formation; a mutation increases a person’s cancer risk. So, Leslee added an annual MRI to her annual mammogram schedule, alternating between the two every six months. For her, the knowledge from those annual screenings gave her power over her health and her genetic predispositions.

“It’s strange though,” Leslee said. “Even though I knew — absolutely knew — that I had a strong risk for getting cancer, I still just didn’t think it would happen to me. For years, I never got a call back after my mammograms or MRIs. But in 2022, I was a little late in getting my MRI. It was the holidays, so it got pushed back, and I had it right after Christmas. Two weeks later, a letter came from Eastern Idaho Women’s Imaging Center at EIRMC. It said I had suspicious lesions on my left breast, and I needed a biopsy.”

The radiologist who performed Leslee’s ultrasound and biopsy, Dr. James Harris, confirmed that she had two level-2 tumors.

“Somehow, I was still shocked. But the radiologist was so kind and caring when he broke the news to us. He was blunt but super caring,” Leslee said. “I had invasive ductal carcinoma in two sites, but not in the lymph nodes. It was estrogen and progesterone positive, the same as Mom. It was very aggressive and they quickly would have grown larger or spread. If I’d skipped the MRI and just had my annual mammogram, it might not have been caught early.”

Leslee had gone through genetic counseling years earlier. At the time, the counselors said that if she developed breast cancer, given her family history and the CHECK2 mutation, the chance of recurrence would be very high. A full mastectomy would be needed. And that’s what Leslee chose to do.

“I had a total of five surgeries, and I developed a pulmonary embolism. That was scary. I spent quite a lot of time at EIRMC, stayed overnight a few times,” Leslee recollected. “I just can’t say enough about how much EIRMC meant to me. Every time I had surgery, I felt genuinely cared for, like I wasn’t just another patient. The people with me before and after surgery, the nurses, everyone. … I remember the nurse who was with me before my plastic surgery. Before I went in, she bent over and whispered, ‘I’ve been through this too. You’ll be just fine.’ It was so comforting!

“The doctors were all great, beginning with Dr. Harris. I had such a good feeling about him. My surgeon was Dr. Michael Lemon, my oncologist at Idaho Cancer Center was Dr. Gregory Litton and my plastic surgeon was Dr. Nicholas Johnson. Those guys are just amazing!

“If you have reconstruction after a mastectomy, you spend a lot of time with your plastic surgeon. Before our initial appointment, we really thought I’d need a second opinion or would need to go to Salt Lake for surgery. Dr. Johnson was so knowledgeable and confident that we felt we didn’t need a second opinion.”

Leslee’s tissue samples were sent for genetic testing that could determine the predictability of recurrence. Her numbers were low enough that the oncologist did not recommend chemo or radiation. But recovery from the mastectomy and reconstruction was difficult. Family, friends, and complete strangers helped Leslee all along the way.

“My kids, my extended family — especially the ones who have been through this — were my cheerleaders. But the biggest award definitely goes to my husband, and my sister gets one too. She’s the one who dragged me to the hospital when I had the pulmonary embolism. She saved my life.

“And then there were several amazing women, who had already been through everything I was going through. Although I didn’t know them at first, they called and texted through the whole ordeal. It has been wonderful to have their support.”

Although she’s healed from her surgeries, the threat of cancer will always be part of Leslee’s life. But she’s learned the value of both knowledge and a positive outlook on life.

“I’m so grateful for the patients who have been through this before me, so that their experiences could be studied and doctors could find better ways of treating cancer,” Leslee said. “Because I have the CHEK2 mutation, I’m not in the clear. But now my risk for breast cancer is much lower, just 3% because I’m taking hormone blockers. The drugs aren’t fun, but without them my risk of would be 15%, so I’ll take them.

“Since I know I’m still at risk, I have learned all about other things that could help prevent cancer, and I’ve made changes in my life. I’ve started exercising regularly and more deliberately. I’ve changed my diet and lost weight. Most importantly I’ve learned about the connection between cancer and stress, and I’m learning to lower my stress levels and live every day exactly the way I want to.

“I’ve shed a lot of tears over this experience. It was really hard. But I have to say, I’m happier now than I’ve ever been!”

Schedule a mammogram online at Eastern Idaho Women’s Imaging or call (208) 227-2612.

Learn more about the Idaho Cancer Center at EIRMC here.