Monique's Doctors Helped Her
Don't ever wait to get your mammogram! My physician scheduled my first one when I was 42. I got busy and blew it off.
A few months later, we came home from a weekend getaway in Michigan. I'd had too much sun. I bought some ‘pink ribbon' change purses for my three daughters on our trip, which reminded me to do a breast self-exam. During a long shower to cool my sunburn, I found a lump.
Just seven hours after I discovered the lump, I was in my primary care physician's office. Dr. Rios examined me and arranged for a diagnostic mammogram. They moved very fast and within two and a half weeks, I started chemotherapy. All along the way, through testing and in chemotherapy, the doctors, nurses and technicians were so caring. They held my hand and answered all my questions.
When you are told you have cancer, it's the most horrible thing you can hear. I'm the first person in my family to have cancer, so we were all scared and didn't know what to do. I am so grateful that my doctors and everyone at University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System have made me feel like I'm a member
of their family.
Everyone says that half the battle with cancer is finding a good doctor. Once I met my oncologist, Dr. Hoskins, and the rest of my team, I was so at ease. Dr. Hoskins is such a lovely man. When you have cancer, you want someone to fight for you. I knew they would fight for me.
When I go to chemotherapy, I'm treated like an individual, never a number. Everyone knows my name. When I call Dr. Hoskins, he calls me back. He and the entire team are incredibly genuine and caring. I can't imagine going anywhere else.
I'm going to be okay, by the grace of God and good doctors. Our next trip is to Vegas to celebrate.
"When you are told you have cancer, it's the most horrible thing you can hear. I'm the first person in my family to have cancer, so we were all scared and didn't know what to do. I am so grateful that my doctors and everyone at University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System have made me feel like I'm a member of their family." - Monique Corana, Breast Cancer Patient at University of Illinois Hospital
