Breast cancer 'thriver' raises awareness about advanced therapy, shares message with young women
Mary Newton, of Katonah, was just 35 when she was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer.
More Stories
A young Westchester mom is raising awareness about the advanced therapies that are helping her thrive as she battles breast cancer.
Mary Newton, of Katonah, was just 35 when she was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer.
"At the time, I had two babies at home... I was thinking, 'Oh gosh, I may not see either one go to kindergarten,'" Newton says.
Three years later, Newton did thanks to advanced therapies that are helping more metastatic breast cancer patients live longer.
"There are a ton of options. Obviously, I've outlived my initial expectations," Newton says.
Her oncologist, Dr. Anna Komorowski from Phelps Hospital, calls patients like Newton 'thrivers.'
"We have better targeted therapies, less toxic. This is how we improve the survival. This is what we talk about. Patients live longer," Komorowski says.
Newton has this advice for other young women trying to stay healthy.
"I would definitely tell women to always do your self-exams. Be your best advocate," Newton says.
It's advice worth listening to because Dr. Komorowski says she's seeing more women between 30 and 50 be diagnosed with breast cancer.
"Don't delay it. The moment you feel a lump, you should immediately call your doctor, call your provider and just talk about this. You need to be evaluated for this," Komorowski says.
