Be Your Own Hero + Biggest Advocate - Pat Schwieso
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Pat Schwieso and her husband, Keith, have lived in Defiance throughout their entire married life. They are the proud parents of three children: Keri and her husband Clint, Chris and his wife Ann, and Heather and her husband Joey. They also take great joy in being grandparents to 11 beautiful grandchildren. Pat is a retired registered nurse who now dedicates her time to supporting her grandchildren in their numerous activities. She also enjoys spending time outdoors, tending to her lawn, flowers, and garden, and she finds pleasure in reading and cheering for the Harlan Community and Iowa State Cyclones.
On November 13, 2023, Pat went for her annual mammogram at Myrtue Medical Center (MMC). There were no initial concerns, as she had been undergoing this yearly screening for many years. However, a few days later, she received a call asking her to return for another mammogram due to a suspicious area. Initially, she remained unconcerned, as similar situations had occurred in the past because of her dense breast tissue.
That all changed on November 21, 2023, when Pat returned to Myrtue’s Diagnostic Imaging Department at Myrtue for her second screening and an ultrasound. That day, the in-house radiologist decided to also performed a biopsy of the suspicious nodule. Although she began to feel some concern, she held onto the thought, “It won’t be me, right?” The three procedures were completed quickly, and she was on her way home before she knew it.
The following day, Pat received a call from her primary care provider at MMC, delivering the news no one wants to hear: “It’s cancer.” She was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma stage one with tubular features.
After discussing her options with her husband and children, Pat decided to pursue her cancer care at the Buffett Cancer Center with the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) in Omaha, a choice she considers to be the best decision she could have made.
By December 4th, Pat and her family met with a team of oncologists, medical staff, a surgeon, and radiation specialists, along with genetic counselors. The treatment plan included a lumpectomy, which was performed on December 12, 2023. A tissue sample was sent for further testing to determine if she would require radiation and/or chemotherapy. Thanks to the early detection of her cancer, the results indicated that she needed neither. Pat remembers expressing her gratitude by saying, “Praise the Lord!”
As her type of cancer was estrogen-driven, she began taking an oral medication to reduce the amount of estrogen produced by her body, a regimen she will continue for five years. Moving forward, Pat will continue with follow-up care at the Buffett Cancer Center and will have yearly mammograms at Myrtue.
Pat acknowledges that her story is relatively short compared to others and expresses deep gratitude for her faith, family, and the love and support from extended family and friends. She is especially thankful to the medical teams at both Myrtue and UNMC for their dedicated care throughout her experience. The Diagnostic Imaging Department at Myrtue posses an exceptional team whose skills enabled the detection of the very small nodule that could have easily been overlooked during her annual mammogram and callback ultrasound.
Her case serves as a vital reminder of the importance of early detection in women’s health care, with a strong emphasis on the necessity of regular mammograms. She urges everyone to take care of themselves and their families by ensuring they get their mammograms every year!
