Kate Franke: Stage III Breast Cancer Survivor Shares Her Story
January 30, 2018
Body
A wife and mother of two from Youngsville, NY, Kate Franke is also a Stage III Breast Cancer survivor. Following the death of her close friend Chelsea, Kate performed a self- examination and her worst fears were realized following tests at Garnet Health Medical Center.
From her diagnosis at the Ray W. Moody, MD Breast Center, right through treatment at the Spagnoli Family Cancer Center, Kate was able to receive the cancer care she needed, close to home at Garnet Health Medical Center.
“There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t say how grateful I am to be here. To still be their mommy and still be a wife. Still be a daughter, still be a sister. I was 29. It does not matter your age, it doesn’t matter your sex – male or female. It doesn’t matter if you have family history. I had no family history. If I can get across that it can be anyone and do the self breast exams and make the doctors appointment. Don’t ignore things. That’s what I’m here for.”
-Kate Franke, Stage III Breast Cancer Survivor
Breast Cancer Treatment at Garnet Health Medical Center
After her diagnosis at the Ray Moody Breast Center, Kate Franke began her road to survivorship. She had CT scans and Nucleur medicine bone scans to confirm her Stage III Breast Cancer diagnosis. Her oncologist’s treatment plan for her included 12 chemotherapy sessions, a year long of hormone treatments, and weeks of radiation and surgery.
Kate’s radiation treatment was performed by Garnet Health Medical Center’s TrueBeam system. The TrueBeam system’s advanced imaging and powerful treatment modes allows our doctors at ORMC to tailor treatments specific to patients’ particular cancer.
The TrueBeam system is so fast and precise that the patients experience is improved during treatment as well as post-care, as faster delivery allows for reduced risk of tumor motion during treatment, which helps protect nearby healthy tissue and critical organs.
Learn more about our TrueBeam system
During her treatment, Kate did see New York City specialists. “Not to say they don’t give good care, but I was going to be getting the same treatment up here,” says Kate. “I remember going to a doctor and he said, TrueBeam is the best that you can get with radiation. It’s like the ‘prim-o’, the ‘holy grail’. So when I said I was getting that at Garnet Health Medical Center. He said, that’s the best you can get, and you’re in the right place.”
Receiving her cancer care close to home gave Kate a sense of community, security, and comfort. “I just felt so taken care of… I wasn’t alone.” says Kate.
After this long journey of cancer treatment, Kate received the good news of her remission at Garnet Health Medical Center. “Kate, your going to be a grandmother one day,” Dr. Eanelli told her. “And your going to be just fine.”
Early Detection and Diagnosis Saves Lives
We’d like to take a moment to thank Kate Franke for her courage and transparency in sharing her story so openly with our community. We share Kate’s sentiments and hope that in doing so, her message resonates with others to take action in early detection with self- examinations, early diagnosis and treatment.
According to the American Cancer Society, each year it is estimated that over 220,000 women and 2,150 men in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 40,000 will die.
One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.
Early detection of breast cancer is vital in the successful treatment of breast cancer. Our Ray W. Moody, M.D. Breast Center is a nationally accredited program, dedicated to helping individuals attain optimal breast health, diagnose and treat breast cancer and identify those who are at high-risk for developing breast cancer.
Women, age 40 and over, should have a screening mammogram every year, according to the American Cancer Society.
Cancer Treatment at Garnet Health Medical Center
Garnet Health Medical Center’s Spagnoli Family Cancer Center is a comprehensive cancer treatment center, right here in the Hudson Valley. The comprehensive, nationally-accredited cancer program includes a team of experienced physicians and certified oncology nurses who specialize in treating lung, breast, and head and neck cancers, as well as many other types of cancer.
Our goal at Garnet Health Medical Center is to not only provide excellent clinical care, but to provide support for the whole person—we are here to help in the journey from cancer patient to cancer survivor.