Patient Voices: Taylor Ramsey

Overview

Taylor Ramsey had always been a caregiver. As a mother of four and an aspiring nurse, taking care of others was deeply woven into her everyday life. All of that changed in 2019, when Taylor was 31 years old and diagnosed with stage I triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), an aggressive form of breast cancer.

At stage I, cancer has not yet spread to the lymph nodes or surrounding organs, yet it presented unique treatment challenges. The name “triple negative” refers to the absence of three key markers — estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 — which means the cancer does not respond to standard hormone therapies. This makes treatment options more limited and the disease more difficult to manage. Triple Negative Breast cancer represents a much more aggressive variety of breast cancer. With fewer treatment options and a more dire prognosis stage by stage compared to other varieties of breast cancer.

Recognizing the Signs

One evening during her nightly shower, Taylor felt something unusual — a noticeable lump on her chest. Concerned, she sought a second opinion from her nursing school classmates, all of whom confirmed they felt the lump as well. That collective concern prompted Taylor to schedule an appointment with her obstetrician-gynecologist.

Triple-negative breast cancer symptoms appear differently for each patient, but common symptoms include a new lump or mass in the breast, breast or nipple pain, dimpled breast skin, nipple discharge, a nipple turning inward, breast swelling, and/or flaking or thickening of the nipple.

The Diagnosis

Though Taylor’s OBGYN initially thought the lump might be nothing more than a cyst, she encouraged Taylor to come in for a mammogram and biopsy. A week later, Taylor received her diagnosis. With no family history of breast cancer on either side of her family, the TNBC diagnosis came as a shock.

“You know that feeling in the movies when you’re stopped in slow motion, but everything around you is spinning and going crazy? That’s literally how it felt,” Taylor explained. “I really felt like I was waiting for the cameras to come out saying that I was being punked. It was very much an out-of-body experience.”

Next Steps

Taylor’s OBGYN referred her to Matei Socoteanu, M.D., a medical oncologist based at Texas Oncology-Longview Cancer Center.“ I came to see Dr. Socoteanu here at Texas Oncology. We talked about the treatment plan and what the next six to eight months of my life were going to look like, and we went from there,” said Taylor. “Dr. Soco and his staff were just absolutely amazing — so kind and personable. I knew I was in awesome hands.”

“A lot of my network knew Dr. Soco and they advised that I could go to Houston or Dallas and get a few second opinions, but they’re going to tell me the exact same thing and do the exact same treatment as they would here in Longview,” Taylor said. “Dr. Soco sat there with me and answered every question I had. He is so smart and compassionate.” 

Taylor underwent a lumpectomy in October and started chemotherapy the following month. She had the option to continue treatment with radiation or undergo a double mastectomy, a surgical procedure that removes both breasts, ultimately choosing to move forward with the latter.

However, despite the medical necessity of the surgery, breast reconstruction was classified as “elective.” “[my insurance] said that was an elective surgery to have them removed. I would be electing to have reconstruction. I didn’t appreciate that reconstruction wasn’t even an option,” said Taylor.

Her doctor advocated on her behalf, pushing to ensure reconstruction would remain an option. Taylor ultimately decided not to pursue it.

From Patient to Nurse

Taylor continued attending nursing school while receiving treatment, graduating in May of 2021. Just months out of nursing school and inspired by her experience at Texas Oncology, Taylor began applying for jobs within the organization. She secured a position working alongside C. Lake Littlejohn, M.D., an oncologist board-certified in hematology, internal medicine, and medical oncology. “I interviewed, and I got the position,” Taylor shared.

Still, something was missing: day-to-day patient interaction. When a new patient-facing role opened at the practice, Taylor applied. “I applied for an internal transfer, and I got it. Now, I’m working in infusion, and I’m absolutely in love with it,” she shared. Today, Taylor works as an infusion nurse, caring for patients in the same space where she once received treatment.

“I mean this from the bottom of my heart, both as a patient and as an employee — you will not find a better place of people who genuinely want the best for you,” said Taylor. “They really want to be here and make sure that every person has the best possible outcome.”

What’s Next for Taylor

Currently, Taylor has no evidence of disease. Because the risk of both local recurrence and distant recurrence remains, Dr. Socoteanu and his care team continue to closely monitor Taylor to ensure that she remains cancer free during follow-up visits. They utilize cutting edge technology—including circulating tumor DNA—to detect microscopic cancer remnants in the blood stream. 

Although cancer can feel like a lonely experience, Taylor wants to remind others that they’re not alone. “It can feel really lonely when you don’t know anybody who’s ever had cancer. But there are so many people who have the exact same diagnosis as you,” explained Taylor.

Despite everything she faced, Taylor remained strong, caring for her children while balancing school and treatment. “It took my hair. It took my breasts. It took all of that, and I’m not letting it take anything else from me,” said Taylor.