Breast cancer patient finds family in IU Health Morgan team members

“I found the lump a few years ago in the shower and thought, ‘I’ll just keep an eye on it and see if anything happens,’” says Sandra James, a mother of two and dog mom to three. “Of course, my husband turned around and called my sister-in-law, and the next thing I knew, I had a doctor’s appointment.”

James’ sister-in-law, a respiratory therapist in the emergency department at IU Health Morgan, encouraged her to get a mammogram and meet with an oncologist.

“That’s when they referred me to Dr. Doyle,” says James. “That was the best thing that has ever happened to me because she is absolutely the best, and I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for her.”

Upon meeting Danielle Doyle, MD, James learned her breast cancer had progressed to stage four and spread to her liver. She began aggressive treatment immediately, prioritizing the time she had left.

“I chose Morgan because it felt more personal. They knew me there. I wasn’t just a number,” says James “I had a scare that the cancer had spread to my pancreas, and I came out of the doctor’s office and sat down in a chair. Carol, my nurse, came over and looked at me. She could see something was wrong, and I started crying. She hugged me and started crying with me. It’s those moments when you know they truly care.”

Over the years, James has relied on IU Health Morgan as a one-stop shop for her care—receiving regular echocardiograms, radiology scans and pharmacy support. And after multiple recurrences and rounds of chemotherapy, her cancer is shrinking and she remains on a full treatment plan to prevent the cancer from returning.

“I’m responding very well,” says James. “I will always be on treatment because when I go off it, the cancer comes back. But right now, I’m doing great.”

She encourages all women to stay current with their mammograms and to trust their instincts.

“Make sure you get in for your mammograms,” says James. “Trust that you know your body and speak for yourself. The sooner you catch it, the better.”