UAB social worker’s breast cancer journey leads to a spirit of survivorship
For almost seven years, Lori Mills started every morning with a blank sticky note that soon filled up with tasks and reminders. As a licensed social worker with the UAB Family Clinic, she serves pregnant women living with HIV and their children. Patients count on Mills for answers about lifechanging health care resources.
One morning in March 2023, her sticky note featured just a single entry: mammogram appointment. The previous month, Mills’ OB/GYN recommended that she have a mammogram after a small lump was found during a routine checkup. The mammogram led to a biopsy, which revealed stage 2A breast cancer, which means a small tumor and/or cancer cells in the lymph nodes near the breastbone. This treatable, localized stage is characterized by minimal spread of the cancer.
Working in health care didn’t change how deeply Mills was affected by her diagnosis. “Our priorities went from juggling kids’ activities and domestic chores to juggling appointments and finding answers to the endless stream of questions we had,” she said. “It put us into survival mode and abruptly changed our lifestyle.”
Beyond the treatment
Mills and her husband have two school-age children, and she has been a social worker since 2009. So, she is no stranger to the unique challenges people often face when navigating their health care. “It’s not just about treating the disease – it’s about addressing all the factors that affect someone’s ability to get care,” Mills said.
Her main course of treatment at the UAB O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center was completed within that same year. It included surgery (bilateral mastectomy), four rounds of chemotherapy (she did not need follow-up radiation), and reconstructive breast surgery.
For many women, the breast cancer journey ends if the cancer is eliminated with treatment. But Mills has a daily dose of what survivorship really means. She takes a combination of medications daily, along with monthly shots to help prevent it from coming back.
“I am so grateful to benefit from the improved science, but the mental load of thinking about doing this for up to 10 years to prevent cancer recurrence can be overwhelming some days,” Mills said. “I knew coming into this that Comprehensive Cancer Centers are best equipped to deal with all the supportive care needs and different courses your cancer can take. But their continuing involvement in survivorship has taken on a heightened importance for me.”
A breast cancer diagnosis often marks a new era for survivors and their families. For Mills, she used her professional expertise and insights from her cancer journey to become an advocate. She found balance and a passion for helping others facing cancer through participating in several survivor communities, a few of which are highlighted below.
Finding community
“One of the first things I did is right after my diagnosis was reach out to someone in my hometown of Trussville who had been diagnosed before me,” Mills said. “We grew an unofficial support group of 10-12 local women. We meet for dinner monthly and recently had a Christmas party.” She encourages everyone in the group to reach out to others who uniquely understand the breast cancer experience.
Another option for support is the Forge Breast Cancer Survivor Center. Mills describes Forge as a “soft place to land” for anyone needing help making sense of her journey. She was connected with Forge within a week of her diagnosis and now leads its Young Women With Breast Cancer support group. “This is a deep-rooted organization that connects you with people who have shared experience and understand the intricacies of the breast cancer world,” she said.
The UAB Medicine Cancer Patient and Family Advisory Council is comprised of volunteers who recently received cancer care at UAB or whose family member received cancer care. Council members share unique insights and feedback with UAB Medicine leaders to help improve the design and delivery of cancer care. Mills joined the group to share her perspective as both a social worker and patient. “We have a unique opportunity to see new patients benefit from this collaboration,” she said.
The power of awareness
About 13% of women – roughly one in eight – will develop breast cancer in their lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). The ACS recently released a report stating that overall breast cancer mortality rates have dropped 44% since 1989. This reflects improvements in screening and treatment, but it’s also a testament to the power of awareness and community-building, which is emphasized each October through messaging related to Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
For those affected by cancer, it’s not always easy to be surrounded by pink throughout October, Mills said. Sometimes referred to as “pink washing”, commercialized breast cancer awareness messaging can bring up complex feelings.
“For someone who was just diagnosed, relapsed, or lost a loved one, it can sting a little to be asked for a donation to breast cancer in a checkout line,” Mills said. “All the same, we know that awareness strives toward the greater good, and for any discomfort, there are many more moments of genuine understanding and increased awareness leading to more research.”
This past October, Mills’ colleagues at the UAB Family Clinic surprised her with an office decorated in pink streamers and a card full of supportive messages. “When people recognize what you’ve been through and are here to support you, it makes you proud to be survivor and inspires you to do more,” she said.
Mills says her goal is to help other breast cancer survivors thrive: “And that takes a lot of different kinds of ongoing support and societal awareness.”
Learn more about breast cancer care at the UAB O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center.