It started with a sports bra. That’s when Ashli Brehm, a then 33-year-old, noticed the lump in her breast. The Omaha mother of three went to her general practitioner who scheduled a mammogram.
“I have no family history of breast cancer,” Brehm said. “I thought this shouldn’t be an issue, but I immediately started crying. I think I knew. I think I knew.”
In September 2015, Brehm was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. Her medical oncologist, Pavankumar Tandra, M.D., started her on six rounds of chemotherapy, followed by 28 radiation treatments at the Multidisciplinary Breast Cancer Clinic at Nebraska Medicine – Cancer Center at Village Pointe.
“I feel so fortunate,” Brehm said. “I haven’t had to look on the Internet for answers. I don’t question what my doctors are giving me. We’re really fortunate to have this facility right here in Omaha. I truly believe they are curing people.”
Brehm also underwent a bilateral mastectomy and lymph node dissection under the care of surgical oncologist Sarah Thayer, M.D., Ph.D. Brehm endured infections, hospitalizations and a bad case of C.diff, which required a fecal transplant, performed by gastroenterologist Alexander Hewlett, D.O. Along the way, Brehm blogged about her journey, inspiring other cancer patients and survivors.
“I feel like I’m high-fiving a thousand angels every day. Celebrate that there’s treatment, hope and great medical care at Nebraska Medicine.”
On Sept. 22, Brehm celebrated her one-year “Cancerversary” at Nebraska Medicine – Village Pointe. Surrounded by family, friends and members of her medical team, Brehm thanked everyone for their support. A special screening of Brehm’s Nebraska Medicine YouTube video also was shown.
“Looking back, I know this was the right place for me to be. From the gathering stage, to the diagnosis and my treatment plan,” Brehm said. “I’m just happy to be alive and cancer free.”
On Oct. 9, Brehm will participate in Omaha’s Race for the Cure and volunteer inside the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center tent, which will feature a photo booth, sketch artist, pink sunglasses and a #SpreadGoodness video.
Join us. Join our team. Join the cause.
Register now for the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center Race for the Cure team here and receive a free Nebraska Medicine/UNMC team T-shirt. Participants must be registered by Sept. 28 to receive the team T-shirt. For questions, contact Haley Armstrong.