Patient Grateful for Care at UH Seidman Cancer Center
Trust and Perseverance through Breast Cancer
Friends and family know Marie Lewis as a vibrant woman with many passions. Though her life hasn’t been without hardship - Marie lost her husband, Dennis to heart failure in 2009. Despite enduring challenges, Marie lives life with joy.
In September 2020, another challenge surfaced when Marie detected a lump in her breast. Concerned, she turned to her niece, a registered nurse at UH Seidman Cancer Center, who guided Marie to Robert Shenk, MD, Maryann Z. and Larry Kennedy Chair in Breast Cancer Prevention and Early Intervention, and Alberto Montero, MD, MBA, CPHQ, Director of the Breast Cancer Medical Oncology Program and the Diana Hyland Chair for Breast Cancer, UH Seidman Cancer Center. Marie's mammogram confirmed the presence of breast cancer. The finding led to a year of intensive treatment, which effectively shrank Marie's tumor.
After a successful recovery, Marie resumed a full calendar of activities. A few years later, Marie felt like she pulled a groin muscle. After her brush with cancer, Marie wanted to rule out any other possibilities, so she returned to her care team at UH for a closer look. Her care team discovered that Marie had a pathological fracture of her pelvis. Her cancer had not only returned, but had metastasized throughout her body.
Trusting a Team
Marie tried new medications. But this time, she endured a litany of adverse effects: rashes, nausea, headaches and even the onset of diabetes. That's when Dr. Montero suggested a new clinical trial. Marie knew that UH Seidman offered clinical trials for many types of cancer, but never expected to be a participant in one.
Marie’s trial involved a new drug called STX-478, that targets the PIK3CA mutation, which is the most common mutation in estrogen sensitive breast cancer. “Unlike previous treatments that target PIK3CA, this drug selectively targets the mutated protein in cancer cells without affecting the normal protein in healthy cells,” says Dr. Montero. “This is an important advance since most advanced breast cancers like Marie’s have mutations of the PIK3CA gene."
One Little Thing
The new trial allowed Marie to maintain her quality of life completely free of side effects, all by taking one pill each morning. "We just can’t believe the difference from having her do this little thing,” said Eileen. “Mom would have to take five or six extra pills without this option, and that would have been rough on her. We have no idea what the future holds, but every day is a gift and is lived to the fullest because Mom feels fantastic."
Although UH has been there as Marie’s caregiver, so much of her success is due to her perseverance, attitude and courage to take the leap in the first place. So, what is her secret?
"Trust,” said Marie. “You just have to trust what the team says and not worry about it.”