Cancer Rehab Reenergizes Young Breast Cancer Survivor

Teaching first graders and keeping up with a toddler takes patience, positivity and energy. In January 2020, Ashley Mays, then 30, had plenty of each to go around. “Life was good,” she recalled. “My husband Chris and I were expecting our second child, and I felt really healthy and had a lot of energy.”

Her second son, Ford, joined older brother, Luke, in March 2020, in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. As Ashley and Chris were figuring out how to care for two young children, life took another unexpected twist when Ashley discovered of a lump in one of her breasts.

“I also had what felt like a clogged milk duct,” Ashley said. “When I pumped for breast milk, nothing would come out. I assumed I had mastitis.” Mastitis is inflammation of the breast tissue and a common condition in women who breast feed.

Unexpected Diagnosis

Ashley made an appointment with her obstetrician’s nurse practitioner. The NP prescribed antibiotics and told Ashley to call back if the lump didn’t go away in a week. One week later, the lump was still there. Ashley’s OB ordered an ultrasound-guided breast biopsy to rule out breast cancer.

“I wasn’t concerned at all,” Ashley said. “I don’t have a family history of young people with breast cancer. My maternal grandmother was diagnosed when she was 75, but genetic testing showed no mutations.”

Mangesh Oza, MD, a general surgeon with Meritas Health Comprehensive Surgery called Ashley with the biopsy results on a Friday afternoon. “When Dr. Oza told me I had breast cancer, I was completely shocked.”

Ashley was diagnosed with Stage 3 invasive ductal carcinoma. Over the next 8 months, she underwent 18 weeks of chemotherapy, a lumpectomy and 30 sessions of radiation. Deepti Satelli, MD, an oncologist with The University of Kansas Cancer Center who practices on the NKCH campus, managed Ashley’s cancer care.

Treatment Side Effects Hit Hard

While advanced cancer treatment saves lives, it can lead to side effects including pain and fatigue. When Ashley started having pain in her spine, she feared the cancer had spread. To her great relief, all tests came back negative. Dr. Satelli referred Ashley to NKCH’s cancer rehabilitation program for help managing her treatment side effects.

The program offers occupational, physical and speech therapy along with social services and nutrition counseling. It helps people with cancer regain their physical and emotional wellbeing.

“My level of fatigue was unreal,” Ashley said. “I was staying home with the boys because of COVID, and I was so tired. By the time Chris got home from work, I was in tears. I couldn’t barely make it through dinner without wanting to go to bed. I couldn’t believe that was my quality of life.”

Fighting Fatigue

Michelle McCullough, PT, was Ashley’s physical therapist. “When I met Ashley, she was having a lot of trouble managing the day-to-day activities with her boys. She was having difficulty with stamina. We focused on building her strength and endurance so she could do the things she wanted to do.”

Michelle created a rehab plan that included walking, weight training and core exercises. It wasn’t easy for Ashley in the beginning. “Michelle explained that movement was the best way to fight fatigue, but I wasn’t sure at first,” she remembered. “On therapy days I would think, ‘I just need to get through this hour, then I can go home and sleep.’ But when I left therapy and got home, I realized I had the energy to cook dinner, play with the boys and help Chris put them to bed.”

Ashley knew therapy was working the day she took Luke and Ford to the Kansas City Zoo by herself.

A Pretty Normal Life

Ashley’s determination to get back to caring for her family and teaching her students was a key part of her positive therapy outcome.

“Ashley was so successful because she was motivated,” Michelle said. “She came to her appointments and did her exercises at home. She did what she was asked to do, accepted what we had to offer and followed the education we provided.”

“My quality of life is so much better because of the Cancer Rehab program,” Ashley said. “I went back to work in August 2021. I have 21 first graders this year. I have enough energy to be with them all-day, pick Luke up from school, and come home and cook dinner with him.

“When I was going through treatment, I’d never thought I’d get back to this point,” she added. “Without the cancer rehab program, I’d still be struggling with fatigue. I’m so glad I was able to work with the Cancer Rehab program. I live a pretty normal life now.”