Pleasantville resident Taylor Reno, 34, teaches art at Briarcliff High School. But for the past five years, she has been in the unique position of being a student herself following a particularly frightening breast cancer diagnosis and a complex journey back to health.
At age 29, she detected a lump during a self-exam and was diagnosed with triple positive stage II invasive ductal carcinoma. “That’s a mouthful, and not a great diagnosis,” Reno shares. “But in a way it was a good diagnosis, because I believe that I got the best care I could possibly get at White Plains Hospital.”
Reno’s care was led by her “dream team,” which includes medical oncologist and hematologist Dr. Yael Zack, who founded and leads the Young Women’s Program for Cancer Care at White Plains Hospital’s Center for Cancer Care, and Dr. Preya Ananthakrishnan, the Hospital’s Director of Breast Surgery.
“When anyone is diagnosed with cancer, it can be such an overwhelming process,” says Dr. Zack, who made Reno’s diagnosis. “That becomes exponential when you get such unexpected news at a young age.”
Triple positive breast cancer is fueled by the hormones estrogen and progesterone and the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) protein. Usually, receptors on breast cells attach to the hormones, promoting cell growth. However, when high levels of the HER2 protein are present, those cells begin to grow and divide in an uncontrolled way. Such cancer accounts for an estimated 10-15% of all breast cancer diagnoses.
“Taylor did such a good job of doing her research, coming back with questions and really just going through everything that’s out there,” says Dr. Ananthakrishnan, who goes by Dr. Preya. “She was able to educate herself and work with us as a team to review her treatment options.”
Because of the size of Taylor’s cancer, her team took a multi-faceted treatment approach. Her treatment started with chemotherapy and HER2-directed targeted therapy prior to surgery. She then underwent lumpectomy surgery and sentinel node biopsy in her left underarm. This was followed by 30 rounds of radiation over the course of six weeks. Then she completed a year of HER2 targeted treatment with an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) infusion every three weeks.
Complicating things, as it did in so many ways, was the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I was terrified to go out of the house, even to see friends,” Reno recalls. “I was already teaching from home virtually, and going through chemo I was losing my hair, feeling sick, and on top of that, I was entering menopause. My body was going through a lot.”
Reno’s physicians say they believe that, in addition to the surgery and follow-up treatments, their patient’s attitude played a major role in her experience.
“Even from the very beginning when she was starting this rollercoaster, she always had such an amazing inner strength and aura that really carried her throughout the process,” says Dr. Zack.
After she completed chemotherapy, Reno underwent hormone blocking therapy for the last four-and-a-half years; she currently takes a medication to prevent her cancer from recurring.
“Sometimes, as a doctor, you feel like you learn as much from the patients as they learn from you, and Taylor has really taught us by example about how to deal with adversity with grace and grit,” adds Dr. Preya.
The Young Women’s Program for Cancer Care is designed to specifically address the issues and concerns of women under the age of 50 who have received a cancer diagnosis. Among the multidisciplinary services it offers to support patients at every stage of their illness is a support group for women going through similar challenges.
“Taylor has been such an incredible member of the program, bringing positive energy to other patients who are newer and are just starting the process,” shares Dr. Zack.
“The Young Women’s support group has been like a lifeline for me through the whole journey,” Reno says, “Meeting people and hearing their experiences makes you feel validated.”
Reno also took advantage of the Hospital’s holistic nursing, pastoral, and – of course – art therapy offerings. “Art is a really good tool,” she says. “It doesn’t take a lot of effort and gets that stress out. It’s a fantastic release.”
Patients also have access to medical professionals in the fields of fertility, genetics, physical therapists, psycho-social support, and sexual health.
Reno is understandably pleased with the results of what began as a potentially devastating experience. While she is still contending with the side effects of her treatment, including hair loss, she is officially in remission.
She has returned to teaching and recently enjoyed a trip to the Bahamas over the summer, as well as a visit to Las Vegas.
“As a breast cancer survivor, you’re technically always in treatment – just the level of intensity varies,” she notes. As part of her proactive regimen to prevent a recurrence, Reno goes for a mammogram and an MRI every six months – but she makes a point to keep the bonds she built at White Plains Hospital going. Every year, she joins the Hospital’s team at the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk. She also makes a point of bringing in something special to spread cheer to patients and staff during the holiday season.
“I say it all the time – White Plains Hospital is the place where I’m treated like family.”
To learn more about the Young Women’s Program for Cancer Care at White Plains Hospital, visit wphospital.org/ywpcc.
Early detection can save lives. It has never been easier to fit screening into your schedule. Visit wphospital.org/mammo to request your appointment today.
Dr. Yael Zack is a hematologist and oncologist at the Center for Cancer Care and New Rochelle locations. To make an appointment with Dr. Zack, call (914) 849-7600 at the Cancer Center or (914) 849-7600 in New Rochelle.
Dr. Preya Ananthakrishnan, Director of Breast Surgery at White Plains Hospital, is a fellowship-trained breast surgeon whose practice is dedicated to the treatment of breast disease. To make an appointment with Dr. Ananthakrishnan at the WPH Center for Cancer Care, call (914) 849-7580.