“You’re Going to Be Okay”: How Early Detection and Expert Care Changed Elena Edward’s Life

Elena Edwards wasn’t expecting to face a breast cancer diagnosis in 2024. She and her husband were caring for their two young children, and she was continuing her career as an X-ray technologist at Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital. Then a routine screening changed everything.

Because a close family member had been diagnosed with breast cancer at a young age, Elena began mammograms before turning 40. One screening showed calcifications, leading to a follow-up MRI that, as she recalls, “lit up the whole left side” of her breast.

A biopsy confirmed ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).

“Telling my husband was a hard day,” Elena recalls. “But it was very early, and the radiologist told me right away, ‘I think it is DCIS, but I think it’s very, very early.’ That definitely brought hope to my situation.”

From Caregiver to Patient

Elena had spent 17 years working in radiology at Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital, often caring for patients from the cancer clinic. Now she was on the other side of the experience.

“Being a patient gave me a whole new perspective,” she says. “It’s made me even more empathetic toward the people I care for. I’ve always had that passion – that’s why I’m in healthcare – but living through it myself helps me connect with patients in a deeper way.”

The Doctor Who Called on a Sunday

Before they ever met in person, Amanda Kong, MD, MS, made a lasting impression on Elena.

“She called me from home on a Sunday,” Elena remembers. “She said, ‘I’m looking over your stuff and this is what I think you need to do.’ The fact that she was looking at my information on a Sunday night really showed me she cared.”

For Dr. Kong, a professor of Surgical Oncology, building trust is the foundation of her work. “Ninety-nine percent of the time, patients are terrified,” she says. “A lot of that fear is driven from a lack of knowledge and the abyss of the unknown, so it’s really important for me to educate my patients and empower them.”

That means every detail matters – from asking about family and work to showing patients their scans so they can see the size and location of their tumor. “Once patients understand everything,” she says, “they feel empowered to make the decisions for their health.”

The Role of Genetics

Because of Elena’s age and family history, Dr. Kong referred her to MCW’s hereditary genetics clinic.

“At our institution, we’re incredibly spoiled to have 15 genetic counselors in practice for adult patients. Dr. Kong explains. “They have a whole genetics meeting where they discuss these complex cases, pulling data from around the country to figure out whether a mutation is harmful or not. That really came in handy for Elena’s case.”

While less than 10 percent of breast cancer is due to genetics, Dr. Kong emphasizes, “when it is, we take it seriously.”

Donald G. Basel, MD, Professor and Associate Director of Undiagnosed and Rare Disease at the Linda T. and John A. Mellowes Center for Genomic Sciences and Precision Medicine, noted that genetic testing, when appropriate, can give patients and physicians options to personalize treatment plans.

“Genetic testing allows us to personalize treatment strategies by identifying inherited risks and tumor-specific variants that influence therapy choices,” Dr. Basel said. “And genetic counseling provides patients with a clear picture of how genetic findings affect not only breast cancer risk but also broader health and family implications.”

A Relationship Built on Trust

On the day of surgery, Elena felt the depth of that trust. “When I woke up, I remember Dr. Kong hugging me and telling me I was going to be okay,” she says. “That was really good to hear.”

For Dr. Kong, those moments reflect the gravity of her role. “When someone goes to sleep on an operating room table, they want to just know they’re going to wake up okay and that they’re completely trusting you,” she says. “It’s important to develop that rapport and that relationship.”

Progress Through Research and Philanthropy

Elena’s treatment reflects how advances in academic medicine translate directly into better lives for patients.

“When I started practicing in 2008, radiation was six weeks, Monday through Friday,” Dr. Amanda Kong explains. “Then research in Canada showed three weeks was just as effective. More recently, for some women, radiation has been reduced to five days. That’s an enormous quality-of-life change.”

She credits philanthropy for fueling that kind of progress. “I see philanthropy in action every day,” Dr. Kong says. “It funds clinical trials and research studies – that’s how we’ve been able to improve the care of patients. It supports training programs so we can provide the highest level of breast cancer care not just here, but wherever our trainees go. You send that person out in the world, and they’ll treat many patients over their career.”

Philanthropic support also brings in new equipment and innovative technology, ensuring patients have access to the latest treatments. “When patients ask me, ‘How can I give back?’ I tell them these are the ways you can make a difference – supporting patient care, research, and education in an academic institution like ours.”

Sharing Her Story

A year after her diagnosis, Elena is healthy and back to her full life. She is open about her journey, encouraging friends and colleagues not to put off their own screenings. “I’ve had friends make their mammogram appointments after I told them my story,” she says. “That was good to hear. You should be doing this every year. Stay on top of it.”

Her experience as caregiver and patient shapes how she connects with others – not only in her work as an X-ray technologist but also in her new role teaching at Milwaukee Area Technical College.

“Now I get to teach future technologists and make sure they have that same passion,” she says. “I remind them that these are patients, and your x-ray could tell them if their cancer has spread, if it’s come back, or if it’s gotten better. I really make sure they take that into consideration.”

Looking back, Elena says the care she received from Dr. Kong set the example she carries forward: “I trusted her. And the fact that she cared – that made all the difference.”