Double mastectomy patient encourages people not to postpone procedures during pandemic

We spoke to a woman who is a breast cancer “previvor” and underwent potentially lifesaving procedures during the pandemic. She told us about how she pushed through and wants it to serve as a message of encouragement for others.

A deadly pattern is trending Friday, as coronavirus cases rise. Dr. David Lindner, the head of NCH Healthcare System’s COVID-19 response team, says patients are postposing care and putting their lives at risk.

“When everything was totally locked down, no one was going to the hospital at all,” Lindner said. “No one was seeking any medical care. We saw non-COVID related deaths go up, and once again, we’re beginning to see a rise.”

It’s a situation Valerie Lencovski found herself in. She is a double mastectomy patient.

“They did a breast sonogram, and it showed that I had something in both breasts,” Lencovski said. “My dad’s sister had passed from breast cancer, so I was terrified.”

After that, Lencovski decided to get a double mastectomy.

Doctors urged her to do it as quickly as possible, but it coincided with the onset of the pandemic.

“It was so hard to get an appointment to schedule something in,” Lencovski said.

It was also harder knowing she had to go through it alone.

“That was definitely the hardest part, waking up and not having anybody there, like your mom or your dad, where they can be like, ‘Everything went great,’” Lencovski explained.

“She’s a super brave young lady, and she did things that I’m not sure if I was in her shoes I’d be able to do,” said Dr. Joshua Lampert, a reconstructive and plastic surgeon. “To go there to go into surgery, not once, but a few surgeries by yourself.”

A survey by Orlando Health finds 67% of Americans are more concerned about going to medical appointments when COVID-19 rates are high in their communities.

With more patients feeling pressure from the pandemic postponing their appointments and screening, Lencovski wants to encourage everyone to be brave.

“If you don’t do it now, when are you going to do it? Who knows when COVID will be gone?,” Lencovski said. “If I could do it, you could do it because at the end of the day, you’re saving your own life.”

MORE:

• Estimation of Excess Deaths Associated With the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States, March to May 2020
• Survey: Americans Delaying Needed Healthcare Due to COVID-19
• Cancer Screening Tests and Cancer Diagnoses During the COVID-19 Pandemic