Knowing Her Risk: How a Mammogram Caught Her Breast Cancer Early
5 min. read
Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute
Patricia Lopez-Guerrero did not seek genetic testing because she felt sick. She took that step because of her family history.
A paternal first cousin had been diagnosed with breast cancer and tested positive for a BRCA2 mutation. That result prompted other family members to get tested. Ms. Lopez-Guerrero says she was hesitant at first but after both of her younger sisters also tested positive for the genetic mutation, she decided to move forward.
“I was reluctant at first,” she admits. “I only agreed to take the test because of my sisters.”
Proactive Approach Leads to Early Detection
That decision was prudent. After learning that she, too, was BRCA2 positive, Ms. Lopez-Guerrero was determined to take a proactive approach to her health. Because this particular genetic mutation puts women at higher risk for ovarian cancer, she first saw Eric Schroeder, M.D., a gynecologic oncologist with Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute.
In her late 40s at the time with two daughters in school and no plans for having more children, Ms. Lopez-Guerrero opted to have Dr. Schroeder perform a hysterectomy to prevent any chance of ovarian cancer in her future.
Like her sisters, she also decided to have prophylactic surgery—a double mastectomy—so she wouldn’t have the risk of breast cancer hanging over her the rest of her life.
Prior to meeting with Starr Mautner, M.D., a breast surgical oncologist with Miami Cancer Institute, Ms. Lopez-Guerrero went in for an up-to-date mammogram. Surprisingly, the new screening revealed suspicious calcifications in her left breast. Further evaluation including an MRI-guided breast biopsy showed she had invasive lobular carcinoma, which was estrogen receptor-positive, progesterone receptor-positive and HER2-negative.
It was the ultimate irony. Ms. Lopez-Guerrero was laser-focused on preventing breast cancer and it was only because she had decided to have a double mastectomy that she discovered she already had it.
“I didn’t have any symptoms,” Ms. Lopez-Guerrero says, matter-of-factly. “Before my diagnosis, I was your average perimenopausal woman with overall good health. Luckily, it was the mammogram that found the cancer.”
Second Leading Cause of Cancer Death in Women
Breast cancer remains the most common cancer diagnosed among U.S. women after skin cancers, says the American Cancer Society, and it accounts for roughly a third of all new female cancers. According to BreastCancer.org, an estimated 321,910 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in 2026. Another 60,730 women will be diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), a non-invasive form of the disease.
More troubling, breast cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer death among women. The National Cancer Institute estimates that breast cancer will cause 42,140 deaths in 2026.
Early Detection Leads to Easier Treatment
Because Ms. Lopez-Guerrero’s cancer was found early, her treatment path was different from what many patients face after a breast cancer diagnosis. Based on the size of her tumor and her genetic test results, chemotherapy and radiation therapy were not recommended. Surgery would be all that was required.
Looking back, Ms. Lopez-Guerrero believes two decisions helped ensure her successful outcome: agreeing to genetic testing and keeping up with screening.
“Early detection made all the difference for me,” Ms. Lopez-Guerrero says. “If I had not done the genetic testing and followed through with the mammogram, I would not have known. Finding it when we did made my cancer treatable without chemotherapy or radiation.”
Her experience now shapes the message she shares with others.
“I’m an advocate for being vigilant and proactive about your breast health,” says Ms. Lopez-Guerrero. “I want people to understand that you don’t have to wait for symptoms to take action. Getting tested, getting screened and paying attention early can make a tremendous difference. Prevention saves lives.”
Importance of Annual Mammograms and Monthly Self-Exams
Dr. Mautner says annual mammograms starting at age 40 remain one of the most important tools in breast cancer care—especially in conjunction with monthly self-exams, which help patients become familiar with their breast tissue and detect any changes from one month to the next. She suggests an easy reminder to perform your self-exam at the start of each month: “Feel it on the First.”
“I instruct patients to look in the mirror before getting in the shower and raise their hands over their head and then place their hands on their hips and look side to side for any subtle dimpling of the skin or pulling of the nipple,” Dr. Mautner says. While a slight size difference between breasts is often normal, any new change in shape, size or skin texture requires immediate attention, she advises.
Keeping up with your monthly self-exams and annual mammograms is an important routine that can make all the difference if you were to get a cancer diagnosis, Dr. Mautner adds.
“Early detection offers the best chance to find breast cancer when it is small and most treatable. That is why regular mammograms, along with knowing your body and reporting any new changes promptly, are so important.”
Supported by Quality, Coordinated Care
Ms. Lopez-Guerrero says the quality of the clinical care she received at Miami Cancer Institute was matched by a level of coordination and support that helped her through one of the most difficult times of her life.
“It shattered me when I got the call that I had tested positive for cancer,” Ms. Lopez-Guerrero says. “But I have never felt so supported as I did by the team at Miami Cancer Institute.”
She says one of the most meaningful parts of her experience was how smoothly her care was organized.
“One of the services I appreciated most was that I did not have to run around and call separate offices to make appointments and follow-ups,” she says. “Out of all the other things I had to worry about, not having to worry about that was a true blessing.”
Ms. Lopez-Guerrero also valued the collaboration among her physicians throughout her treatment.
“I appreciated the way the doctors worked as a team,” she says. “Dr. Mautner and Dr. Salinas [the plastic surgeon handling her breast reconstruction] are the best, a true dream team.” Her case has also been overseen by Sara Garrido, M.D., breast medical oncologist at Miami Cancer Institute.
Today, Ms. Lopez-Guerrero has resumed her normal life and is completing the final part of her breast reconstruction. She continues follow-up visits with Dr. Garrido about every six months and remains deeply grateful for the care she received.
“I have had an amazing experience at Miami Cancer Institute” she says. “I would recommend it to anyone.”
Visit BaptistHealth.net/Mammo to learn more or call 786-573-6000 to schedule your appointment today.
You can also schedule your mammogram on the PineApp.
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Eric Douglas Schroeder, MD
Eric D. Schroeder, M.D., is a gynecologic oncologist at Baptist Health Herbert Wertheim Cancer Institute. Dr. Schroeder provides comprehensive and compassionate gynecologic cancer care, including robotic and laparoscopic surgery. His areas of focus include the surgical and medical management of ovarian, uterine, endometrial, cervical, vulvar and vaginal cancers. Dr. Schroeder and his colleagues perform thousands of robotic surgeries each year. Actively involved in research at Herbert Wertheim Cancer Institute, Dr. Schroeder enrolls as many eligible patients as possible in clinical trials, which helps inform and improve future treatments for gynecologic cancers. He is passionate about his work as a gynecologic oncologist because it allows him to work closely with his patients throughout each step of the treatment journey, from diagnosis to surgery to medical management. Dr. Schroeder takes a holistic approach to treating cancer, considering both the patient and her family. He formulates treatment plans for each woman’s individual needs. Dr. Schroeder also believes in giving patients and their families as much time as they need to address questions, concerns and treatment options. When he is not treating patients, Dr. Schroeder enjoys fishing, scuba diving and snow skiing with his family.
Starr Koslow Mautner, MD
Starr Mautner, M.D., is a Board-certified surgeon with clinical expertise in breast surgical oncology of the Breast Center at Baptist Health Herbert Wertheim Cancer Institute.
Dr. Mautner specializes in breast surgical procedures including breast conserving lumpectomy, sentinel lymph node biopsy, skin sparing mastectomy, and nipple sparing mastectomy.
Dr. Mautner completed a breast surgical oncology clinical fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. She completed a general surgery internship at St. Vincent’s Hospital ― Manhattan, and general surgery residency at New York Presbyterian Hospital ― Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City, where she was chief resident. She also completed a research fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center where she focused on ways to tailor surveillance and treatment for women with lobular carcinoma in situ and patient quality of life after contralateral prophylactic mastectomy. Dr. Mautner received her medical degree from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
She is a member of the American College of Surgeons, the Society of Surgical Oncology, the American Society of Breast Surgeons, and the Association of Women Surgeons.
Harry Michael Salinas, MD
Harry Salinas, M.D., is a Baptist Health Herbert Wertheim Cancer Institute plastic and reconstructive surgeon who specializes in breast reconstructive surgery. He utilizes advanced surgical techniques to extend the ability of other surgeons and radiation oncologists to more effectively treat cancer, thus offering patients the best opportunity for cure. He also performs surgical procedures that restore physical function and improve a patient’s appearance and quality of life after the surgical treatment of cancer. Dr. Salinas’ research interests have included fat grafting, adipose derived stem cells and improvement of venous conduits for arterial reconstruction. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles about plastic and reconstructive surgery techniques and has presented his clinical research results at various professional symposiums throughout the United States. He is an experienced clinical educator, serving as a clinical fellow of surgery and an anatomy instructor at Harvard Medical School and as an anatomy and physiology teaching assistant at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. He is fluent in English and Spanish.
Sara Maria Garrido, MD
Sara Garrido, M.D., is an oncologist/hematologist at Baptist Health Herbert Wertheim Cancer Institute. She received her medical degree from Universidad del Valle School of Medicine in Cali, Colombia, and completed an internship and residency in internal medicine at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine/Jackson Memorial Hospital, where she was chief medical resident. She then completed a fellowship in hematology/oncology at the University of Washington School of Medicine and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. Dr. Garrido is Board-certified in internal medicine, oncology and hematology.
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