"I Always Felt Like I Was in the Best Hands"

My name is Cherie Buell. I am 70 years old. My husband, Lewis, and I are retired, and we live on a farm in Kalamazoo. I’m a proud mom of three and grandma of four. I love gardening, playing pickleball and spending time with my mahjong group.

Last June, my life was upended when I was diagnosed with stage 3b triple-negative breast cancer. The cancer was found during my annual mammogram. Everything moved very fast after that, but from the moment I started my care at the Bronson Cancer Center in Battle Creek, I felt supported and safe.

Dr. Sapna Patel is the medical oncologist who led my care. She made it so easy to ask questions. Nothing felt like a “silly” question with her. She explained things in a way that made me feel reassured, so I always felt like I was in the best hands.

I also had the opportunity to participate in a clinical research study through Bronson, and that’s when I met Julia Malfeld, the oncology research coordinator. Julia became more than just a part of my care team. She became a friend. She even called to check in on me while she was traveling. That personal touch meant the world to me.

From the end of July through December, I received chemotherapy. Now, I continue to receive Keytruda infusions every three weeks. The infusion room nurses at Bronson Battle Creek have made those appointments something I could handle—they were cheerful, kind and made me feel like everything was going to be okay.

Dr. Kerri Murray was my surgeon and performed my bilateral mastectomy. She was thorough, compassionate and calming. My experience during radiation was also wonderful. The radiation techs and nurses were just as kind and supportive. Their professionalism and encouragement made all the difference.

I recently played pickleball again, and that felt like a victory for me. I still have a few infusions left, but thanks to the care I’ve received at Bronson, I feel strong, hopeful and incredibly grateful.

When you're diagnosed with cancer, you need a team that makes you feel like you're going to be okay. The Bronson Cancer Center in Battle Creek was that team for me.

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