Patient overcomes complex breast cancer diagnosis with confidence from Beacon collaboration with Mayo Clinic

Yolanda Claire

When Yolanda Claire had her annual mammogram in 2023, she was relaxed and unconcerned. Even when the Elkhart General Breast Care Center asked her back for a biopsy, she didn’t worry much. So the diagnosis of early-stage breast cancer hit her like a jolt.

Fortunately, Yolanda felt fully supported by her care team from the moment of diagnosis. Her primary care physician, Dr. Jeffrey Szuba, Beacon Medical Group Elkhart East, contacted her immediately to offer his support.

And it was Breast Cancer Patient Navigator Dawn McCandless who became one of her closest allies, providing both guidance and a steady, reassuring presence.

“My role is to reach out quickly to newly diagnosed patients to let them know they have an advocate to support them each step of the way,” McCandless said. This support includes coordinating appointments to ensure patients are seen and treated as quickly as possible, answering questions and helping patients overcome any barriers to treatment.

Dr. Jeffrey Szuba

When McCandless called to ask Yolanda if she wanted her to attend her first office visit with Dr. Omer Toor, hematologist and oncologist at Beacon Medical Group Oncology Elkhart, Yolanda told her she was welcome to come, but she could probably handle the appointment just fine on her own.

“I had no idea how wrong I was,” Yolanda says. “She gave me emotional support through every step and was priceless to me.”

McCandless explains that patients are often overwhelmed initially by their diagnosis and treatment plan and confused by medical terms. “I always recommend a second set of eyes and ears at first visits and offer to be this support if they don’t have someone to come with them to consultations,” she said. “Yolanda was used to being independent, but found out quickly how vulnerable a cancer diagnosis can make someone feel and how welcome a friendly face can be.”

A Team Approach

Dr. Omer Toor

Dr. Toor offered clarity and compassion as he talked with Yolanda about treatment options and what to expect. He explained how the first step would be surgery, which would be performed by Dr. Jamie O’Rear, Beacon Medical Group Surgical Services Elkhart.

“When making decisions about the sequence of treatments for breast cancer, we take into consideration the stage of the cancer, tumor biology, the patient’s overall health and her treatment goals,” Dr. O’Rear says.

It’s a multidisciplinary team approach from the time of diagnosis onward.

“Yolanda is a wonderful example of why we encourage women to keep up with screening mammograms,” Dr. O’Rear continues. “Because her cancer was caught early, she was able to have a more conservative surgery that removed just the lump, giving her a great outcome both in terms of her cancer treatment and her appearance.”

The surgeon’s approach clearly resonated with Yolanda. “Dr. O’Rear was so very intelligent and kind,” she says. “She can answer any question you have.”

Dr. Jamie O’Rear

Given the stage and type of Yolanda’s cancer, the decision about chemotherapy following her surgery was a complex one. Dr. Toor initiated an e-consultation with an expert at the Mayo Clinic, an approach that gave Yolanda an even greater sense of confidence in her care.

As part of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, the Beacon care team has special access to Mayo Clinic’s world-renowned doctors, resources and expertise.

“This unique collaboration is just one of the ways our community benefits from choosing Beacon Cancer Care,” Dr. Toor says. With rapid advancements in science and continuous improvements in cancer treatment, it’s only natural to want the very best care. “At Beacon Cancer Care, our mission is to provide that exceptional care in the most compassionate way possible.”

Dr. Toor says Yolanda was a remarkable advocate for her own cancer journey. “She wanted every step of her treatment to be thoughtfully planned and clearly explained, ensuring she understood her options and felt supported throughout,” he says.

Knowing that she’d receive world-class treatment and support, both emotionally and physically, close to home with access to leading experts whenever needed, reassured Yolanda. “That really gave me a sense of peace, knowing Beacon and Mayo were totally on the same page. I felt like I was really covering the bases,” she says.

Yolanda was touched by Dr. Toor’s concern for both her physical and emotional well-being. “Dr. Toor was totally on top of his game. He always knew everything going on with me, past and present.”

She also found Dr. Toor’s office staff and the nurses at the AIC incredibly supportive. “They were fantastic… kind and compassionate. Wonderful,” she says. After her chemotherapy ended, “They all told me, ‘Come back and see us.'”

At first, Yolanda was overwhelmed by the sheer number of appointments and treatments ahead of her. “But I made a list of them and crossed them off as I went,” she says, transforming a mountain of to-dos into a series of achievements that helped give her the strength to keep moving forward.

Care with Compassion

Ultimately, Yolanda and her Beacon care team decided to move forward with both chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Dr. Toor oversaw her chemotherapy treatments, which took place at Elkhart General Hospital’s Ambulatory Infusion Center once a week for 12 weeks.

Her treatment plan also included targeted immunotherapy during the first three months of her chemotherapy.

“Targeted therapies are designed to act on specific molecules or pathways involved in the growth and survival of cancer cells, allowing them to attack cancer more precisely,” Dr. Toor says. “This helps minimize side effects, as these therapies are less likely to affect normal, healthy cells compared to traditional chemotherapy, which can harm both cancerous and healthy cells.”

Dr. Russell Johnson

Next came Yolanda’s radiation therapy; the treatments were administered by Radiation Oncologist Dr. Russell Johnson, Beacon Medical Group Oncology Elkhart.

“For Yolanda’s radiation therapy, we used a technique known as DIBH, short for deep inspiratory breath hold,” Dr. Johnson explains. With DIBH, the patient takes a deep breath and holds it while the radiation treatment is being delivered. This moves the chest wall and breast away from the heart, which limits radiation exposure to the heart and minimizes the risk of long-term effects from the treatment.

Her therapy was also hypo-fractionated, meaning she received higher doses of radiation over a shorter period of time: four weeks instead of the usual six to eight weeks. This approach is gentler on the patient’s skin.

“This hypo-fractionated regimen is associated with a much lower chance of significant acute skin problems,” Dr. Johnson says. By the time Yolanda returned for her one-month follow-up after radiation therapy ended, the mild visible inflammation on her breast was completely gone.

Dr. Johnson’s medical expertise is paired with an easygoing demeanor that put Yolanda at ease.

“Dr. Johnson made me so comfortable and relaxed,” she says. “You could feel he was ready to give me as much time as I needed at my appointments. He was also very entertaining!” she laughs, explaining how he lifted her mood with funny comments.

A Job Well Done

Yolanda’s radiation therapy ended in June 2024. The last step in her treatment was another type of immunotherapy, in which medications are used to strengthen or train the immune system to help it kill cancer cells.

A year after her diagnosis, her hardest days were behind her. Today, she continues taking medications to help prevent her cancer from returning, but she’s back to enjoying her everyday life with a lighter spirit — a testament to the strong network of care she found at Beacon.

“I feel great and 95% positive about my future. Every step of the way, I had compassionate care. I looked forward to seeing all of my doctors and nurses,” she shares. “I have very strong confidence in Beacon. I just spout how much I love Beacon to the world!”

Learn More

Walking beside you from day one of your cancer diagnosis, Beacon’s multi-disciplinary cancer team provides leading-edge breast cancer care services. Learn more about our breast cancer program. We never give up.