Maxey Wiggins felt healthy and happy while growing in her career and raising her son.
Then, in 2018, Maxey discovered a lump during a self-exam in the shower and scheduled an appointment with her primary care physician for a mammogram.
She did not have a family history of cancer and was surprised when, at age 34, she was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma.This is a common form of breast cancer where abnormal cells grow in the breast ducts and affect surrounding breast tissue.
“Cancer was the furthest thing from my mind,” she said.
Maxey turned to the cancer care team at Ascension Via Christi to treat her cancer with chemotherapy, surgery and radiation.
“It was very important to me to retain as much of my normal life as possible during treatment, so I continued to serve full-time as a Business Development Manager at Ascension Via Christi and engage in as much activity with my family as possible,” she said.
Maxey never thought cancer would be a part of her story, but she is happy to be on the other side of this experience.
“I came across a sign one day that said, ‘One day you will share your story about how you overcame what you swore you never would. This will be someone else’s survival guide. Don’t ever forget this,’” she said.
Today, she continues to serve at Ascension Via Christi, volunteer in her community, cheer on Big 12 college teams with other patients living with breast cancer and watch her son grow.
If you have concerns and would like to have a screening sooner than the recommended age of 40, talk to your doctor. Our compassionate teams are ready to answer any questions and help you feel more comfortable during your mammogram appointment.
Start a conversation with a doctor who listens
At Ascension Via Christi in Wichita, Manhattan and Pittsburg, our experienced breast cancer specialists are part of a national team of doctors, sharing best practices and advanced treatment options for breast cancer care – bringing the best of oncology to you, close to home. By getting to know you and working together, you get a care plan