Ascension Saint Thomas resident beats breast cancer at 26

When 26-year-old Reagan Phillips was putting on sunscreen during a fourth-year medical school rotation in Florida, she felt a small lump near her armpit. Like many busy students, she initially brushed it off as a swollen lymph node. But months later, while applying self-tanner back home, she noticed it again.

Knowing both her aunt and grandmother had faced breast cancer at a young age, Reagan trusted her intuition. “Once I noticed it a second time, all the red sirens and flags were waving,” Reagan said. “I knew I needed to get it checked out.”

She reached out to a family doctor in Little Rock, Arkansas, to get an ultrasound before residency. A swift series of appointments followed—imaging, biopsies and the life-changing news on December 29, 2025, that she had invasive ductal carcinoma, a common type of breast cancer that starts in the milk ducts. Genetic testing also revealed she carried the BRCA1 gene mutation, an inherited genetic trait that significantly raises the risk for breast and ovarian cancer. 

Reagan was faced with two challenges—navigating aggressive cancer treatments while preparing for her career as an emergency medicine resident physician at Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Reagan’s treatment began in January 2026 in Little Rock, Arkansas, with an eight-hour bilateral mastectomy and immediate reconstruction. Because special testing showed her tumor was fast-growing, chemotherapy was a necessary next step to help keep the cancer from ever coming back. 

Before starting chemotherapy, Reagan completed a round of IVF in Dallas, Texas to preserve her fertility. On April 1, she began a 16-round chemotherapy regimen in Little Rock, Arkansas. To help maintain her confidence and identity throughout treatment, she chose cold-capping therapy—a method using specialized ice caps to protect hair follicles from chemotherapy drugs.

“It’s tough to do because it’s so cold, and it requires you to have a support person with you for every treatment,” Reagan said. With her husband and father stepping up as her dedicated cold-cappers, she preserved about 40% of her hair. “It gave me the feeling of still looking in the mirror and feeling like myself.”

Halfway through her 16-week chemotherapy plan, it was time for Reagan and her husband to move to Tennessee so she could start her residency. To keep her medical training on track, she transferred her care to Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford, where she was treated by Dr. John Zubkus, a medical oncologist with Tennessee Oncology.

Dr. Zubkus worked closely with her emergency medicine residency leadership to adjust her schedule around her weekly treatments. “Starting on time with my co-residents was something that was super important to me,” Reagan said. “They were all very accommodating on what days I was going to get medicine versus what days I could get my shifts in.”

On August 18, 2026, Reagan completed her 16th and final round of chemotherapy and rang the bell,but her team wasn't done celebrating just yet. Her co-interns led her out to the hospital courtyard, where she was greeted by residency directors, hospital executives, colleagues and her parents all gathered for a surprise celebration. 

“Everybody was standing there with pink bells waving, and they even got me my own personal engraved yellow bell to ring,” Reagan said. “I had only known these people for a short time, so it meant so much that they took the time out of their day to surround me with love and support.”

Today, Reagan is cancer-free and taking daily hormone suppression therapy. Back on shift in the ED, she brings a firsthand understanding to every patient she treats.

“Sitting by the pool enjoying the sun, I thought to myself, ‘For the past 16 weeks, every single Tuesday, I’ve been stuck in a room getting cancer treatment.’ Now here I am,” Reagan said. “Finally being able to do what I’ve been wanting to do is such a great feeling.”

Facing a breast cancer diagnosis? Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford offers personalized, compassionate care close to home. Find a cancer specialist or schedule an appointment today.