The Power in Prevention
Courtesy MercyCare Physicians, Linn County LIVING WELL Magazine
When Linda, a Cedar Rapids resident, came to MercyCare Marion for her annual physical with Dr. Arleen Zahn-Houser, she was feeling fine. Linda has been a patient of Dr. Zahn-Houser’s for years and together they’ve closely monitored her health.
Linda has a family history of breast cancer so Dr. Zahn-Houser ordered her usual yearly mammogram. But this year wasn’t usual: Linda’s mammogram at Mercy Medical Center revealed calcifications. A biopsy led to a diagnosis of breast cancer.
Linda’s medical team began treatment immediately and after a double mastectomy Linda began intense chemotherapy. She was so overwhelmed by her treatments and the harsh side effects that she made up a system to help visualize her progress.
Each week she hung a small wooden cross in the kitchen window to mark another treatment passed. After twelve weeks she was finally able to have fewer treatments though she still had chemo every three weeks for nine more months.
The crosses still hang to remind Linda to share her story and encourage others to undergo screenings to find problems early. Early detection is not only the key to surviving illness, but also to a manageable treatment plan.
Of all Iowans ages 50 to 64, less than 30% undergo all appropriate screenings. But Linda knows firsthand that preventive screenings, as well as a strong doctor-patient relationship, save lives.
It’s essential to have a doctor you trust to work with you to manage numerous aspects of your health. Linda trusts Dr. Zahn-Houser, part of the high-quality MercyCare network, to do exactly that.
That valuable relationship between Dr. Zahn-Houser and Linda obviously paid off for Linda, because that routine mammogram allowed her to graduate with her class from the School for Lay Ministry at Simpson College.
Linda was so determined to finish the education she started before her diagnosis that she went to classes throughout her treatments while she was tired and in pain. Luckily she had her husband to carry her books to class.
Linda’s story shows the importance of having a family doctor. To select a MercyCare doctor, please call 319- 369-4444 or visit www.mercycare.org/doctors.
