Patty Downing, of Slippery Rock Township, Lawrence County, was a 48-year-old social worker at then-Butler Health System when she felt a few small lumps in one breast.

A subsequent mammogram and further testing revealed she had invasive ductile carcinoma in situ, a noninvasive breast cancer that occurs when abnormal cells form in the milk ducts of the breast, but do not spread into the surrounding tissue.

“Because it was Stage 0, the options were to have those two lumps removed and get radiation, or have a total mastectomy and no radiation,” Downing, now 60, recalled. “I opted for the mastectomy.”

She made the decision to completely eliminate the chance of having cancer in that breast.

“I didn’t want to be concerned about if I get another lump, could it be cancer?” Downing said.

She had the surgery in September 2012, followed by a six-week recovery that included a drain and no showering or bathing during that period.

“Just sponge baths,” Downing said.

On the day she was finally allowed to take a shower, a friend brought her a Bath & Body Works kit.

“My heart was just like ‘Oh my gosh, this is so awesome,’” Downing said. “You feel so thankful and blessed for the people in your life.”

At the time of the diagnosis, Downing and her husband, Jay, sat down and hashed out the best way to share the news with their children, Evan, then 16, and Abbey, then 13.

“We sat with them and said ‘This is what it is,’” Downing said. “I said ‘Yes, I have cancer, but the awesome thing is it is a Stage 0, so they just have to remove it and I’ll be OK.’”

The couple asked their teens if they had any questions, and answered each one honestly.

She said both of their children were emotional in their own way.

“But we approached it with optimism, so they did really well with it,” Downing said.

She said their children had lots of support through family, friends and the activities they participated in, plus the Downings tried not to change their daily routine.

“Making it as normal as possible is another priority,” Downing said, “and we encouraged them to pray and trust that God is going to see us through.”

She said even though medical professionals assured her the mastectomy would eradicate her cancer, the very word unsettled Downing.

“It was scary,” she said. “Our kids were still in school. I just had that fear of not being here to be with my husband and children.”

After her recovery from the mastectomy, Downing underwent an implant on the side where the breast had been removed and a reduction on the unaffected side to even out her appearance.

Then, nine years later, in 2021, Downing was feeling the side where the breast had been removed, and felt a pea-sized lump.

She made an appointment with the surgeon who had done her mastectomy at AHN Wexford Hospital.

“I have a great group (of medical professionals) down there. I really do,” Downing said. “They checked it and said ‘We need to get a biopsy.’”

The test revealed a different type of cancer, HER2 triple-positive breast cancer.

After operating to remove the tumors, the medical staff explained she needed weekly intravenous treatments of the cancer drug Herceptin, which targets the specific HER2 triple-positive cancer cells, plus Taxol, another chemotherapy drug.

Beginning in September 2021, Downing sat through an IV treatment of both drugs once per week.

Unfortunately, Herceptin affects the heart’s pumping capability, and when Downing’s injection fraction — which is the heart’s pumping ability — dropped from 55% to 35%, the cardiologist who joined her oncology team ordered that she receive Herceptin once per month and the Taxol be discontinued.

“These medicines can be very taxing on your heart and other organs,” Downing said.

She continued receiving monthly Herceptin until May 2022.

Downing did lose her hair during her second bout with breast cancer, and she credits her friend, Stacy Myer, oncology patient navigator at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center at the Independence Health System, with providing stylish wigs and other head coverings.

“Stacy has created such a haven and a beautiful program for people going through cancer,” she said. “I just so appreciate that.”

The connection between the two women was made stronger because they worked side by side as social workers at Butler Health System in the past.

Downing’s altered cancer treatment plan did the trick, and Downing remains healthy to this day.

She does take a hormone blocker every day so her hormones will not feed any cancer cells in her body, plus a medication for congestive heart failure that will keep her injection fraction in the normal range.

“I’m still here,” Downing said. “First and foremost, I thank God, because He is what got us through this.”

She also credits her husband, who took her to treatments and provided anything she needed during her treatments.

Her daughter, who was grown by the time she was diagnosed the second time, also provided comfort on the days when she felt her worst.

Listening to music, her four cats, sitting on her deck at night under twinkling lights Jay had installed, and other activities many take for granted, helped relax her during her treatment, Downing said.

But she mainly relied on her faith, and appreciated all the support and meals she received from her family’s church.

“I can’t imagine going through this without God,” Downing said. “There were rough days, days when I was just uncomfortable, tired and stressed, and I knew I had a God I could lean into.”

Asked what she would say to younger women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, and Downing thinks for a moment.

“Take one day at a time, and listen to your body,” Downing said.

If a friend or loved one is diagnosed with breast cancer, Downing advises to just be there for them.

“Just be a sounding board,” she said. “Just hug them.”

She also advised calling to ask if the friend needs anything from the store, or just taking a basket or bag of groceries to their home.

Organizing a “meal train” that provides a breast-cancer patient with daily family meals goes a long way toward allowing a friend to rest during her treatment, Downing said.

She said praying for someone diagnosed with breast cancer is the best thing a friend can do.

“That was just such a godsend, the prayers that were lifted up for us,” Downing said.

The wife, mother, and, now, grandmother of Hadley Downing, 2, is doing great and enjoying life these days. She still works three days per week as a social worker for Independence Health System.

“I’m enjoying that grandbaby,” Downing said. “When I see her, I just light up.”