When Susie first noticed a small pain in her breast, she didn’t think much of it. She already had a doctor’s appointment coming up, so she waited. That visit changed everything.
A follow-up mammogram led quickly to answers. For people in East Texas, care often begins at the CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Breast Center in Longview, where imaging and next steps can happen close to home.
And while the diagnosis came just before Christmas, the care that followed moved with clarity, speed, and support.
“I didn’t really know what to think at first,” Susie said. “It was overwhelming.”
What made the difference was knowing she didn’t have to navigate it alone.
After imaging, Susie was referred to Dr. Whitney Huddleston, a general surgeon in Longview. From the first visit, the focus wasn’t on rushing decisions. It was about understanding options, answering questions, and giving Susie time to decide what felt right for her.
“She explained everything,” Susie shared. “I felt like if I were her daughter, she’d be looking out for me.”
For some people, breast cancer surgery happens first. For others, chemotherapy comes before surgery. In Susie’s case, her care team recommended chemotherapy followed by surgery — with a plan that would bring two specialists together in one coordinated procedure.
When surgery became the next step, Dr. Huddleston and Dr. Lloyd Jones, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon, worked together to plan a single procedure that would address both cancer removal and reconstruction.
Instead of separating those steps into multiple surgeries, they collaborated to complete them during the same operation, when appropriate for the patient.
“For the right person, doing this together can reduce the number of surgeries and help them get back to life sooner,” Dr. Huddleston said.
Dr. Jones emphasized constant communication and shared planning so there are no surprises for the patient on surgery day.
“We talk through everything ahead of time,” he said. “And we always have a backup plan.”
For Susie’s husband, Bill, surgery day was long, nearly eight hours. But it never felt uncertain.
“They kept us updated almost the entire day,” Bill said. “We never felt in the dark.”
Both surgeons checked in during the procedure. Nurses explained what to expect. Questions were welcomed, even repeated ones.
That communication mattered.
“When you’re facing something like this, confidence is everything,” Bill said.
Susie stayed in the hospital one night and was home the next day.
Recovery didn’t end when Susie left the hospital. Follow-up visits focused on healing, comfort, and reassurance. Dr. Jones closely monitored reconstruction, while Dr. Huddleston reviewed pathology results and helped coordinate any additional cancer care.
What stood out most to Susie wasn’t just the outcome, it was how supported she felt throughout the process.
“If we had a question, we just picked up the phone,” she said. “They always called us back.”
Today, Susie is back to enjoying time with her family, traveling, and being active again.
“It was a tough year,” she said. “But it’s good to feel like myself again.”
For Susie and Bill, being able to receive comprehensive breast cancer care close to home mattered more than they realized at first. Imaging, surgery, oncology, and reconstruction worked together without leaving their community.
“That communication knowing everyone was on the same page that’s what gave us peace,” Bill said.
It’s a reminder that while cancer changes everything, having the right people beside you can make the path forward clearer, steadier, and filled with hope.
