Pat Smith is recovering from breast cancer - for the second time.

When her tumor was discovered, Mary Crecelius, her practitioner, referred her to Dr. Cavins.

“Mary, whom I love, told me I would like her and she was right,” Pat said. “Dr. Cavins was straight and to the point and we were on the same page from the start. I felt like I was in good hands. The first time I had cancer, I went to a St. Louis hospital. I told myself I wasn’t going back there because I didn’t like the experience. Ste. Gen Hospital has been far and above my big city experience.”

A bi-lateral mastectomy was the course of action.

“When it came time for the surgery, everything was very quick and efficient,” she said. Everyone knew why I was there, so I didn’t have to repeat my story 15 times. They were so nice and supportive. They listened to what I was saying to them and were very prepared. I really felt like it was personal care and I wasn’t just the next patient on the roster.”

Pat also praised the CRNA.

“I felt great when I woke up,” she said. “I told them I was so impressed that they didn’t mess up my hair—that’s what they told me. I don’t remember saying that!”

Given that her mom and sister both had breast cancer, she though genetic testing would reveal that she carried that horrid gene. To her surprise, she did not.

“I thought sure I carried the gene,” she said. “I would like to have not had the mastectomy, but when I knew what I was facing the mastectomy was really the only option as far as I was concerned and Dr. Cavins had the same conclusion.”

Pat received subsequent chemo treatments.

She credits a good support system that helped her over this health hurdle--her sister, a good friend and yoga.

“My yoga community has been awesome,” she said. “I try to the best I can with the cards that were dealt.”