Andrea “Andie” Wolfinsohn’s life took a drastic turn when she went in for her yearly mammogram almost four years ago. The results prompted her radiologist to schedule an additional ultrasound and biopsy, and the latter came back with the unimaginable. While looking at her chart from the biopsy, Wolfinsohn discovered she had invasive lobular carcinoma, a type of breast cancer.
From that exact moment, Wolfinsohn took immediate action to get the treatment she needed.
“When my primary physician called me, I talked to my cousin who also had breast cancer, and she gave me the name of her breast surgeon. I called, and I was in the following week,” Wolfinsohn said.
Wolfinsohn had the first three sentinel lymph nodes under the side of the cancer removed during the surgery. Waiting to see the outcome of that procedure was a nerve-wracking time, but the outcome had her breathing a huge sigh of relief.
“Once they do the mastectomy and surgery, you wait to see what the pathology is and if it spread or if they got it all. Luckily they did—thank goodness it hadn't spread. I didn't have to do radiation. I didn't have to do chemo, thank goodness,” she said. “My surgeon and my oncologist felt the best preventative was to take a once-a-day pill that stops the production of estrogen. My tumor is basically an estrogen-positive tumor, and I believe what happened was that I produced too much estrogen. I'm on a medication called Arimidex for at least five years, possibly even longer.”
Fighting this battle was a stressful time for Wolfinsohn, but she thankfully had a strong support system in her corner to help her throughout her journey. She was able to turn to many family members and friends, and she credits them all as the main source that really allowed her to power through the strenuous battle.
“I have the best family on the planet who helped. Steve and I have been married for 50 years; he just went above and beyond the call of being a husband,” she said. “Our youngest daughter came in from South Carolina to help after we got home, and Steve and I have our oldest daughter who has special needs who helped as well. I also have wonderful friends, so I was very fortunate to have phenomenal people around me during this time.”
Equipped with an upbeat sense of humor, Wolfinsohn additionally made it a goal to keep a positive mindset during treatment. She knew there was no shame in asking for an extra hand on days when things seemed a bit too heavy to carry on her own.
“I think it’s best to just take every day minute by minute. Some days everything is fine. Some days we'll have it up, some days we'll have it down, and it's okay if you need help to get through. Your doctor can help; your surgeon and your oncologist are there. There are people to help you get through that, and I was very lucky to have the help that I had, too,” she said.
Today, Wolfinsohn is proud to say she’s celebrating almost four years cancer-free. While no longer battling the disease, she knows first-hand just how strenuous it can be, and wants to help support others around her who are going through a similar experience. She’s participated in events such as Franciscan Health’s Bowl for a Cure and encourages everyone to come out again this year to City Lanes in Michigan City on February 25 to join her for a fun time while supporting a great cause.
“I helped with Bowl for a Cure last year because Franciscan is very community-based. A lot of the funds from that were taken in to help women who can’t afford to go for mammograms or for other resources, like to get to the hospital to get their tests done, and it's a wonderful resource,” she said.
Now that Wolfinsohn has recovered, she’s able to continue living life alongside those closest to her. She’s able to return that same support she received to those going through challenging times themselves, such as helping her husband as he continues to recover from the aftermath of a dangerous heart attack in 2013. She is also able to experience some of their greatest joys and pleasures in life such as watching her daughter with special needs find her place in the world through a job at a local supermarket that she absolutely loves.
Whether it’s being there for others or watching the people who matter most achieve great milestones, Wolfinsohn is extremely thankful that she’s able to be here to see it all, and is thankful for all who have helped her as well.
“We have a wonderful physician out here who has been extremely supportive and who has been there for me throughout my breast cancer and through the illnesses of family members. We moved, but we still have supportive old neighbors who we still stay in touch with and with family and with our youngest coming in to help. It's really been a godsend. I've been very fortunate and lucky, and of course with the love of three miniature dachshunds and one all the way up there,” Wolfinsohn laughed.