TimesLeader.com

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: October, 2009

Abington area doctor fights back with advocacy

Danielle Chicano Abington Journal Intern

Dr. Gina Carlo, 50, says she was stunned when she was diagnosed with breast cancer four years ago.

click image to enlarge

Dr. Gina Carlo

Select images available for purchase in the
Times Leader Photo Store

“There were only two people that I knew (four years ago) that had breast cancer and they were both dead.”

Fearing she had no one to talk to, Dr. Carlo turned to an online support group of women who had battled breast cancer. According to Carlo, the best advice she received was that her feelings were normal and the journey would be much easier after the mastectomy. Carlo, who had a double mastectomy and went through chemotherapy, believes that being a doctor helped her cope during the process.

“Once I had my mastectomy everything changed. It was the first day of the rest of my life,” said Carlo. “But when you’re diagnosed and you’re just waiting and waiting, you don’t know what’s ahead and where you’re going, you’re scared.”

Although Carlo feels that fighting breast cancer has given her a new lease on life, she remembers how uneasy she felt when she first learned about the cancer. According to Carlo, the doctor in Scranton who gave the diagnosis initially implied that the test would be clean, so when the biopsy came back positive, Carlo was shocked.

“It was like somebody hit me with a lead balloon. I stood there for five minutes totally shaken.”

Carlo works as a podiatrist in Carbondale and discovered a lump in her breast during a self exam just six months after receiving normal results on a routine mammogram. The lump was found on October 1, 2005and she received treatment at Hematology & Oncology Associates of Northeastern PA, on Meade Street in Dunmore.

As a single mother, Carlo says her children were her biggest concern through the process. Jennifer Horne, 14 and Christopher Horne, 13, attend Abington Heights Middle School and, according to Carlo they give her every reason to fight.

Carlo was very proactive in her treatment and decided right away that she wanted the bi-lateral mastectomy and chemotherapy treatment.

According to Carlo, the fact that she had a history of cancer in her family drove her to be more aggressive in deciding her treatment.

“I didn’t want to regret not being aggressive in the future,” said Carlo. “I wanted to be certain that this wasn’t going to come back.”

Looking back on her struggle with breast cancer, Carlo feels that the journey has given her a much greater appreciation of life. She says she now lives by the timeless cliches: ‘live your life like today is your last day’ and ‘stop and smell the roses.’

“It certainly is a wake up call.” said Carlo. “You try to lighten up and smile more.”

Carlo’s upbeat attitude helped her stay positive through her battle with breast cancer. Even now, four years later, Carlo continues to fight breast cancer by participating in various fundraising events and is constantly educating those she meets.

“I’m always very open, and I want (people) to ask,” said Carlo. “This is part of my job on earth. I was given breast cancer, now I need to educate.”

Carlo, along with other physicians, will also take part in the Celebrity Bar Nite at the State Street Grill, 114 S State St. Clarks Summit, on Monday Oct. 19 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. All the proceeds from this event benefit the American Cancer Society.