When Elyse Whitworth of Dawsonville began treatment for breast cancer, she thought she knew what to expect.
“Going in, I thought it would be easy — get labs and get treatment and you are done,” she said.
But once treatment began at Northside Hospital, she quickly realized “there was a lot more to it.” Even with some preparation — having accompanied a close family friend to treatment a month earlier — nothing fully prepared her for the emotional and physical weight of her own journey.
That reality became clear during her first treatment. Just days after having her port placed, Elyse arrived feeling nervous and anxious.
“When they went to draw blood from my port, I passed out. I woke up on the floor and there were so many nurses over me helping me,” she recalled.
In that frightening moment, the Northside team stepped in immediately. “The team was great in that first moment and treatment. They comforted me and got me back squared away.”
As treatment continued, Elyse found reassurance in a care team that was honest, attentive and deeply invested in her well-being.
“The team from the start has been absolutely fantastic — not just giving me what I want to hear or babying me. Straight answers and being direct with me. Being patient with me,” Elyse said.
She credits her oncologist, Georgia Cancer Specialists’ Dr. Mary Ninan, for closely monitoring her health and advocating for what was best, even when it was difficult.
“There were several times that my blood counts were not good enough for treatment and I got mad at her, but she was looking out for me and my overall health,” Elyse said. “She was so patient and kind with me and knew what I needed.”
Beyond oncology care, Elyse also found meaningful support through lymphedema therapy.
“My lymphedema therapist — Holly — was very instrumental in advocating for myself,” she said, noting how Holly helped her communicate clearly with other providers. Elyse even came to look forward to those visits.
“I shared my experience with another survivor who was struggling and expressed hating her lymphedema therapy, and shared it was my favorite appointment of the week, where I got massaged and pampered.”
Through honest communication, advocacy and compassionate care, Elyse’s experience at Northside became a cornerstone of her recovery — one that empowered her to speak up for herself and find strength throughout treatment.
Elyse recently told her story to RiversandFeathers.com. Read the story here.
LEARN MORE ABOUT BREAST CANCER CARE AT NORTHSIDE.
*The health story shared here is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Patients should consult with their own physician before making medical decisions.
