A brave fighter turned five-year survivor
Parkland patient shares breast cancer journey, encourages early detection
When Janet Braun looks back on her journey, she sees Parkland Health as the constant thread that saved her life more than once.
Braun first came to Parkland in 2012 after a domestic violence incident that nearly killed her. “Parkland saved my life then,” she said, “and eight years later, they saved it again when I was diagnosed with breast cancer.”
Braun had been diligent about her annual mammograms, always returning to Parkland each year. That consistency, she said, proved critical. In 2020, her imaging results looked different. Because her care team had several years of imaging on file, they could see the change immediately. “That was so important to me,” Braun recalls. “It was just 11 months since my last mammogram, and it was scary how quickly the cancer grew.”
“We’ve seen patients who had a completely normal mammogram just a few months ago and come back with a growing lump. That’s how fast breast cancer can appear, which is why catching it early makes such a difference,” said Julie Dreadin, DNP, WHNP-BC, an Advanced Practice Provider in Parkland’s Oncology Clinic.
Within weeks, Braun had appointments with multiple people within Parkland’s breast cancer team including surgeons, reconstructive specialists and oncology experts. When she met with her surgeon, she made her decision clear. “I said ‘I want both breasts removed. If it popped up that quickly, I’m not taking any chances.’”Her doctors supported her plan, and further testing revealed the cancer was more aggressive than expected. Surgery confirmed she made the right choice. By the end of 2020, she had undergone a double mastectomy and was on the path to recovery.
Now 74, Braun is celebrating her fifth year of survivorship. She credits not only the medical expertise but also the compassion of her Parkland care team. “Parkland has a volume of patients that is incredible, but when someone is ill, your follow-up is amazing. Everything stops for you,” she said. “I’ve never felt like just a patient. Parkland made me feel like an important person.”
Beyond her own cancer fight, Braun has become a vocal advocate for early detection. She encourages friends, family and even strangers to get screened. “I beat it over the head with everyone I know, get your mammogram. It’s not comfortable, but it can save your life,” Braun said. “Thanks to breast cancer I don’t have any breasts anymore, but I’m alive, and that’s what matters.”
“When we find cancer early, before it spreads, it gives surgeons and oncologists more options — and gives patients a much better chance. It’s easier to treat and often curable,” said Dreadin. “Most of the time, we get to see happy outcomes. Today, a breast cancer diagnosis often means survivorship. Our patients are living long, full lives with their families. Many even go on to become advocates themselves — they’re walking testaments to what a mammogram can do and living proof that early detection truly saves lives.”
Braun also believes in the power of community. She attends support groups, encourages others who are newly diagnosed and celebrates every survivor she meets. “We survivors are a special community,” she said. “The more we talk about it, the more people will get help. Don’t just go home and cry about it, figure out your options. When I was first diagnosed, I told my family, ‘I want this cancer gone.’ And that’s what we did.”
Today, Braun continues to receive regular follow-up care at Parkland, including scans and lab tests to monitor for any recurrence. She also sees hope in Parkland’s mobile mammography unit that travels into the community. “Whenever I see the van, it makes me feel good knowing someone is getting a mammogram who might not otherwise have the chance. That’s fabulous.”
Five years out from her diagnosis, Braun calls herself blessed. She knows breast cancer is still a difficult disease, but she is proof that early detection, expert care and determination can make all the difference.
“Don’t just wait for October,” she urges. “Do your mammogram in March or May, just do it. That’s the best gift you can give yourself.”
Parkland’s Breast Health Center provides no-cost screening mammograms for women who live in Dallas County. If you are 40-74 years old and have not had a mammogram in the last 12 months, you can schedule one by visiting www.parklandhealth.org/mammograms-save-lives.
For more information about Parkland services, visit www.parklandhealth.org.
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