Amy Russell-Parliman was just 39 years old when her life changed forever. Late in 2013, she felt a lump in her breast. “I was told it was just a ligament issue, that I had no family history and that I was too young,” says the director of imaging at Garnet Health Medical Center, where she also oversees the Breast Center. “But I knew it was something—and I insisted on getting it checked out.”  In early 2014, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. 

Amy knew the clinical side of cancer. But being a patient brought a whole new perspective. “Despite my health care background, it was hard to focus and make decisions as a patient,” she recalls. “You want to know everything, but sometimes you don’t even know what to ask.”

Surgery revealed she had cancer in both breasts and in her lymph nodes. What followed was a bilateral mastectomy, years of treatment and then the revelation in 2019 that the cancer was metastatic—it had spread from its original location to other parts of her body. 

The good news? Amy currently has no evidence of cancer. But scans, medication and treatment will be with her indefinitely.

Building a community of support

For Amy, one of the most important lessons of her 12-year cancer journey has been that knowledge is power. “Knowing the right questions to ask can make all the difference,” she says. “Knowing that you have choices and you should always be at the center of care. You have a voice—use it to get educated.” But she also advises trying not to take in too much at once. “When I look back, I realized my doctors were giving me only the information my brain could process at that moment. You have to trust that answers will come, that you’ll get the information you need, when you need it.”

A breast cancer diagnosis can feel overwhelming and isolating, but Amy emphasizes that no one should go through it alone. For instance, when someone is first diagnosed at Garnet Health, a nurse navigator will guide them through the process. But if a practice does not have a nurse navigator, then patients should feel empowered to ask for resources. “Ask your provider to connect you with another patient. Do your research. The American Cancer Society has reputable, evidence-based resources that can help,” she explains. “At each point along the way, you’ll be surprised at the helping hands available to support you.”

Advocate: For yourself and for others

To those who may have just found a lump, or who feel something is “off,” Amy’s advice is clear: Be persistent. “Listen to your body. Sometimes symptoms aren’t obvious—it’s not always a lump. You may just feel tired or run down. Don’t be dismissed. Get your annual checkup. And this isn’t just for women—men can get breast cancer too.”

She encourages patients to take control of their care. “Ask questions. Get a second opinion. Keep searching until you feel heard. You have a voice and a choice with your provider.”

Self-care is also essential. “Whether you’re newly diagnosed or living with metastatic cancer, self-care and palliative care are important. Find a community. Women are living longer with new treatments and medications, but we need to make sure we’re supporting the whole person, not just treating the disease.”

A path forward

Treatments and diagnostics continue to evolve. From 3-D mammography and MRI to genetic testing, patients today have more technology available to them than ever before. Amy says these advances bring hope, but resources and support remain just as critical. “We can do better. Patients deserve not only access to the latest treatments, but also clear guidance on how to navigate the journey.”

Despite her diagnosis, Amy’s focus is on living fully and paying forward the support she’s received. “We’re all surviving something. I want to leave the world a little better and enjoy my life. I don’t want to be defined by my diagnosis. People helped me along the way with small things—tips about food, advice about care—and now I want to help others. That’s what advocacy is about.”

Working in the Breast Center at Garnet Health, she knows firsthand how community and advocacy change lives. “I very much feel like this job at Garnet Health, this career, chose me. It’s not work; it’s my calling. Every patient’s journey is personal, and each deserves to be heard and supported.”

Her message this Breast Cancer Awareness Month is simple but powerful: “This isn’t just about pink ribbons. We are people. My wish is simply for one more day before knowing life with cancer—but since I can’t have that, I want to take what I have learned, using my knowledge as both a health care provider and a patient, to make sure others feel supported, empowered and less alone.”

Garnet Health offers individualized, patient-focused breast cancer care services and provides extensive supportive and educational resources to help you navigate treatment and follow-up care. To learn more, visit www.garnethealth.org/breastcare or call 845/333-7056.