At 35, Ellen Grgurich thought she was starting over. She had a new apartment in downtown Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and a newfound sense of independence. But one self-exam revealed a lump in her breast that shifted her story in an instant.
She remembers the moment the fear set in but chose to be confident and face it head-on.
“Don’t run away from the fear,” she said. “The fear of the unknown is worse than fear of finding out exactly what’s going on.”
Grgurich made an appointment with her primary care team at Sanford Health in Sioux Falls. The team moved quickly, scheduling her for an ultrasound, biopsy, and PET scan.
Through the tests, the official diagnosis was confirmed: Stage 2 triple-negative breast cancer.
“I felt a level of numbness,” she said. “I’m 35. I’m supposed to be healthy.”
Grgurich met with her oncology and surgical teams at Sanford Health to discuss the standard plan of care.
But another option emerged: a clinical trial. A randomized study with two arms: one following the standard treatment plan, the other testing a shorter course of chemotherapy with a “cousin drug.” Grgurich was placed in the shorter course of treatment.
Hope for the future
Allison Watson, M.D., Ph.D., a hematology and oncology specialist at Sanford Health, led the team. Dr. Watson and others walked Grgurich through each step, answering questions and ensuring she had the information she needed to make the right decisions for herself.
While the clinical trial shortened her cancer treatment, it also gave her something more: hope for the future. Grgurich said it was rewarding to know that her participation in the trial could help other women diagnosed with breast cancer.
“If it can make the process even a smidge better for somebody, then I want to be a part of that,” she said.
Life during treatment
Her treatment began quickly, she lost her hair and felt the effects of fatigue, numbness and rough nights. Still, she maintained a sense of normalcy.
Her family rallied around her in support, sending letters and care packages. Through the process, she grew closer to relatives she hadn’t been as connected to before, building a different connection in unfortunate circumstances.
Her dog, Rigby, was her constant companion through treatment. Adopted just months before her diagnosis, he provided comfort on the hardest days and kept her moving forward.
“Having a dog helped me still get out and move around,” Grgurich said. “It helped me from just going into a dark place.”
Her work in the pharmaceutical industry also provided a chance for her to get back into the routine of everyday life. Grgurich was able to keep working throughout treatment.
“My team at work was amazing through the whole process,” she said. “Work provided a distraction, and it was nice to have that support system.”
A fresh outlook on life
Today, Grgurich is cancer-free. Her latest test results show no sign of the breast cancer that defined her year.
“There’s this newfound appreciation for everything, like just my mundane day-to-day life that I didn’t really have before,” she said.
Now, at 36, Grgurich is starting over. Again. She is buying a house, continuing therapy for her mental well-being, and embracing life with a new perspective.
Learn more
- Your surgical options after a breast cancer diagnosis
- Survivorship: A critical part of the cancer journey
- Clinical trial cuts radiation time dramatically
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Posted In Cancer, Cancer Screenings, Cancer Treatments, Research
