Renee Bryant, of Cedar Rapids, has always been good about receiving her annual screening mammogram to check for breast cancer. In late 2024, when it was time for her yearly appointment at UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Breast and Bone Health, she was busy and accidentally missed it. Fortunately, she called to reschedule.
“I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I missed it,’” recalled Bryant. “I was just busy. So, I ended up getting it done in February 2025.”
She wasn’t experiencing any symptoms at the time, and expected it be routine. It wasn’t.
When the care team asked her to speak with a doctor after the mammogram, Renee knew something was different. Soon after, a biopsy confirmed Bryant had breast cancer.
A Care Coordinator to Help Navigate the Journey
Breaking the news to Bryant was her care coordinator, Kimmie Carney, RN, ACLS, BLS. A care coordinator is a patient’s constant point of contact throughout the cancer journey, from diagnosis through treatment and beyond.
“I received the call from Kimmie, which was really cool, because she was there with me during my biopsy,” shared Bryant. “I really appreciated that because I wasn’t handed off to someone else. I had someone walking through the process with me.”
After receiving the news, Carney and Bryant met to discuss next steps.
“She was very detailed. She showed me the doctors and surgeons and we went through the process,” said Bryant. “It wasn’t long, and I was set up for my appointment with my surgeon.”
A ‘Phenomenal, Caring’ Team
The surgeon Bryant met with was Kerri Nowell, MD, FACS, general surgeon with Physicians’ Clinic of Iowa.
“At first we thought we were just going to do a lumpectomy,” said Bryant. “But Dr. Nowell wanted me to have an MRI done to make sure it hadn’t spread to my lymph nodes.”
That decision paid off as the MRI revealed suspicious lymph nodes which were then confirmed to be cancer. This changed the treatment plan, and Bryant went to see Rasa Buntinas, MD, medical oncologist with Physicians’ Clinic of Iowa Hematology and Oncology, to start chemotherapy before the surgery.
“I’m just thankful Dr. Nowell decided to order that MRI,” said Bryant. “I started chemo in March and went every three weeks through July. You can tell the team at PCI Hematology and Oncology loves their jobs by the way they cared for us. They made me feel like I could get through it, and I did.”
Upon completing chemo, it was now time for Bryant to have surgery. Due to the cancer in her lymph nodes, Dr. Nowell performed a bilateral mastectomy – or surgery to remove all the tissue from both breasts. Immediately after the mastectomy, Vanessa Leonhard, DO, plastic and reconstructive surgeon with Physicians’ Clinic of Iowa, performed Bryant’s reconstruction procedure.
“I ended up making the decision to have the bilateral mastectomy because there would be a lower chance of recurrence,” said Bryant. “Drs. Nowell and Leonhard were amazing. They are phenomenal surgeons.”
With surgery complete, Bryant’s final step in treatment is radiation, which she started in late October. She will go Monday through Friday for five weeks before ringing the bell.
Rebuilding Strength After Surgery
Following her surgery, Bryant took advantage of the exercise program at the Nassif Community Cancer Center, where she worked on her range of motion with Sayde Alexandrescu, MSES, MSYT, RYT, ACSM-CEP, exercise program specialist, and Matt Schmitz, CSCS, CES, AFT, manager and cancer exercise specialist.
“I’m very glad I went to meet with Matt and Sayde. They’re amazing,” shared Bryant. “I was having a hard time with my range of motion the first time I saw them, and they showed me some exercises to do, and when I came back the next week, I was ready for radiation. I went in for my radiation simulation appointment and I had no problem putting my arm behind my back like it needed to be.”
“Five Stars” for Coordinated Care
As Bryant reflects on her experience with breast cancer, she really appreciates how coordinated care made for an extremely smooth journey.
“The ball was never dropped,” she said. “I went from breast and bone to chemo to surgery to radiation and everyone was linked up and talking to each other. And Kimmie, as my care coordinator, gets five stars!”
Renee’s Advice to Other Women: Find Your Support System
In addition to receiving your annual mammogram, Bryant wants women to know they shouldn’t go through the breast cancer journey alone.
“You have to think positive and surround yourself with people who believe in you and support you,” she said. “I’m so grateful to my husband Daryl for being a caregiver while working and being an amazing father, and for my family and church family for being my support system. You definitely want to surround yourself with amazing people if you’re going through this journey.”
Experienced Breast Cancer Care
If you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer, the Nassif Community Cancer is here for you. For more information about the Community Cancer Center and extensive offering of support services, call (319) 558-4876 or visit communitycancercenter.org.
Get Your Annual Screening Mammogram
It’s recommended women start with a baseline mammogram between the ages of 35-40, then begin annual screening mammograms at age 40, or sooner if there’s a family history of breast cancer. To schedule your mammogram, talk to your healthcare provider or call (319) 369-7216 to schedule your mammogram at one of St. Luke’s Breast and Bone Health’s three convenient locations. St. Luke’s Breast and Bone Health also offers walk-in mammograms Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., with a doctor’s order.
