Patient Profile of Tara O’Meara: Mothering Through Breast Cancer
Tara O’Meara was a busy stay-at-home parent and school volunteer when she learned on her children’s last day of school in June of 2022 that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. “It was shocking,” she said of the news.
The hospital radiologist phoned with the diagnosis, but they were two hours late, as Tara’s online MyChart records had notified her of the news first. “I was very angry about finding out that way,” recalls Tara, “but thankful we have a doctor in the family that I could call to discuss what all the test results meant.”
Tara’s cancer was detected after a routine mammogram, though because of COVID backlog, the scan was a year behind schedule. She is one of a growing number of younger American women to be diagnosed with breast cancer. Tara is now 43 years old and has no family history of the disease.
After being referred by her husband’s doctor, Tara chose to be treated by Dr. Srilata Gundala of Hope & Healing Cancer Services in Hinsdale, Illinois. “I liked and trusted her,” says Tara, “She met with me within a week and made me feel comfortable right away.”
Tara’s breast cancer was treated aggressively with chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation, despite a stage I diagnosis. There were six rounds of chemo spaced every three weeks and, almost like clockwork, Tara knew how she would be feeling on any given day of the treatment cycle.
“I would feel weak and tired about 36 hours after the chemo was given, then my recovery would start on day eight of the cycle. I would have no energy to even walk or open the door in those days before recovery.” Three hospitalizations were required during the six cycles of chemo to try and jump start her embattled immune system.
After a short recovery post chemo (fortuitously timed to enjoy the holidays with family), Tara’s radiation cycle began in January of 2023. This, too, was a grueling process which resulted in pain, fatigue, third-degree burns, and another unexpected hospitalization. A lumpectomy occurred in this period, too.
“When you’re a mom and you’re running a household, in bed with physical and mental pain – it was hard,” says Tara. “My husband was a rockstar. He knew the girls’ schedules and kept us going.” Tara opted to keep the news of her diagnosis to her close friends and family.
“Things could not have gone better,” she says, of her months in active treatment, “My husband is self-employed, so could rearrange his schedule as needed. My family is lucky. Things worked out and I cannot complain. We didn’t need a lot of people to help, but don’t play the victim – accept help when you need it.”
Tara works to remain positive about her experiences and to put things in perspective. When asked if she had advice for others in a similar situation, Tara is quick with a response. “We were always honest with our kids. We didn’t see them go emotionally up or down. It was important to tell my kids the truth. They are stronger for it, wiser and stronger.”
Another coping strategy that helped Tara get through treatment was to keep a positive attitude. “Losing hair is painful. Not just emotionally, but physically. My scalp really hurt. I got a buzz cut after two days of hair loss. That was hard, but I told myself, ‘I’m gonna look like GI Jane.’ I always try to see the glass as half full.”
Tara also enjoyed a makeup class she took through the Wellness House, which helped her feel more like herself. “Help gets reciprocated,” Tara says, “I needed to be around people who were positive.”
Off treatment for a full year now, Tara’s latest mammogram was clean. She will remain on Tamoxifen for five years post treatment. Looking back, Tara reflects, “It’s almost like it never happened, the cancer thing.”
Dr. Gundala wants all her patients to feel that way after treatment, “Here at Hope & Healing, given that we lack the bureaucracy that hospitals contend with, we can provide that personalized, compassionate care that Tara received. That quality of care is what enables our patients to move forward after their treatment, like Tara did, leaving ‘the cancer thing’ behind. I cannot imagine a better outcome for any of my patients. I believe the caring staff here at Hope & Healing make that happen.”
Written By: Sheila Quirke, MSW
Reviewed By: Srilata Gundala, MD
