Good Samaritan cancer survivor unfurls 'Bear Down' flag at Bears game

Advocate Health Care breast cancer patient Erica Swanson was recognized as the Chicago Bears' special guest during the "Bear Down" flag ceremony last evening before the Bears took on the Carolina Panthers at Soldier Field.

Advocate and the Bears invited Erica, a Plainfield resident and a patient at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, to help unfurl the giant flag on the field during pregame introductions and participate additional pregame activities at Soldier Field. She was joined on the field by her husband, Ken, before enjoying the game from the stands.

Erica works as a special education teacher in the Plainfield School District and also leads a service group at her middle school as well as at her church in Joliet. And her story of survival serves as another great example of how early detection can reduce risk and save lives.

Erica was just 34 when her mother passed away after battling breast cancer and lymphoma, and she immediately began regular screenings. At 38, she had her first concern when she found a lump in her side. It turned out to be a cyst and was easily taken care of. However, doctors took notice of her left side and some atypical cells that were growing. The cells were benign, but they did not follow a typical pattern, and they were removed as a preventative measure. This, however, added to her risk factor and concern, so a regular screenings every 6 months would now become part of her routine.

This past May, things took an unfortunate turn during a normal screening. Something appeared on both the MRI and mammogram. After a biopsy, she was diagnosed with Stage 0 Ductal Carcinoma In Situ Grade 2 breast cancer.

Erica, who was 45 at the time, did not absorb the information well, and needed to get past the shock of being told that what was found was malignant, and that she had breast cancer. In July, she made the decision to have a lumpectomy, and after a re-incision, more cancer was removed. Had she not had regular screenings, it could have been much worse.

"I was unaware that Stage 0 even existed, but I learned over time that I honestly had one of the best-case scenarios for breast cancer and a high cure rate," Swanson said.

"I was so grateful for the extra care and attention that Dr. Gale England and her staff had taken over the years. Because their proactive plan allowed me to catch things early and act more readily with more options. I have had other friends in my life that have not been as fortunate with their diagnosis, and have had a longer road of treatment and recovery."

In September, she started 20 sessions of daily radiation treatments, with the last week being a boost to the area where the incision took place. Her last treatment was October 9th. She is now cancer free and in the last stage of care, the long-term care, being overseen by oncologist Dr. Niel Kanu Dulal. She no longer has to leave school early for treatments, and her students and co-workers greeted her back with cheer and support.

"I am ever so grateful to all the care from my team of physicians at Good Samaritan Hospital, and the Bhorade Cancer Center," Swanson said. "A special thank you to the ongoing attention to detail and care from Dr. England, Dr. Dalal, Dr. Paul Balash, Dr. Preeti Parhar and all of their staff, the radiologists and everyone involved in my journey. I am forever grateful.

"When I first began this journey I did not know how to talk about it. It took me a while to open up. But I do want other to know because it is so very important to take the time out for yourself, talk with your doctors and stay on top of your preventative care. My team of doctors helped me create a routine over the past 8 years that allowed me to have options and be proactive with what was happening to my body. Early intervention played a huge role in this and so I now share my story in hopes that others make sure to take time for themselves."