Adventist Health Bakersfield | You + Us | Fall 2019

4 Living God’s love by inspiring health, wholeness and hope. Shelby Rhynes says being diagnosed with breast cancer saved her life, but not for the reason you might think. On her 36th birthday, Shelby found out she had stage I breast cancer. Just two weeks earlier, the athletic wife and mother of two was adjusting her sports bra when she felt a lump on her left breast. “I made an appointment with my gynecologist that day,” says Shelby. “I was freaked out. I was Googling to get all kinds of information.” Shelby had imaging done, followed by a biopsy. It was on her birthday that breast surgeon Francesca Hoehne, MD, shared her diagnosis. She was grateful for the reassuring way Dr. Hoehne both broke the news and counseled her. “Dr. Hoehne treated me like family and encouraged me to have genetic testing done, since my mother passed away from stomach cancer,” she says. Things get complicated Shelby met with a genetics nurse counselor at the Adventist Health AIS Cancer Center. “I was surprised to learn it only took one vial of blood to test for cancer-causing genes,” Shelby says. “It also helped me determine my treatment.” She tested positive for a rare gene mutation: CDH1. It puts women and men at high risk of stomach cancer and also raises the risk of breast cancer. Inspiring Wholeness YOU + US : Together i nsp i red ™ The birthday Shelby will never forget ‘A walking miracle ’ Get the best cancer care in Kern County. Learn more or request an appointment online at ahbakersfield.org/breast-center .

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