“She was very caring throughout, she really read all my reports, was on top of the situation. I really felt that somebody was holding my hand. She was very, very compassionate, guiding me. I credit Dr. Gonzalez with saving my life.”
In 2022, Stacy Pollack, 65-year-old resident of Jackson, New Jersey, found herself needing a new doctor within her insurance plan. She was referred to Melissa Gonzalez, MD, a family medicine provider, a part of RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group and affiliated with Monmouth Medical Center.
During Stacy’s new patient appointment in October, Dr. Gonzalez performed a pap smear as part of her checkup. “I wasn’t even going to do it, but she urged me to do it, and it came back abnormal,” Stacy explained.
“Had it not been for Dr. Gonzalez offering that – I don’t know. I might not be alive.”
Stacy ended up needing to get a few biopsies to determine a diagnosis, resulting in a full hysterectomy in March 2023. During the procedure, an 11 cm cyst was found to be cancerous. Stacy was diagnosed with stage 4 cervical cancer. “Thinking I had nothing, ended up being stage 4 cancer.” After robotic surgery, Stacey was able to return to work as a preschool director after a few weeks.
Following surgery, Stacy underwent daily radiation for 5 consecutive weeks, accompanied by her husband, Irvin. Her support system also included her six adult children and close friends. After a month-long recovery, radiation was followed by chemotherapy once per week for a total of 3 rounds. Her last session was September 27, 2023.
Chemotherapy resulted in many side effects for Stacy. She was unable to return back to work immediately due to chemo-brain. “I would get lost on my own block,” she explained. “I’d be driving to work – I’d been working there for 10 years – and I would get lost. I’d have to pull over, crying, and call my husband for help.”
Not only was she mentally weak, but physically too. An avid runner, Stacy found it difficult just to walk after treatment. It took some time, but she is fully back to running today.
Dr. Gonzalez was very supportive during Stacy’s cancer treatment. “She was very caring throughout, she really read all my reports, was on top of the situation. I really felt that somebody was holding my hand. She was very, very compassionate, guiding me,” Stacy said. “I credit Dr. Gonzalez with saving my life.”
“Stacy’s story is a powerful reminder of the importance of early detection through routine screening and trusting the process with your primary care doctor. Despite being close to the age of exemption, the patient trusted my guidance and recommendations that ultimately led to a lifesaving diagnosis. Today, she is cancer free. Stacy is a reminder of why we never stop advocating for our patients. Her success is a testament to the impact of early detection and proactive care and I am beyond grateful to have been part of her story.” – Melissa Gonzalez, MD
Stacy completed her treatment over a year and a half ago and is now cancer free. She remains under close monitoring, receiving cancer scans every 3 months, which will decrease over time.
“My lesson for all women – don’t think you’re too old for a pap smear.”
Request a cervical cancer screening appointment or call 888-724-7123 to make an appointment with one of our doctors to discuss what cervical cancer screening is right for you.
RWJBarnabas Health, together with Rutgers Cancer Institute, the state’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, provides advanced care and diagnostics in cervical cancer.