Mother and Daughter From the Bahamas Share Same Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Same Team of Specialists

Italia Russell is happy to be getting back to her normal life these days with her husband and family, travel and work. For over a year now the Freeport, Grand Bahama, resident has been dealing with a breast cancer diagnosis and travels back and forth to Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital for treatment.

Her cancer journey began in August of 2023 when she discovered a lump in her breast shortly after her 30^th birthday. She said she knew right away it was cancer. A month earlier she had tested positive for the BRCA gene (BRCA stands for BReast CAncer), which meant she was at an increased risk for developing breast cancer in her lifetime. She had done the testing at the urging of Elizabeth Stone, MD, an oncologist at Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital.

Left: Italia and her mother during a visit to Weston Hospital. Right: Life in the Bahamas with her husband, Jameiko, before her breast cancer diagnosis.

Dr. Stone had treated Italia’s mother 15 years prior for stage 2, triple-negative breast cancer. Italia’s mother had tested positive for the BRCA gene. At the time her mother was diagnosed, Italia was 16 and, though Dr. Stone had encouraged her then to get tested for BRCA as well, Italia said she was too afraid to learn the results.  BRCA gene mutations are hereditary.

Italia said she decided to go through with the genetic test in July 2023 because she was with her mother at her mother’s appointment with Dr. Stone.

When Italia discovered the lump in August she said she knew what she would do.  

“I knew that if this was heading down the path I thought it was, I’m definitely going to Cleveland Clinic,” she says. Her mother had undergone a mastectomy and chemotherapy there and Italia was impressed with the care she received, so Italia’s mother called Dr. Stone, who started the process by putting in orders for different tests.

Italia headed to Florida and had a mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy done. On Sept. 19, 2023, Italia was diagnosed with stage 2, triple-negative breast cancer.

Italia was able to stay with an aunt in the Weston, Florida, area while she underwent chemotherapy treatments that started in October 2023 and ended in April of this year. Dr. Stone had advised her not to travel during the time of her treatments because of her compromised immune system, which meant she could not fly home to see her husband and family. That, she said, was a “huge sacrifice” but she was grateful to be able to receive her care at Cleveland Clinic.

In May, she underwent a double mastectomy performed by Cassann Blake, MD, to remove the unhealthy breast tissue.  At the same time, plastic surgeon Andres Mascaro, MD, performed a Goldilocks procedure, a reconstruction technique in which remaining healthy skin and fatty tissue is used to form mounds and give shape to the breast area. Patients who undergo this fairly new procedure may go on to have a more robust reconstruction of the breast or opt to not do any more.

Italia has been receiving immunotherapy as part of her care as well. Immunotherapy helps the immune system identify and destroy cancer cells. She has three more immunotherapy infusions left to do, which will have her traveling back and forth to Weston Hospital for a while longer.

Italia, Dr. Elizabeth Stone and her mother, Lori on Italia’s final day of chemotherapy.

Italia says she is feeling better now, though she is still dealing with the mental and emotional strain from the diagnosis. Her body responded well to the chemotherapy and her tumor was gone by the time she had the mastectomy. She has no evidence of the disease at this point.

Italia says if she had had the BRCA testing when she was 16 she would likely have been doing more preventive screenings and maybe her cancer could have been caught earlier. She encourages anyone who is advised by a doctor to undergo genetic testing to do it.

Italia’s friends gifted her a photoshoot for her 31^st birthday to celebrate her life.

“Even though you may be afraid, it could prevent you from actually having to go through all of this,” she says. “And the earlier you catch cancer, the better the response to treatment and the chance of survival.”