Comprehensive Breast Cancer Care Leads to Long-Term Survivorship

Before a routine mammogram in July 2012, Sian Bevans noticed a lump in her left breast.

“I have always had fibrocystic breasts, so I made it a habit to pay close attention to any changes, especially if a lump felt different,” Sian, 55, says. She had been diagnosed with the noncancerous condition that causes painful lumpy breast tissue when she was 18 years old.

Although she lived in the Bahamas, Sian had been traveling for care at Cleveland Clinic in Florida after a ruptured ovarian cyst and abnormal results from cancer screenings, and her mammogram was scheduled at Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital.

She informed the radiologist who was performing the screening about the newly discovered lump. Afterward, an ultrasound and needle biopsy were done, and a marker was placed on the lump to confirm it had been previously examined and was fibrocystic.

“My journey has taught me the importance of listening to your body and never ignoring a reminder to follow up. Early detection truly saves lives.”

“The radiologist told me there were some calcifications seen on the mammogram in my right breast and recommended a follow-up to monitor them,” Sian says. “At that time, I had never heard of calcifications and did not pay much attention to the report.”

Cleveland Clinic in Florida sent Sian several reminders to follow up on the calcifications, but she had just started a new job as Director of Human Resources at the Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD), the management company at The Lynden Pindling International Airport in The Bahamas.

“That took all my focus, so I put it off,” Sian says.

In November 2013, while making a presentation on behalf of NAD to Sister Sister Breast Cancer Support Group, a Bahamian organization that offers financial and emotional support to individuals undergoing breast cancer treatment, Sian says she decided to ask someone there about the calcifications.

“That is when I learned they could be something serious and that I needed to follow up right away,” she says.

The following January, Sian made an appointment with breast surgical oncologist Margaret Thompson, MD, for a follow-up.

“She was so warm and easy to talk to,” Sian says. “Even when she expressed real concern, I still felt calm and reassured.”

Dr. Thompson ordered another mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy of the right breast and underarm and found that Sian had stage 2b triple-positive cancer in her right breast and lymph nodes.

She immediately put together a plan of action that included oncologist Thomas Samuel, MD.

“Both doctors were very direct in explaining that the cancer was aggressive and called for a comprehensive treatment plan,” Sian says.

They recommended a bilateral mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and maintenance medication for 10 years after treatment. Because the likelihood of the cancer recurring in the reproductive organs was high, the doctors also recommended a radical hysterectomy.

Sian and her husband on vacation.

“At first, it all felt like so much to take in, but I followed their recommendations to the letter,” Sian says. “Through it all, my faith in God, the love and support of my family and friends, and the amazing team at Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital, gave me the strength I needed to get through each stage.”

Sian is now 11 years past her diagnosis. She finished up her medication in May 2025 and says she is feeling better and more like herself again.

Regarding her care at Cleveland Clinic in Florida, Sian says she “could not have asked for a better team to walk with me through this journey.”

“The level of service, support, organization, and professionalism I received during this time was truly unmatched,” she says. “Every staff member was cheerful and comforting. They made sure I fully understood every treatment option and ensured I felt included in every decision about my care. I could reach my doctors whenever I needed, and every concern I raised was addressed promptly and thoroughly.”

Sian and her family enjoying the snow.

Sian is also very grateful to her “incredibly supportive family,” which includes her husband, Rochielle, three children, Tariq, Aliyah, and Alycia, as well as her two sisters, Sonja and Sharece, and brother, Stephen.

“Looking back, I am deeply grateful for life, for faith, and for the people who stood beside me,” she says. “My journey has taught me the importance of listening to your body and never ignoring a reminder to follow up. Early detection truly saves lives.”