Mary Dominiecki, PhD, a dedicated wife, mother of three and Penn State alum, has led her life guided by science. Mary fully understands the powers of science and community when it comes to breast cancer research and treatment. That is why she immediately joined Komen’s ShareForCures when she learned about it, following her breast cancer diagnosis.
Knowing the impact that research engaging diverse participants can have on improving care and treatment, Mary wanted the chance to give back while she navigated through her own experience. Her professional career in health care market research with a specialty in oncology, paired with a family history of breast cancer on her mother’s side, underscored her diligence with routinely getting her yearly mammograms and understanding the importance of early detection.
In 2016, Mary was attending the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting for work when she noticed one of her nipples was completely flat. Her intuition, honed by years of working with oncology, whispered warnings that something wasn’t right. As Mary recounts, “I came home from the conference. I was busy. I was watching my nephew because my sister was having her second baby. Then I was feeling around and felt something underneath the flattened nipple. That’s when I was like ‘okay, I need to do something right now.’”
Mary was able to get an appointment with her doctor’s office the same day. The doctor she saw advised a mammogram and an ultrasound. The mammogram was negative. “I’m getting the ultrasound done and they’re taking a while. I’m trying not to read too much into it,” says Mary. “Finally, they pulled me back into a room where it was just me and the radiologist. I’m still in my gown, he has no tissues, and he says, ‘this is highly suspicious of breast cancer.’”
Following a biopsy, Mary was diagnosed with stage 2B lobular breast cancer. Even with as much as she knew about oncology, she had never heard of “lobular” before. Lobular breast cancer (also called invasive lobular carcinoma; or ILC) is breast cancer that starts in the milk-producing gland, or lobules, of your breast and has spread into surrounding breast tissue.
Hailing from Pennsylvania, Mary was able to secure a surgeon and oncologist who were on the same team at Penn Medicine, which gave her peace of mind through her experience. She recalls, “It was clear they were working as a team, which made me feel really good.” Due to her age at the time (44), the doctors recommended chemotherapy first. After that, Mary had a double mastectomy with DIEP flap reconstruction and radiation to follow. She is now on an aromatase inhibitor. “I’m at year seven of the aromatase inhibitor. They are trying to get me to 10.”
Mary has been engaged with Komen for a long time, participating in 5K’s and 3-Day events. She is also a Komen Advocate in Science, so she was excited to learn about ShareForCures as a part of her personal experience. ShareForCures is Komen’s inclusive breast cancer research registry designed to bridge the gap between patients and researchers, pooling together a wealth of diverse data to drive progress.
For Mary, joining ShareForCures was a testament of her unwavering commitment to making a difference in breast cancer research. “I want to get to a place where everything is connected,” she says. “I want doctors and researchers to be able to make the same connections I am making on my own because I know my body so well.”
“With my science background, I want to do anything I can to make sure that data is there and available for researchers who are looking at things. It was super easy, and you know, if someone can benefit, whether it’s me or someone down the road, I really want to do anything I can to further things along.”
“I think it took five minutes,” she recalls on joining ShareForCures. “With my science background, I want to do anything I can to make sure that data is there and available for researchers who are looking at things. It was super easy, and you know, if someone can benefit, whether it’s me or someone down the road, I really want to do anything I can to further things along.”
Mary Dominiecki’s story echoes empowerment. Her unwavering dedication to science not only defines her professional life but also became her guiding light through her breast cancer experience. Mary is a beacon of hope, advocating for early detection and the importance of data-driven research. Her decision to join ShareForCures reflects her enduring commitment to paving the way for future breakthroughs in breast cancer research and treatment. As Mary continues her journey, she reminds us all to cherish each moment, to embrace life’s challenges with courage and to never underestimate the power of science and community.
