On May 1, 2009, at age 34, Julie Lewen received news that no woman wants to hear: “You have breast cancer.”
“The diagnosis was very shocking,” says Lewen, a West Knoxville resident. “I was so young, and there was no history of cancer in my family at all.”
Lewen’s breast clinic referred her to Dr. Lytle Brown IV of Premier Surgical Associates, a referral for which she is grateful.
“I was impressed by how quickly they were able to get me in to see Dr. Brown and very impressed by his demeanor. He was calm, encouraging and positive,” says Lewen. “He told me that breast cancer is not a death sentence. Those words were just what I needed to hear. They stay with me today.”
Lewen added that Dr. Brown’s level of experience in dealing with breast cancer gave her the confidence she needed to go forward. “He explained everything very clearly, and I felt like I could trust him completely. It made everything so much easier. Also, I heard such good things about him when I told people he was my doctor. I sought a second opinion, but I decided to stay with Dr. Brown.”
Lewen’s original treatment plan called for chemotherapy prior to surgery, but that plan was changed when there were problems with the insertion of her chemo port. “Another doctor – not associated with Premier Surgical – inserted my chemo port. There was a problem with the procedure, and I ended up with a 30 percent collapsed lung. My husband called Dr. Brown. Even though we had only met Dr. Brown a week before, he met us at the emergency room. I could tell he really cared. It was such a comfort.”
The problem with Lewen’s lung resolved itself, but having chemo was problematic because of an increased risk of infection. The doctors determined surgery before chemo was the best option. “They made that decision on a Wednesday. I had a double mastectomy and all my lymph nodes removed on Friday and left the hospital the next day,” says Lewen. “I was very pleased with the way Dr. Brown performed my surgery. Thankfully, I pretty much have full function in my arm.”
Lewen’s treatment included six rounds of chemo. She did not need radiation. Today, this mother of two young children is cancer-free and enjoying life. “I just have to have yearly checkups,” said Lewen, who at the time of this interview was planning to leave for a two-week beach trip.
Dr. Brown, a surgeon specializing in the treatment of breast cancer, joined Premier Surgical Associates in 1986. He serves as physician liaison on the Komen Knoxville board of directors.
