Susan's Story

Anyone who’s been through it never forgets the moment they are told “it’s cancer.” For Susan Blaize-Sampeur, that moment came on October 11, 2021.

A mammogram showed a tiny mass in her left breast, and a follow-up biopsy revealed stage 1 invasive breast cancer that had spread into the surrounding breast tissue. Susan’s cancer was diagnosed early and is highly treatable, but she was still shocked and terrified.

Soon after the diagnosis, Susan had a lumpectomy at Mount Sinai South Nassau to remove the tumor. The successful surgery was followed by a series of visits to Mount Sinai South Nassau Radiation Oncology for radiation therapy to reduce the possibility of cancer recurrence. Grateful to her “incredible cancer team,” Susan is thriving today. Throughout her cancer journey, the expertise and kindness of her team filled her with hope and confidence for the future.

“Whether it’s a question about treatment or a request to schedule an appointment, they respond with a smile, and a reassuring word, she said.” Nearly 2,400 women on Long Island and nearly 300,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. Christine Hodyl, DO, FACS, Director of Mount Sinai South Nassau Breast Health, knows that detecting cancer in its earliest stage saves lives. A division of the hospital’s Gertrude & Louis Feil Cancer Center located in Valley Stream, Mount Sinai South Nassau Breast Health works together with Mount Sinai South Nassau Women’s Imaging to provide a full spectrum of clinical and support services for breast cancer patients.

Designated a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology, the women’s imaging program uses state-of-the-art diagnostic technologies, including 3-D digital mammography, high-resolution ultrasound, and breast MRI, to detect breast disease in its earliest stage. Genetic counseling is also available.

Mount Sinai South Nassau Breast Health is accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers. Dr. Hodyl and the program’s team of surgeons use advanced techniques that aim to preserve as much of the healthy breast and surrounding tissue as possible. If mastectomy—an operation in which the breast is removed—is needed, there are many options for breast reconstruction. As an approved National Clinical Trial Network Affiliate site within the Mount Sinai Health System, Mount Sinai South Nassau is now enrolling patients with early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer in a study to determine if they can safely be treated with less chemotherapy than typically prescribed. For enrollment information for the trial, call 516-632-3312.

To schedule a consultation or for more information about Mount Sinai South Nassau Breast Health or Women’s Imaging, call 516-632-3350.

Learn More

Breast cancer care
Services at the Mount Sinai South Nassau Center for Women's Imaging
Overview of other cancer services at Mount Sinai South Nassau
Computer-assisted (or robotic) procedures
National certifications for care and quality
Angela's Story
Susan's Story