Myka Geary

When Myka Geary found a lump in her breast in 2017, the last thing she was thinking about was cancer. She was only 29 and healthy, but still, she visited her primary care provider just in case. An ultrasound and mammogram were ordered, and Myka awaited her results.

When the results from the testing were received, Myka was referred to a surgeon in her hometown of Leitchfield, Ky., who performed a biopsy and ultimately referred her to UofL Health – Brown Cancer Center.

From there, Myka can only describe the whole experience as a blur. It was a whirlwind of emotions, but she remembers how kind the team at the Brown Cancer Center was from the start.

With her mother by her side, Myka was given her official diagnosis: stage 4 breast cancer. When her mother asked how long Myka had to live, she was given less than a year.

Immediately, Myka knew she had to fight. She had kids at home, and she could not imagine not being around to raise them.

“Okay, this is where I am at, and I am not going to stop fighting,” Myka thought to herself. “I am raising my kids.”

Based on Myka’s age and overall health, her oncology team decided to treat the cancer aggressively. Myka began 20 rounds of chemo to shrink the tumor before it was time for her to undergo surgery. After that, Myka continued with radiation.

Three years later, in 2020 Myka had a reoccurrence. Again, in 2023, she had a swollen lymph node on her neck that was treated with radiation. While the reoccurrences were far from favorable, Myka knew going into it that it would be a journey, and through it all, she kept fighting for her kids.

Because of Myka’s determination, she has been able to be present for many of her children’s milestones. Myka even has had some milestones of her own. She went out of the country for the first time with a trip to the Bahamas, she is planning a trip to Jamaica, and she got engaged!

Each time Myka makes the hour drive to the Brown Cancer Center, she is reminded again just how kind and caring the staff are. Her care team is excited about her engagement and can’t wait for Myka to set a date and start wedding planning.

“The thing that stands out for me the most is the amount of compassion, and how much everybody cares about the patients,” Myka shared about the Brown Cancer Center.

As for her oncologist, Beth Riley, M.D. FACP, Myka is a big fan, appreciating how she makes the whole situation less daunting. 

“She’s very positive,” Myka said. “Leaving her office, no matter what news I’ve been given that day, she just makes it better.”

Dr. Riley isn’t the only one that has stayed positive. Myka feels that her own positive mindset was a huge contributor to her success in facing cancer. She never let herself believe that she only had a year. Myka advises anyone with cancer to stay positive, even when treatment gets hard.

Though it was a long journey, Myka attributes the fact that she is still here to the Brown Cancer Center. Because of the treatment she received, she has been given many more years to spend with her kids, travel and get married. For that, she could not be more grateful.

How can we help you?

Connecting with our team of specialists at UofL Health – Brown Cancer Center is the first step in getting treatment.