Wendy Sanchez, 29, credits her survival and recovery from both a near-fatal car accident and breast cancer to the care she received at Huntington Health, an affiliate of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. In 2022, after a serious collision in the San Gabriel Mountains near Los Angeles, Sanchez and her husband were airlifted to Huntington Health. She spent months under the care of trauma surgeons, nurses, and other providers.
Her trauma team advised her to remain vigilant about her health. “We’ll take care of you,” they told her. This guidance stayed with Sanchez, leading her to return to the medical center two years later when she discovered a lump in her breast.
“There are closer hospitals to where I live, but I knew the doctors and nurses at Huntington cared about my health and wellbeing,” Sanchez said. “If they were able to save me after my car accident, I knew they would take great care of me during cancer, as well.”
Sanchez was diagnosed with triple-positive ductal carcinoma after a mammogram, ultrasound, and biopsy. Her oncologist, Niki Tank, MD, highlighted the importance of self-advocacy in healthcare. “I remind patients they are their own best advocate and to not be intimidated by the medical system,” Tank said. “Wendy paid attention to her body and her instincts, and she is doing well today. Her future is very, very bright.”
The discovery of the lump occurred while Sanchez was applying a therapeutic ointment recommended by plastic surgeon Sanjeev Puri, MD, for a scar from previous surgeries. After noticing the lump above her breast, she sought immediate medical attention.
Tank explained that triple-positive ductal carcinoma is more common in women under 50 and tends to be aggressive. “Breast cancer among people in Wendy’s age group tends to be very aggressive and spread quickly,” Tank said.
Sanchez’s cancer was detected at stage 1. Her treatment included chemotherapy and a bilateral mastectomy performed by surgical oncologist Amy Polverini, MD. “I didn’t need a second opinion,” Sanchez said. “I trusted them immediately.” She later underwent breast reconstruction with Dr. Puri.
Breast cancer rates among women under 50 have been increasing by about 1.4% each year since 2012, according to the American Cancer Society—twice the rate seen in older women. A recent study also found rising rates of hormone receptor-positive tumors in younger women.
Sanchez asked whether her severe injuries from the car accident could have contributed to her cancer diagnosis. Tank responded: “There are things we still don’t know about why breast cancer develops… While the data isn’t conclusive, there may be a link between physical trauma, the body’s stress response and inflammation that can create an environment where cancer cells thrive. But this doesn’t mean car accidents cause cancer.”
Tank also noted that because Sanchez was not considered high risk for breast cancer, routine screening would not have started until age 45 based on American Cancer Society guidelines.
Now cancer-free, Sanchez says she is embracing life after recovery. She recently returned from a trip to Disney World with her husband and reflected on her journey: “Looking back, I can’t believe everything I’ve survived,” she said. “I miss the life I had before, but I’m living this new life to the fullest.”
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is located in Los Angeles and has operated since 1902. The hospital admitted over 50,000 patients in 2022 and serves as both a pediatric and training hospital under President Thomas M. Priselac.
Read more on the Cedars-Sinai Blog: 7 Tips to Reduce Your Breast Cancer Risk
