For more than 20 years, Lisa Ward helped women leave her chair feeling like themselves again. A hair stylist and colorist in a Georgetown salon, she loved the creativity and connection. “I cherished my life,” she said. “I traveled, I had a great boyfriend, and I enjoyed my work.” Breast cancer wasn’t on her radar.
She felt healthy and stayed on top of annual mammograms, especially after learning she had dense breast tissue. “I went every single year—same month, same breast center,” she said. “For more than a decade, everything was always normal.” Then one year, it wasn’t.
When the call came confirming early-stage, HER2-positive breast cancer, everything changed. “I had no symptoms, no lumps, no pain, nothing. So when they said I had cancer, I was shocked,” she said. In the days that followed, she focused on one question: what happens next?
Kristen Whitaker, MD, a medical oncologist in the Breast Health program at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, which is part of the MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute, said Lisa’s diagnosis called for timely treatment. “HER2-positive breast cancer is very aggressive, even in early stages,” she said. “But the good news is that with today’s medicines designed to target this cancer type, it’s very treatable, and our goal is cure.”
Dr. Whitaker walked Lisa through her treatment options and, given the complexity of her cancer type, discussed whether a clinical trial could be part of her plan. As Lisa read the brochures and other information provided about the trial, one name jumped out: Claudine Isaacs, MD, a medical oncologist specializing in breast cancer at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, and one of Lisa’s longtime salon clients. “I called her immediately,” Lisa said. “I trusted her and needed to know I was making the right choice.” Dr. Isaacs didn’t hesitate. “She told me, ‘I’m so sorry you’re going through this, but yes, I believe in this approach,’” Lisa said. “That’s when I knew I was in the right place.”
With that reassurance, Lisa felt ready to move forward with I-SPY 2, a research study designed to personalize treatment. Dr. Whitaker explained that clinicians could start with a commonly used chemotherapy medicine, add the new medicine being tested, then monitor how the tumor responded and adjust the plan if needed. “I burst into tears,” Lisa said. “The study was a blessing.”
Dr. Whitaker noted that studies like I-SPY 2 aren’t offered everywhere because they require specialized staff and close monitoring. And when trials are available, she said, it’s critical that the patients enrolled reflect the communities they’re meant to serve. “Less than about 5% of patients in cancer clinical trials are racial or ethnic minority patients, and we have to change that so new treatments are proven to work for everyone,” she said.
Once Lisa enrolled, the study staff laid out what to expect, so there were fewer surprises. She worried most about losing her hair, but when the moment came, it felt unexpectedly empowering. “When it fell out at the salon, everyone cried,” she said. “But when I looked in the mirror, I saw my dad’s face. I thought, I can do this.” She chose bold wigs—blue and purple—that helped her feel like herself, vibrant and strong.
As Lisa moved through the clinical trial, she began to see that beating cancer would take more than one medicine or one moment of courage. It would take a full course of treatment, guided by a compassionate, multidisciplinary circle of specialists who understood both the urgency of her diagnosis and the life she was determined to reclaim. That coordination carried her from the trial to the next steps: surgery, reconstruction, and radiation therapy.
Her medical oncologist and nursing team supported her through treatment on the clinical trial. When it was time for surgery, Patricia Wehner, MD, breast surgeon, helped Lisa decide on the best approach and performed the procedure to remove the cancer. During that same operation, Rajiv Parikh, MD, plastic and reconstructive surgeon, handled the breast reconstruction, sparing Lisa from having to return for a separate procedure. Afterwards, Pamela Randolph-Jackson, MD, radiation oncologist, oversaw her radiation therapy to help treat any remaining cancer cells and reduce the risk of recurrence.
Today, cancer-free, Lisa is continuing to rebuild her strength. As part of that recovery, she worked with Katherine Power, MD, physical medicine and rehabilitation, to relieve tightness caused by scar tissue and radiation and help her move her arm more easily after surgery. Now she’s returning to the parts of life she put on hold, including travel. “I’ve loved places like the Caribbean, Costa Rica, Barbados, and Paris,” she said, “and now I’m excited to explore more.”
Lisa wants women to hear one message loud and clear: don’t skip screening. “Get your mammogram every year. Do not skip it,” she said. “It saved my life.” Now she’s looking ahead. “The next chapter is going to be even better,” she said.
For more information or for an appointment, call 202-877-6998.