Faith Moves Mountains and Conquers Cancer

Faithmaria Lauer, RN, 58, of Allentown, spent the past 22 years caring for her patients in the operating room at Lehigh Valley Health Network. Her role reversed when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Lauer had a routine mammogram in April 2023. Her results came back abnormal for an area in her right breast, a first for her when it came to her annual mammogram screenings. 

Immediately, Lauer’s doctors scheduled a second mammogram and an ultrasound. Two weeks later, she was scheduled for a biopsy, which revealed that Lauer had stage 1 invasive duct carcinoma.

“I was devastated,” she says.

Lauer’s care team took swift action. She underwent a lumpectomy and lymph node removal with surgical oncologist Heiwon Chung Whang, MD, with LVH Surgical Oncology, part of Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute, in May 2023.

“I have known Faith for over 20 years (she is our operating room nurse),” Dr. Chung says. “Even before her biopsy for diagnosis, she had approached me for directions, and she followed through with all the steps with full faith in our multidisciplinary approach.”

Lauer’s experience as a nurse plays into her resilience. “Her prognosis is excellent, and since Faith has seen many thousands of patients treated in the operating room, and now as a patient herself, her outlook and support for our community is much more enhanced because of her own experience,” Dr. Chung says.
 

Prior to her diagnosis, Lauer set her 2023 New Year’s resolution dedicated to getting her weight down. By striving to reach that goal, she discovered a passion for fitness. She lost 35 pounds in a year by attending metabolic conditioning classes focused on high intensity interval training (HIIT). Between adjusting her diet and attending exercise classes, she built her strength and respiratory fitness and lost weight.

She was eager to get back to the gym post-surgery, and the following Monday she went to the gym – adhering to her doctor’s 10-pound weight restriction. 

“I followed the rules, but I was back in the gym,” says Lauer. “I felt so much better, even with everything I had gone through. I kept at it.”

Following her lumpectomy, Lauer underwent radiation therapy with radiation oncologist Alyson McIntosh, MD, July through August 2023.Throughout her treatments, she continued to prioritize exercise.

“Faith is an amazing, inspirational woman,” Dr. McIntosh says. “I have never had a patient train for a grueling Spartan race while in the midst of receiving daily radiation treatments. Her ability to maintain focus and stay motivated is incredible.”

Staying active helped motivate Lauer throughout her cancer treatment, and she is now in remission. Lauer is on an aromatase inhibitor for five years to reduce her risk for recurrence, working with hematologist oncologist Nicholas Lamparella, DO, with LVH Hematology Oncology. He notes side effects from the medication can include fatigue and bone density issues – as well as hot flashes and insomnia – but Lauer’s lifestyle has helped her avoid them.

“Faith has been able to take the medication and is tolerating it well,” Dr. Lamparella says. “She is doing everything she can for herself as far as healthy lifestyle. She remains active and goes to the gym, and has a very positive attitude.”

Adds Lauer, “Exercise has helped with minimal side effects. I’m back to strength and metabolic training.”

After completing radiation, Lauer challenged herself to participate in a Tough Mudder 10K in early October 2023, followed by the Women's 5K Classic run for breast cancer awareness.

“It was pouring down rain, but we were all survivors – and it was awesome,” Lauer says.

Her New Year’s resolution for 2024 is to “just keep going.” “It was a scary, scary journey, and I'm very thankful that things are going in the right direction (with my treatment). I am in the gym four days a week, and started doing yoga and weights on the other days,” she says.

Her next fitness goal? To run a half marathon.

“Faith’s personal commitment to fitness and a healthy lifestyle are going to help her live a long and enjoyable life,” Dr. McIntosh says. “Cancer is scary because there are many things that are out of your control as a patient. Faith has found something that she can do each day to help her physical and mental health, but also improve her odds of beating her cancer.”