Maria G Faces of Breast Cancer: Maria Graziano

Maria’s advice, “It's really important to remember to do your due diligence and get your annual mammogram, get your ultrasound, your MRI, whatever it is that the doctors tell you, you need to do it.

Maria Graziano started getting her routine mammograms at the recommended age of 40. When her first mammogram revealed dense breast tissue, her doctor recommended that she be monitored every six months. While under surveillance, at 42 years old, an MRI confirmed stage two breast cancer.

As a teacher, Maria received a phone call with the news of her diagnosis while in school. In shock, she walked down to her principal’s office to share the news. “I want to be normal and still come to work,” Maria told him. “That was my goal. And believe it or not, I accomplished that goal,” she exclaims.

Having trouble accepting her diagnosis, she had second and third opinions just hoping to be told a different story. No matter where she went, her diagnosis remained the same. Maria decided to get her treatment at The Cancer Center at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center where she underwent six months of chemotherapy, a lumpectomy and 30 rounds of radiation.

“I needed my doctors to know that I had two little girls, was a wife, a mother, a sister, a daughter, and that my family needed me and I needed them. I was not ready to give up teaching, to give up my life, so those people together, they are miracle workers.”

Maria had support by her side throughout her entire journey. On her first day of chemo, her brother showed up wearing a Rocky Balboa costume, signifying that she is a fighter. When her husband couldn’t accompany her to treatment, her sister was there, or her brother showed up. That support was continuous and Maria was never alone and learned to accept the help and support.

“I know now that the word cancer does not mean game over,” Maria says. “The word cancer means it's time to utilize all these great resources that we have, these great doctors, these great facilities, these great medications.”

Maria’s advice, “It's really important to remember to do your due diligence and get your annual mammogram, get your ultrasound, your MRI, whatever it is that the doctors tell you, you need to do it. You need to because they do save lives.”