“My doctors were the perfect mix. I call them my dream team.”
As a fourth-grade teacher in Livingston, a realtor with Weichert in Chatham, and a busy mom of three girls, Jodi Frohnapfel didn’t expect her world to change after one glance in the mirror on September 29, 2024.
“I had just showered and caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. I saw something that didn’t look right, like a dimple, and felt a lump in my breast,” Jodi recalled. Soon after, she headed to get a mammogram and ultrasound, followed by a biopsy. Jodi would be diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer.
“My care team was assembled rapidly, and I started consultations with a full team of providers at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center,” Jodi shared. “I was lucky, it was caught early. I didn’t need chemotherapy or radiation, just surgery and a daily medication. But it was still a whirlwind.”
“I had gotten a mammogram every year since I was 35, and I had just had a mammogram and ultrasound the December before where everything was perfectly clear, and I still found it myself,” she said. “That’s why I tell people now, don’t skip your annual screenings, and always listen to your body. If something feels off, act. When it comes to treatment, do what is right for you. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer.”
In October, Jodi underwent a double mastectomy with DIEP flap reconstruction surgery at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center. “My mother had breast cancer in her 70s and while I don’t carry the BRCA gene, I wanted to be proactive. For me, the double mastectomy made sense. I always tell others: this is your body, your journey. Make the decision that brings you peace.”
With support from her family and her care team at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center Jodi was guided through every step. “My doctors were the perfect mix. I call them my dream team,” Jodi said.
M. Michele Blackwood, MD, FACS, director of Breast Surgery and director of Women’s Oncologic Health, RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute, and Head of Breast Surgery at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, was Jodi’s breast surgeon.
“She was amazing. She explained every possibility with clarity and made me feel totally comfortable with the process. Her delivery was caring and thorough, just phenomenal bedside manner,” Jodi shared.
“From our very first meeting, Jodi was focused, inquisitive, and determined to take control of her care. We worked closely to make sure she had a full understanding of her options. Her outcome is also a testament to the power of early detection,” shared Dr. Blackwood.
Jodi’s plastic surgeon, Cyrus Loghmanee, MD, made a lasting impression as well. “I can never say his name right, but I’m obsessed with him,” Jodi joked. “He’s stylish, calm, incredibly confident, you just know you’re in good hands. He laid out every risk and option, and supported my decision fully. He has this nurturing, cool vibe that instantly put me at ease.”
Her oncologist, George Raptis, MD, MBA, a nationally recognized breast cancer specialist, and Director of Oncology Services for the Northern Region, RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute, rounded out the trio.
“He was all about the stats and science, which was reassuring. However, I do remember crying in his office, and he handed me a tissue and said, ‘I’m so glad you’re crying. It’s okay to feel it.’ It showed me that he wasn’t just focused on treatment, but he cared about how I was coping too. They all made me feel like a person, and not a procedure,” said Jodi.
“Jodi brought a thoughtful and collaborative spirit to every discussion about her care. She asked the right questions, processed the information carefully, and always balanced the clinical with the personal. From day one we were able to tailor a treatment plan and course of action specifically to her goals and values,” shared Dr. Raptis.
Looking back, Jodi knows she could not have done this without her family, friends and colleagues. “The support I received was overwhelming in the best way. The kindness, positive words and belief in me, all made this journey easier knowing I had an army behind me,” she said.
Jodi continued, “I knew how hard it was for my twin sister, Jen, to watch me go through this. She put all her emotions aside to be strong for me. She was not just my sister, but also my advocate. My husband, Brian, was my rock and always will be. He kept me calm and was truly filled with patience, love, support and always willing to sacrifice for our family.”
“I knew waiting eight hours during surgery wasn’t easy for my girls, Emma, Carly, and Maddy, but they did it. I hope I showed them what it means to face hard things with strength and resilience. More than anything, I wanted them to see that when life gets tough, you don’t back down, you meet the challenge head on, with grace, courage, and determination. That’s the example I hope they carry with them always. I’m also so grateful for the support behind the scenes from my Mom, Dad, Jimmy and Aunt Boop, their love helped carry me through as well.” Jodi added.
Today, Jodi is cancer-free, and recovery didn’t slow her down for long. In fact, just a few months later, her family brought home a Newfoundland puppy named Boomer, joining their other five-year-old Newfoundland and St. Bernard mix, Russell.
Now, whether she’s down the shore with her family, baking brownies for her students, helping clients navigate their next move as a realtor with Weichert, or sharing her story to encourage others to take charge of their health and get their mammograms, Jodi is grateful. “I feel great. I had the best care, the best support, and I came out stronger on the other side.”
As for reflecting on her journey and recovery, “I like to say it’s like childbirth,” Jodi said. “It’s hard and it’s painful, but then it fades. You forget the pain eventually, and you move forward stronger.”
To learn more about cancer care at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, go to rwjbh.org/cbmccancer. For an appointment call 844-CANCERNJ.
Learn more about breast cancer screening and mammogram options.
Coming Soon: Melchiorre Cancer Center at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center
The Melchiorre Cancer Center at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center is an outpatient facility on CBMC’s campus that will serve as the northern hub for the integrated oncology services offered by RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute, the state’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. Learn more at rwjbh.org/cbmccancercenter.