Finding the Strength to Fight
A young pharmacy student undergoes breast cancer treatment during the pandemic.
Life throws curveballs when we least expect them. Vonceil Bradford knows this firsthand. In 2019, she was interning, attending pharmacy school in Tallahassee, Florida, and raising two beautiful daughters. She had already overcome many challenges in her 29 years of life. But unbeknownst to Bradford, she had another one to overcome — breast cancer.
Advocating for your health
In 2019, during Bradford’s fall semester in school, she was feeling more tired than usual. After learning more about breast cancer in one of her classes, Bradford examined her own breasts and found a small lump. She visited a doctor, where they told Bradford to continue monitoring it.
Two months later, the lump had grown from the size of a pecan to that of a golf ball. Bradford’s breast became enlarged, and the lump was painful to touch, prompting her to go to the emergency room. Initial scans didn’t show cancer, but Bradford wanted a second opinion and returned to her hometown of Jacksonville, Florida. After imaging and biopsy, she was diagnosed with cancer in both breasts.
Seeking treatment at UF Health
Bradford was battling with her emotions and fears as she struggled to figure out the next steps. After speaking with a close friend and former patient, Bradford made the decision to seek care at UF Health Jacksonville with Bharti Jasra, MD, a breast surgical oncologist at the UF Health Breast Center – Jacksonville.
Despite being out of the country, Jasra responded quickly to get the process moving and set up appointments. At UF Health Jacksonville, doctors work together on complicated cases to give patients the full spectrum of comprehensive care needed for success. Jasra assembled a team of specialists and created a personalized treatment plan for Bradford. The team included various specialties, such as medical oncology, plastic surgery, genetic counseling, physical therapy and radiation.
“They showed me that I was a priority to them,” Bradford said. “I got to UF Health Jacksonville at the beginning of December, and by the following week, Dr. Jasra had created an entire team for me.”
Bradford met with medical oncologist Jason Hew, MD, who reviewed her breast imaging and confirmed the cancer diagnosis in both breasts, with one breast having more advanced cancer than the other. They determined the best course of action was neoadjuvant chemotherapy, which would help reduce the tumor before surgically removing it. A port was surgically placed to help deliver the chemotherapy drugs.
Vonceil’s family and friends supported her by shaving her head prior to starting treatment.
Leaning on friends and family
Bradford withdrew from school and relocated to Jacksonville for her cancer treatments. She decided to throw a party surrounded by her friends and family, at which she shaved her hair. It was a moment of solidarity and encouragement.
“If I could give any advice, it would be to kick-start your journey with a head-shaving party,” Bradford said. “Family and friends reassured me that we would get through this together.”
Bradford began chemotherapy treatments in January 2020, and she went to them every other week through March. Throughout all of this, her friends and family were there to help by caring for her daughters and providing emotional support.
Vonceil Bradford had a special photoshoot done to celebrate being cancer free. Photo credit: Faith Bradley
Overcoming challenges along the way
Genetic testing revealed Bradford had the BRCA2 gene. Patients with this gene have a high risk of developing a second breast cancer in the future after treatment of the first cancer. For a young woman like Bradford, the best recommended course of action following chemotherapy was a bilateral mastectomy — or the removal of both breasts. Bradford was distraught at this news but continued to lean on her support system and the team at UF Health Jacksonville.
The surgery was scheduled for May 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this challenge, Bradford’s treatments and surgery were not affected, and everything went smoothly. Jasra successfully removed the cancer and performed a sentinel lymph node biopsy to confirm the cancer had not spread. After that, John Murray, MD, a plastic surgeon at UF Health Jacksonville, completed the breast reconstruction portion of the surgery.
“It was difficult to see [Vonceil] go through everything, but she was very brave, very bold, and she accepted all of the challenges that came with the cancer diagnosis and treatment involved,” Jasra said.
Photo credit: Faith Bradley
Recovering and returning to life
Thankfully, Bradford’s cancer responded well to the chemotherapy treatment, and the bilateral mastectomy was a success. Following surgery, she spent time recovering and receiving physical therapy. Bradford continues to see Hew and takes medication to help prevent the cancer from returning.
“The process wouldn’t have gone as smoothly as it did without Dr. Jasra and the team she created for me,” Bradford said.
In August 2020, Bradford returned to pharmacy school, shortly after finishing her cancer treatments. Bradford was hesitant, but Jasra encouraged her and even helped with getting the accommodations she needed, such as remote learning and extra time to take tests and complete assignments. Today, she is on schedule to graduate from Florida A&M University’s College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in May 2023.
Despite the physically and emotionally taxing journey, Bradford found the strength to make it through and is forever grateful to UF Health Jacksonville for giving her another chance at life. Today, she wants to encourage and inspire other women like her who are battling breast cancer and remind them that there is hope for healing.
“There isn’t enough money in the world to repay them for what they’ve done — and for the love and care they’ve given me,” Bradford said.
