Conquering Cancer. Kari Hazelbaker is a 35-year-old wife and mother of two. And she was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. After receiving a mammogram, SJRMC doctors ordered an MRI and a PET scan — which showed that Kari’s cancer was not invasive. “After I got through all of my treatment, I had time to think about it,” she says. “We discussed a double mastectomy, and I thought for me that was the best route to go. This is going to give me peace of mind.” Dr. Michael Rotkis believes women who beat a deadly disease should not have to be maimed with scars that remind them for a lifetime. “This procedure helps women feel good about the way they look. They’re not at all embarrassed when they get out of the shadow and walk in front of the mirror. Kari is going to live a long time, and we want her to feel good about the appearance of her breast after treatment for breast cancer and when she awakens from this procedure. I think it’s very important to be able to offer this option here at Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center.” Today, Kari is home with her family — and is completely cancer-free.
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