Young Breast-Cancer Survivor Has New Hope for Healthy Future
Kyersten Corda was just 31 when she felt a lump in her breast. Comprehensive treatment with the Penn Medicine | Virtua Health Cancer Program, including proton therapy, has allowed Kyersten to reclaim her active life.
Kyersten Corda was just 31 when she felt a lump in her breast. So when the mass turned out to be cancer, she was shocked.
“I was so young and had no family history of breast cancer,” she said. “I couldn’t believe it.”
The nurse and former cancer researcher thoroughly reviewed her options before choosing comprehensive treatment at the Penn Medicine | Virtua Health Cancer Program. That included five weeks of proton therapy at South Jersey’s only proton center.
Today, the Marlton resident has no evidence of cancer and is reclaiming her active life. In the past year, she’s enjoyed trips to Italy and Scotland with friends and family. And she’s begun pursuing a doctorate degree in nursing practice, which she aims to complete in 2026.
“I’m so grateful for my Virtua and Penn team. Their clinical care is amazing, and they’ve supported me emotionally at every step,” said Kyersten.
World-Class Breast Cancer Treatment Close to Home
Kyersten chose to have a double mastectomy, as she felt that would give her more peace of mind versus just removing the tumor.
“Like most patients, Kyersten could safely choose either mastectomy or lumpectomy,” said breast surgeon James Crawford, MD. “Many factors go into this decision, so I help my patients consider everything from health to emotional concerns. We want people to be able to live their life in a way they’re happy with.”
“Dr. Crawford presented me with all my options. He helped create a plan to save the look and shape of my breast,” said Kyersten. “When I told him I wanted a mastectomy, he fully supported it.”
After healing from surgery, Kyersten received chemotherapy every two weeks for nearly four months to eradicate any remaining cancer.
In spring 2024, she underwent proton therapy five days a week for more than a month to further ensure her cancer was eliminated. This highly precise form of radiation targets cancer while sparing surrounding tissue.
“The radiation therapists were amazing,” said Kyersten. “They made me feel normal throughout the process. They were so kind and conversational.”
Catherine Kim, MD, a radiation oncologist at the Penn Medicine | Virtua Health Proton Therapy Center, said proton therapy was recommended because of Kyersten's young age.
“Traditional radiation could have exposed her heart and lungs to radiation. We wanted to avoid future health issues in someone we expect to live a long time,” Dr. Kim explained.
Cancer-Free, Kyersten Moves Forward With Life
For Kyersten, having experts from Virtua and Penn Medicine in one location was an important advantage. “All my doctors are right there, so I could knock out multiple appointments on the same day, which helped ease the stress of treatment,” she said.
Kyersten recently underwent breast reconstruction surgery at the Voorhees facility, using a leading-edge microvascular technique that takes extra tissue from the abdomen to rebuild the breasts.
“My goal is to live how I want to live again,” said Kyersten, “and not be bogged down with worries about cancer.”
Exceptional Breast Cancer Care Near You
It’s important to keep up with annual mammograms and if you have a concern, talk with a specialist. Call 888-847-8823 to connect with the breast team at the Penn Medicine | Virtua Health Cancer Program.
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