Debbie drove the distance when her breast cancer kept her from teaching
At UF Health, she found a problem-solver in Dr. Lisa Spiguel who made the trip worth it.
Debbie Paine is a college professor in Georgia who drove 200+ miles daily for weeks to find the best person to solve the problem of her breast cancer. Debbie’s cancer found its match in Dr. Lisa Spiguel, a breast cancer surgeon, at the UF Health Cancer Center.
“I was comfortable. She was knowledgeable. She understood who I was as a female. I knew immediately that Dr. Spiguel was speaking my language and that she and I would work well together," Debbie said.
Dr. Spiguel works with a multidisciplinary team to tailor treatment to each and every breast cancer patient. The team consists of surgeons, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, pathologists, plastic surgeons, physical therapists and a nurse navigator to help patients through the process.
For Debbie, the best treatment solution included surgery with a round of targeted radiation and the chance to avoid the harsh side effects of extended chemotherapy. Now she’s back to teaching her students to solve problems of their own.
