Nell Trimble
A longtime Broward Health neonatal nurse receives care for breast cancer at the hospital system she’s proudly served for over 20 years.
When a Nurse Becomes the Patient
Nell Trimble, RN, has been a neonatal nurse and lactation consultant at Broward Health Medical Center for more than 20 years. A natural healer, she especially loves caring for new mothers and newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit.
Less than a year ago, the tables were turned when Trimble was diagnosed with invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC), a lesser-known form of breast cancer that is on the rise, according to the American Cancer Society. ILC is a unique breast cancer subtype that is more difficult to diagnose, as tumors grow in a flat, sheet-like linear pattern rather than what is typically a lump or cyst.
A resident of Coral Springs, 67-year-old Trimble is no stranger to cancer. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer more than 12 years ago and underwent surgery and chemotherapy treatments at Broward Health Imperial Point.
“I always encourage people to get regular exams,” said Trimble. “If you are diagnosed with any form of cancer, gather all the information that’s available and act quickly so you can make an informed, educated decision.”
As an ovarian cancer survivor with a sister who is also a breast cancer survivor, Trimble remained diligent in scheduling her regular screenings. Last Thanksgiving she had a mammogram. The results came back negative. She tested twice for the BRCA gene, the results of which also came back negative, but something still didn’t feel quite right to her.
Following those test results, Trimble sought a second opinion from Nicholas Tranakas, M.D., a surgical oncologist at Broward Health, who scheduled her for a biopsy. Unfortunately, the biopsy confirmed the presence of breast cancer. Given her known hereditary factors and predispositions, she elected to undergo a bilateral mastectomy rather than a partial lumpectomy on one breast, as ILC carries a high rate of recurrence.
“My number one goal was to get the cancer out of my body as quickly as possible, so I scheduled my surgery as soon as I possibly could,” Trimble said.
Following the successful double mastectomy at Broward Health Imperial Point, Trimble felt comfortable enough to return to work two and a half months after her surgery, and she is grateful for the expert medical attention and compassionate care she received.
“It felt a little different as a patient being cared for in the hospital,” said Trimble. “I am used to being the one taking care of patients. But after one overnight stay, I was ready to go home and heal.”
Trimble’s prognosis is good. Today, she maintains a regimen of chemotherapy by taking an oral pill at the instructed intervals.
Learn more about how Broward Health supports early detection through mammograms at browardhealth.org/mammo.