Brooke Davis, a 40-year-old mother from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, faced a daunting health challenge when a routine mammogram revealed she had breast cancer. Davis got her own diagnosis at the same age her mother had battled the disease two years before. Today, she’s in the thick of living with the intricacies of multiple sclerosis (MS), a debilitating disease that affects the brain and spinal cord.
Davis’s journey through treatment began under the care of Dr. Vincent Reid, chairman of surgery and medical center director at Mercy Cedar Rapids’ Hall-Perrine Cancer Center. He was singularly focused on achieving both beauty and the preservation of her native breast tissue. This promise informed a treatment plan that valued healing as much as it did humility.
Davis prepared herself for the likely outcome of a mastectomy. She had to rely on the breakthroughs in artificial intelligence (AI) that would prove indispensable in her treatment. She made use of AI to rapidly crunch complex MRI data to tailor her treatment. It allowed Dr. Reid to develop his surgical technique with precision.
“I think AI will extend my capabilities as a surgeon,” Dr. Reid stated. He was optimistic about how these technologies will improve patient care but not at the expense of the art of medicine. “I am not that concerned about being replaced by AI. I embrace AI,” he added.
Davis ended up finishing her radiation treatment with no issues. She was able to recently celebrate this achievement by ringing the bell, an important milestone for many cancer patients. She looked back on her time with appreciation. Her positive outcome and experience made her grateful, not only for the outcome itself but for the part technology played in her recovery process.
“It gives a lot of hope to a lot of people,” Davis remarked, highlighting the broader implications of her journey and the advancements in medical technology.
Through the use of AI in her treatment, Davis received a spectrum of personalized care never seen before. Dr. Reid described the innovations as “extraordinary” and emphasized how they empower medical professionals to focus on individual patient needs. “This gives you that ultimate surgical planning platform that allows you to kind of answer those questions that you are speculating about,” he explained.
Even through this devastating time, Davis shifted her talents to prioritize her family. As she experienced serious health issues, her two daughters were a bright spot in her life and became her caregivers. She noted, “I’m coming out on the other side without any of that disfigurement that’s typically associated with breast cancer,” emphasizing her relief at the outcome.
