When Judy went in for her annual mammogram in July 2025, she never expected to hear the word “cancer.” But just days later, she received the news: invasive lobular carcinoma of the left breast, stage 1A. Within four days, the 63-year-old from Princeton had her first appointment with Dr. Judy Tjoe, breast surgical oncologist at Ascension St. Elizabeth Hospital, and her care journey was set in motion.
“My family and I walked out of that first appointment going, ‘Wow. Dr. Tjoe is just phenomenal,’” Judy recalled. “My daughter said she was a 15 out of 10. My sister, who worked in health care for 40 years, recognized her compassion, kindness and true passion for what she does. We could all feel that she really cares.”
Judy had the option to see a general surgeon to remove her breast cancer but knew right away that Dr. Tjoe’s expertise in breast surgical oncology was the path she wanted.
“With Dr. Tjoe, you immediately have access to a whole team — Dr. Tjoe’s nurse practitioner, Mikayla, radiation and medical oncology, cancer nurse navigators — everything. I felt like I was exactly where I needed to be,” she said.
She opted for a bilateral mastectomy, a decision supported by her family history and her desire for peace of mind. During surgery on Aug. 26, 2025, sentinel lymph nodes were removed and tested — all clear. A second suspicious spot turned out to be benign, and Judy received the life-changing news that her breast cancer had not spread.
What stood out most to Judy about her surgery was Dr. Tjoe’s extraordinary personal touch.
“The morning of my surgery, there was a delay with the OR. Instead of disappearing, Dr. Tjoe came back in, sat down at the foot of my bed and just chatted with us about our grandkids. She knew my family, she remembered details, and she made us feel completely at ease. How many surgeons do that?”
Even in explaining complex medical details, Dr. Tjoe brought calm and clarity.
“She draws everything out by hand — beautifully — and explains it step by step. My husband said it was actually soothing to watch her. She took so much time with us that day, not because we had endless questions, but because she genuinely wanted us to feel comfortable with the information she was sharing.”
Judy’s breast cancer recovery has been remarkably smooth, and she attributes a big part of that to the timeliness, thoroughness and compassion of her care team.
“I couldn’t have hoped for more. I was diagnosed July 24, and less than six weeks later I’d had my double mastectomy. Everything just fell into place. I feel so fortunate, so grateful.”
Today, Judy is cancer free and has her breast reconstruction surgery scheduled. She shares her story with others to encourage early screening and to shine a light on the care she received.
“If you’re ever diagnosed with breast cancer, you want Dr. Tjoe as your surgeon. Choosing her really set the positive tone for everything that has happened since my diagnosis. We’ve felt so grateful and comforted – I don’t think I could have been in better hands.”
