Monica Bertagnolli, MD, became the 16th director of the National Cancer Institute and the first woman to have the job in October. In November, she was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, The Washington Post reported Dec. 14.
The 63-year-old was diagnosed with a common type of breast cancer, hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative, after a routine mammogram. The cancer is considered treatable and has a high survival rate.
She is still waiting for additional tests to determine treatment. Dr. Bertagnolli is receiving treatment at Boston-based Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center, where she was chief of surgical oncology for a decade, according to the report.
"I can't imagine having this challenge, on top of a very important job, without the kind of support I have from an incredibly talented team" at the NCI and from her physicians and family, she told the Post. "I really am just fine in getting everything accomplished. We will take it as it comes."
Dr. Bertagnolli said she will have to slow down her rapid work pace for a while but expects the change to be temporary, according to the report.