Star Realtor Takes Cancer in Stride, Thanks to Early Detection

When Christen Sachs went to a regular check-up, she didn’t fill the order for a mammogram right away. As a single mom and real estate entrepreneur, she had many other things on her to-do list.

But when she finally got around to her mammogram, the results came back positive. Early detection and swift treatment made the busy real estate broker defeat cancer without missing a beat.

A Shock Diagnosis

When her doctor at Hackensack Meridian Brielle Obstetrics and Gynecology, the same OB/GYN who delivered her daughter, ordered a routine mammogram, Christen didn’t feel rushed.

As months passed and other things came up, she nearly forgot about the screening — until one of the agents at her real estate brokerage was diagnosed with stage four cervical cancer. After a brave battle, she ultimately passed away at just 34 years old. It was a devastating loss.

In the wake of the tragedy, Christen urged her team of almost 30 female agents to book their appointments, see their doctors and get screened. She did the same, completing her mammogram at Bayshore Medical Center, which led to additional imaging with a breast MRI at Hackensack Meridian Health & Wellness Center in Eatontown.

A short time later, Christen was on her way to an event where she’d be addressing 250 people, when she got the call that would change her life. She’d been diagnosed with stage one breast cancer. All she could think of was the memory of her friend and colleague Alicia: “She is truly my guardian angel and I am so grateful.”

A Determined Mindset

Cancer wasn’t the first hardship Christen had faced. When she became pregnant with her daughter, she made a difficult decision. As a survivor of domestic violence, she chose to raise her on her own.

“I left my abuser when I was six months pregnant,” Christen says. “I had my daughter at Ocean University Medical Center 18 years ago. It’s been just her and me the entire time.”

When cancer struck, she acted with the same determination. Her treatment began immediately after her diagnosis.

Christen met with Debra Camal, M.D., medical director of breast oncology at Riverview Medical Center, who performed her lumpectomy and lymph node removal at Bayshore Medical Center. Two of Christen’s aunts accompanied her, where they realized Dr. Camal had performed a mastectomy for one of them a decade before. This family connection comforted Christen.

“Christen was so impressive from the moment I met her. She approached the cancer diagnosis and treatment with the same positive energy that has made her so successful in other aspects of her life. She also has a great crew of supportive friends and family members,” says Dr. Camal.

The surgery was a success, and Christen began four weeks of radiation close to home at Ocean University Medical Center. She met with David B. Greenberg, M.D. to determine treatment after surgery.

“Christen has an incredible, positive outlook regarding her diagnosis and treatment plan, and I think she will do very well,” Dr. Greenberg says.

Her constant upbeat attitude and refusal to let cancer bring her down impressed her whole care team. “That's how I showed up every day. It was important for me to feel that I was normal and that I was not going through cancer treatment,” Christen, who kept up her busy work schedule throughout, explains.

The team lifted her spirits in return. “Everybody was so comforting the whole time. I said, ‘My God, it's crazy when you get cancer. Everybody's so nice to you!’” she jokes.

Giving Back

In her free time, Christen hosts charity events and supports fellow women leaders in the community. She did so much work with Catholic Charities, the shelter she went to while pregnant, that she became a member of their board of trustees.

“It’s a beautiful full circle. They supported me, and now I’m able to give back to do the same for all of these other women,” Christen says. “Anything that has to do with service and sharing and connecting is a passion of mine.”

Today, she brings that same passion to early detection. “As women, we are nurturers and we want to take care of everybody else. Having that time to fill your own cup first to make sure that you're healthy and you're doing your annual preventative doctor's appointments is so important.”

After her diagnosis, she also completed genetic testing. In spite of her family history, her results didn’t turn up any red flags — but it’s a preventative step she recommends others take.

“She is truly unstoppable. And now she wants to find ways to help others, which is such a big part of her personality,” says Dr. Camal.

She also encourages those with cancer to consider their mental health. As she focused on getting through treatment, she ignored all the feelings that came with her diagnosis. It wasn’t until she was on the other side that she began to feel them fully.

“Once it's over, you kind of go through this other emotional process,” she says. “I think that the mental health piece of it and people normalizing that conversation is important, too.

“When you hear the word cancer, you immediately get scared and clam up, but everybody knows somebody who’s going through something like this. The more people that are talking about it and the more people that can expose the process and make taking care of yourself more mainstream, I think the better for everyone.”

She is now teaming up with Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation to help others receive the great care she did, and to raise funds for Pink Funds at Riverview and Bayshore Medical Centers to ensure that all women, regardless of circumstance, have access to breast cancer detection.

Next Steps & Resources:

• Meet our sources: Debra Camal, M.D. and David B. Greenberg, M.D.
• To schedule a mammogram near you, book online or call 800-822-8905.
• Learn more about breast cancer services at Hackensack Meridian Health.
• Support the Riverview and Bayshore Medical Center Foundations.
• Take a free risk assessment to learn your cancer risk.

The material provided through HealthU is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician for individual care.