Tammy’s Story

When you hear the words “community-oriented,” Tammy Drobina is a name that should come to mind. A lifelong Carroll resident, her passion for local history led her to start the Carroll Area Historical Society in 2005. She made history herself in 2011 when she was elected the village’s first female mayor. Before retiring in 2022, she worked her dream job as Executive Director of the Fairfield County Heritage Association, overseeing operations of the Sherman House and Georgian Museum in Lancaster.

About 20 years ago, Tammy experienced a medical issue that required emergency care. After an initial visit to a different emergency department failed to resolve the problem, her husband, Ed, urged her to go to Fairfield Medical Center for further evaluation.

“The care I received at FMC was excellent,” Tammy recalled. “I immediately got the feeling that they were going to get to the bottom of the issue, and within a few days, I had a diagnosis and a plan. Ever since then, I’ve come to FMC for my care and happily stayed with my local doctors.”

Early in 2023, Tammy’s primary care provider encouraged her to schedule a mammogram as she had not had one for several years – a routine test that would soon prove lifesaving. Her initial scan in February 2023 revealed a spot that was not of high concern at the time, but the radiologist noted should be observed closely. She was advised to return every six months for ongoing monitoring.

Nearly a year later at her second follow-up appointment, the screening revealed changes in the original spot, prompting her doctors to take a closer look. Tammy was quickly scheduled for a diagnostic mammogram and a biopsy was performed by David Hasl, MD, of Fairfield Healthcare Professionals General Surgery.

The additional testing confirmed breast cancer, and Tammy received her diagnosis on March 12, 2024. With no known family history of the disease and no noticeable symptoms, the diagnosis came as a shock.

“Hearing those words just kind of hits you, and I just couldn’t believe it,” Tammy said. “I kept wondering, ‘How did this happen?’ It was such a surprise. If it weren’t for the mammogram, I wouldn’t have known.”

The FMC Cancer Care team responded quickly to map out a treatment plan, and in April, Dr. Hasl performed a lumpectomy to remove the tumor. The tumor was analyzed after surgery, and lab results determined Tammy had triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), a rare and aggressive form of the disease.

“Triple-negative breast cancer represents a small percentage of breast cancers,” explained Roopa Srikantiah-Saha, MD, of FHP Hematology/Oncology. “It differs from other types in that it tends to grow faster and lacks the usual hormone receptors doctors rely on for treatment, but new advancements are being researched every day.”

Tammy’s treatment plan called for chemotherapy next, at the same time as several exciting events coming up: a trip of a lifetime to Ireland and Scotland with her husband, and their grandson’s wedding just a week after their return.

Wanting to continue to live her life even amid a cancer diagnosis, Tammy made the decision to delay beginning chemotherapy until after these important events. Her doctors supported the decision, as she would still be within the optimal window to begin treatment.

Once Tammy was ready to begin chemotherapy, Dr. Saha informed her that she was eligible for a new type of biomarker testing. The test would analyze the tumor tissue to provide deeper insights into the cancer’s behavior and her risk of recurrence.

“I was so glad that this test was available to me because it gave my providers and me more information about how to treat my cancer effectively,” Tammy shared.

The results showed that the cancer had a higher risk of recurrence than initially thought, prompting Dr. Saha to adjust the treatment plan and change the chemotherapy regimen to a stronger type.

“Biomarker testing allows us to individualize treatment in a way we couldn’t before,” Dr. Saha said. “For Tammy, we could now offer a stronger, more precise treatment.”

Beginning in June 2024, Tammy underwent 16 weeks of chemotherapy, followed by 20 radiation treatments guided by Mark Becker, MD, of FHP Radiation Oncology, to eliminate any lingering cancer cells and reduce the risk of recurrence. This demanding treatment regimen wrapped up in December 2024, and Tammy is now celebrating remission.

In early 2025, Tammy underwent genetic testing, which revealed a PALB2 gene mutation. This genetic trait can increase the risk for breast, ovarian and pancreatic cancers. With this new information, Tammy’s care team could develop a long-term surveillance strategy to monitor her health.

Tammy’s care team keeps close watch to ensure that if the cancer does return, they are prepared to spring into action to treat it. In addition to more frequent mammograms, she is also undergoing MRIs to monitor for any cancer spreading, and she receives regular blood testing that can detect cancer in the bloodstream.

Now, as she’s regaining her strength, looking back on her journey and getting back to doing what she loves most around her community, Tammy is thankful she followed through on that initial mammogram, and thankful for the team at Fairfield Medical Center who continues to stand beside her every step of the way.

“My care team is very on top of things – they’re knowledgeable and up to date on new advancements,” said Tammy. “I’m very appreciative of everybody and what they’ve done for me.”