Breast cancer survivor devotes career to cancer research

Elisheva Chamblin, 52, of Beach Haven, a founding partner of Future Physical Therapy, PC in Manahawkin and Toms River, was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer 20 years ago. After undergoing a lumpectomy, followed by a mastectomy with an axillary lymph node dissection, six months of chemotherapy and 35 radiation treatments, she thought she was clear. Four years later, she was told she carried a BRAC1 gene mutation, which meant she was at high risk for breast cancer metastasis, or recurrence. In the hope of avoiding further complications, she underwent a prophylactic mastectomy on the other breast.

Photo by Ryan Morrill
Chamblin treats Dondero-Meyer for lymphema.

At the time, Chamblin said, breast cancer was considered a death sentence. As awareness and funding for cancer research increased through organizations such as the American Cancer Society, survival rates began to improve, support groups were eventually formed, and breast cancer was finally spoken about candidly. Until then, she was left to her own devices to deal with the devastating effects that came with cancer.

“I was really all by myself. It was my own battle,” remembered Chamblin. “I was lucky to have a husband who was very supportive, but we didn’t have the resources like we have today. It was really very hush-hush, like it was a contagious disease. Nowadays, before people even say, ‘Hi, my name is ...,’ they say, ‘I have breast cancer.’ It’s truly very, very open, which is wonderful.”

Although breast cancer was not overtly spoken about when Chamblin was diagnosed with the disease, she said she was never ashamed of herself and always kept a positive attitude, even after she went bald as a result of the radiation treatments. Walking around town without hair was an everyday occurrence for her. She said she felt beautiful just wearing makeup and dressing up each day.

But Chamblin did wear a wig to work, out of respect for her clients. She did not want to make anyone feel uncomfortable, especially those who were fighting their own battle with breast cancer. She also did not want people to pity her or question her ability to do her job.

“Throughout all of my chemo and radiation treatments, I never missed a day of work. If I had to throw up, I just went to the bathroom. I was not caving in. I’m a fighter,” she said.

Eventually, Chamblin began to notice that many women she came into contact with were suffering from complications from breast cancer treatments, of which many of them were completely unaware. So she immediately began attending seminars to receive certifications for the treatment of lymphedema and other pre-/post-breast cancer surgery rehabilitation programs.

“It’s so interesting: When you’re pregnant, everyone is pregnant. It’s the same thing with cancer,” said Chamblin. “I never paid attention to the amount of patients I had with breast cancer until I had it. Then I thought, ‘This is my calling. I’m going to start to devote my professional career to treating women with these kinds of complications.’”

Ellen Dondero-Meyer, 53, of Cedar Run became a patient of Chamblin’s after she underwent a slew of breast cancer treatments in 1996 and began to suffer from lymphedema in her arm, a manageable but incurable disease that affects the lymph channels of the body. Although she said her doctors did not know much about the disease and did not necessarily approve of its treatments, she found that the complex decongestive physiotherapy used specifically for managing lymphedema made an incredible difference in the dexterity of her hand.

“In the beginning there were times you couldn’t even see my knuckles. It was very disfiguring, and Elisheva recognized that,” said Dondero-Meyer. “Sometimes I still have flare-ups, but it’s very mild. It’s nothing like it was before I started treatment.”

Photo by Ryan Morrill
Chamblin also makes jewelry pendants and 
paints seashells from LBI to help raise 
money for cancer research.

Although Chamblin and Dondero-Meyer were friends before, their bond grew even stronger during treatment. When Dondero-Meyer asked Chamblin to join her in the organization of the Relay For Life of Manahawkin, which is held every year in June at Southern Regional High School to help raise funds for the American Cancer Society, Chamblin was by her side as advocacy chair.

After attending ACS’s Celebration on the Hill in Washington, D.C., in 2006, Chamblin also agreed to be the Ambassador Constituent Team Lead for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, a nonprofit, nonpartisan, advocacy group. She now represents New Jersey’s 3rd Congressional District as ACS CAN’s state lead ambassador and continues to work on state and federal issues regarding cancer research.

This year, one of Chamblin’s main priorities, professionally and personally, is centered on increasing support for the Relay For Life of Manahawkin, an event she said suffered a decrease in volunteerism after Barnegat Township built a high school and started its own Relay For Life event.

“This year, we really want to make it exciting and fun. The bigger it is and the more attractive it is, the more volunteers we have and the more money we raise. This is important,” said Chamblin. “The more money we raise, the more research we have and the more lives we save. I’m fighting for others to be what I am: a cancer survivor. Cancer will get you, rain or shine, if you’re white or black, rich or poor. It’s a serious disease, and we have to find a cure,” she added.

This article was published in The SandPaper.