When Erica Schwartz discovered a lump in her breast, she knew something was wrong. And in June 2024, tests confirmed that the mother of four from Elgin had triple-negative breast cancer, a rare and aggressive form of the disease.
Connecting with RUSH MD Anderson
After her initial diagnosis from a general oncologist, Erica suddenly faced not only the mental toll of cancer but also the stress of financial and personal challenges it brought for her and her family.
She reached out to a friend, Candice Schramm, an oncology nurse navigator at RUSH MD Anderson Cancer Center, for advice and guidance. Schramm recommended a second opinion and quickly connected with her colleagues. Soon after Erica received the call: RUSH MD Anderson was going to take her case.
At the time, Erica didn’t know much about RUSH MD Anderson, but she knew she had to move forward. “A friend told me, ‘You get one shot at this,’” Erica said. “This is your health. These are your babies you're fighting for. You go to the place that specializes in what you have.”
From the moment she walked into the bright, welcoming lobby of the Joan and Paul Rubschlager Building, she felt a sense of peace.
“Cancer has been one of my biggest fears,” she says. “So when I got to RUSH MD Anderson and I saw all of the light in the building, it made me teary-eyed. It felt like this was a gift from the Lord because I was going through one of the scariest moments of my life, but I was surrounded by light.”
Support at every step
Erica knew her treatment would be rigorous, but when she met her team at RUSH MD Anderson, she felt a deep sense of reassurance: They understood her, listened and crafted a treatment plan tailored to her needs.
Andrea Madrigrano, MD, a breast surgeon at RUSH MD Anderson, “radiated warmth,” Erica said, putting her at ease and reminding her that she wouldn’t face this alone. Then there was Ruta Rao, MD, medical oncologist at RUSH MD Anderson, whose quiet confidence struck Erica’s mother right away.
“I like her,” her mom said after their first meeting. “I can tell she doesn’t like to lose.”
“That was really important to us, that we had someone who wasn’t going to stop at anything to help me be here,” Erica says. “But it wasn’t just my physicians, it was everyone I encountered at Rush.”
From the nurses who offered compassion and constant support, to the team of staff members working the front desk at check-in, Erica felt truly cared for throughout her treatment.
“I was blown away by the level of care,” she says. “I always felt like an audience of one at RUSH MD Anderson.”
A path to healing
Erica began chemotherapy in July. “I thought I would dread going in for chemo on Wednesdays, but it turned out this was the day I got to take my life back,” she says.
The environment at RUSH MD Anderson brought her comfort during treatment. She had a private room for chemotherapy, giving her space to focus on healing. She underwent a double mastectomy in December with Andrea Madrigano, MD, and later, in May 2025, had breast reconstruction surgery with RUSH MD Anderson plastic surgeons Deana Shenaq, MD, and Mamtha Raj, MD.
Through it all, Erica had a team behind her — adjusting her treatment as needed and making sure she always felt heard. Most importantly, she felt everyone supported her spirit — recognizing the importance of her faith and encouraging her during difficult moments.
Today, Erica describes RUSH MD Anderson as both a place of healing and a place of light. She credits her care team with not only giving her a chance, but walking with her every step of the way, ensuring she could be present for the people she loves most.
“I believe God used Rush to help save my life,” she says. “My husband and I have seven children, including my three nephews. I was led here so I could live — to be here for them. I wouldn’t be here today without God, Rush, my family and my tribe.”
“If you have to walk in the darkness of cancer,” she adds, “what a beautiful place to walk it.”
