One Woman’s Story of Survival, Advocacy, and the Power of Compassionate Care at Mount Sinai

When Alla Feldbeyn was told in early 2021 that she didn’t need chemotherapy or radiation after a hysterectomy for endometrial cancer, she breathed a sigh of relief. For nearly two years, everything seemed fine—until a stubborn cough and a strange pain in her side changed everything.

Scans revealed something she never expected: the cancer had spread to her lungs. Her original physician disputed the findings, delaying treatment. But Alla knew her body—and her instincts told her she couldn’t wait. A friend referred her to Dr. Brian Slomovitz, Director of Gynecologic Oncology, at Mount Sinai Medical Center.

“I saw him within two hours of arriving. By Thursday, I started chemo,” she said. “It happened so fast. I knew I was finally in the right hands.”

After three months of chemotherapy, Alla enrolled in a clinical trial under Dr. Slomovitz’s care. But when a new tumor appeared in her lung, she took matters into her own hands again. “It was just one spot. I asked, ‘Can we remove it?’ My primary doctor agreed.”

She turned to Dr. Roy Williams, Chief of the Division of Thoracic Surgery, who had helped diagnose her earlier. He performed a delicate lung surgery—removing a tumor alarmingly close to her spine. “If we had waited any longer, who knows what could’ve happened,” she recalled. “That surgery may have saved my life.”

Now, nearly a year into her second clinical trial, Alla’s disease is stable. The cancer hasn’t progressed. She’s still working remotely as a senior director for a day program serving developmentally disabled adults and still traveling with her husband—even if just short cruises close to home.

“I’ve had nearly every side effect listed,” she laughed. “But I’m alive. I’m here. And that’s what matters.”

For Alla, the care she received at Mount Sinai wasn’t just medical, it was deeply personal. “Dr. Slomovitz gave me his cell number. His team always checked in. Even when I had COVID, they were texting and calling. You don’t get that kind of support everywhere.”

Her message to other women, especially those over 50 or postmenopausal, is simple but urgent: “Never ignore your instincts. Get checked. Speak up. And never, ever give up.”

Now surrounded by her daughters, grandchildren, and a community of coworkers who pray for her and cheer her on, Alla says this journey has only deepened her belief in the power of positivity—and people. “I’ve always been a social worker. I’ve always helped others. But going through this reminded me how sacred that kind of support really is.”

She adds: “You can live with cancer. You can still have joy. And you can still fight—with the right team by your side.”