Susanna (Dillwyn) Emlen (1769-1819)

She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1813 and in the following year her husband's distinguished brother-in-law, Dr. Philip Syng Physick, persuaded her to have an operation to remove it -  in a time before anaesthetics or antibiotics had been invented. In the surgery, Physick was accompanied by Dr. Caspar Wistar, Dr. John Syng Dorsey, Dr. Joseph Parish and Dr A.B. Tucker. The operation took place on the second floor of Susanna's home, West Hill Manor (see images), and was a success, making Susanna one of the earliest breast cancer surgery survivors in the United States.