THINK PINK by Lisa Counts

www.herald-dispatch.com

THINK PINK

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Focus on women’s health

Photos by Lori Wolfe/The Herald-Dispatch

Breast cancer survivor Millie Tomlinson of Chesapeake, Oho, displays her scrapbook in Huntington. The scrapbook records Tomlinson’s experiences with battling and recovering from breast cancer.

INSIDE THIS SECTION Spotlight on breast cancer

Luncheons, walks dot October calendar / 2G

Beating breast cancer: A story of two survivors

Local women journey, battle through disease STORY BY BETH HENDRICKS / The Herald-Dispatch bhendricks@herald-dispatch.com

Fighting for a cure Chandini Portteus,

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vice president of evaluation and scientific programs at Susan G. Komen for the Cureanswers questions about current research / 6G

UNTINGTON — The only way out is through. That sentiment, heard in passing during a 2001 television broadcast of a preacher ministering to his congregation, is what propelled Millie Tomlinson through her darkest days. “It just struck me when I heard it and I wrote it on a little piece of paper and put it on my bathroom mirror,” said the 58-year-old Tomlinson of Chesapeake. “That morning, when I was sitting on the table at Dr. (Shawn) McKinney’s office and she told me it was breast cancer, that same phrase came back to me: ‘The only way out is through.’” “That morning” was an October 2004 day when everything changed for Tomlinson, then 50 years old. “I found a lump in my right breast while taking a shower,” said Tomlinson, who was eventually diagnosed with stage three breast cancer. Two months later, Tomlinson had gone through mastectomy Please see SURVIVORS/2G

Tammy Goodman of West Hamlin is a breast cancer survivor.

2G The Herald-Dispatch — Huntington, WV, Sunday, September 30, 2012

Think Pink

Questions? Call the newsroom at 304-526-2798 www.herald-dispatch.com

Tammy Goodman West Hamlin woman who is a breast cancer survivor

Survivors

File photo/The Herald-Dispatch

Participants in the third annual Balloon Release untangle their balloons before releasing them on Oct. 21, 2011, at the Edwards Comprehensive Cancer Center in Huntington. This year’s memorial balloon release is Friday, Oct. 26, at the cancer center. Proceeds from purchased balloons go to the Edwards Comprehensive Cancer Center Good Samaritan Fund for cancer patients.

n Continued from 1G

surgery at Cabell Huntington Hospital and, by the first of 2005, started eight rounds of chemotherapy and 33 radiation treatments. She struggled with allergic reactions to some of her medications and lost all of her hair. “I always had light brown hair and colored it, so a lot of people considered me a blonde,” Tomlinson said. “When it came back in, it came in dark and I looked different. People asked what I didn’t lighten it and I decided it’s just not that important at this stage of my life.” Tammy Goodman of West Hamlin, W.Va., is Tomlinson’s kindred spirit. At 37, Goodman, who has family history of breast cancer on both sides of her family, received the same diagnosis. “I had a sore spot. It wasn’t even a lump,” said Goodman, now 41. Indirectly, Goodman said her dog helped her discover her breast cancer. “I was sitting in the car and she ran up and jumped on my lap and kept pressing that one side of my breast and I screamed in pain,” Goodman said. “I tell her I love her all the time because she saved my life.” At a medical appointment for her daughter, Goodman, who did not have medical insurance, told the physician her story about the dog. Three days later, she was preparing for a mammogram and biopsy at St. Mary’s Medical Center in quick succession. “I found out that day. When they told me the pathology results, my jaw hit the floor,” Goodman said. Goodman spent more than a year in chemotherapy, clinical trials and radiation. Four years to the day she discovered she had breast cancer, on April 30, 2012, physicians told Goodman her cancer has returned and moved to her spine. “When I was first diagnosed back in 2008, it was devastating because I had seen what breast cancer can do. I knew the devastation it

Events put spotlight on breast cancer awareness The Herald-Dispatch

causes,” Goodman said. “But, I just have to cope. I have a 16-year-old daughter I want to see graduate, go to the prom and get married. And, I’ve had my cousin’s kids for more than a year now and I’m in the process of adopting them so I have one in preschool and one in kindergarten. They’re my reason for being.” Both women said their disease has given them a platform to help other women struggling with the news. “I thought I was doing everything right. I didn’t have any family history. I wasn’t overweight. I was healthy. It wasn’t even on my radar,” Tomlinson said. “I feel like, through this, it has given me more opportunity to say what God has done for me. “I’m not saying I didn’t have fear because you do, but I knew I couldn’t act like it wasn’t there. I knew I was going to be going through this and I believe Jesus heals and uses doctors to help heal,” she continued. “Cancer is a journey. It’s a journey you never get off of and I’ve spoken at a lot of events and met a lot of wonderful people because of it. I feel like when I help others, I help myself.” Goodman’s advice to women concerning their health is not to take ‘no’ for an answer. “Don’t settle for less than you deserve. Save your own life because nobody is going to do it for you,” she said. “You’ve got to do your breast self exams and get your mammograms, even if it means giving up a membership to the tanning bed this month. Listen to your own body.”

HUNTINGTON — Today, one in eight American women and one in 150 men will face a diagnosis of breast cancer in their life. After lung cancer, it is the second most common cause of death in women. October is designated nationally as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. A variety of activities and events are planned across the region to raise awareness and increase funding for research, mammograms for uninsured women and education about early detection. The following is a list of October events from the Tri-State: n All month, ticket sales for Quilts of Hope project, West Virginia Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program, 304-399-6690. n All month, bra decorating contest, Merle Norman at the Huntington Mall, to benefit the West Virginia Breast and Cervical Cancer Diagnostic and Treatment Fund. n All month, free clinical breast exams, Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital. Call 606836-PINK for appointments. n All month, free mammograms for Kentucky women age 40 and older without health insurance, sponsored by Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Call Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital’s Women’s Center at 606836-PINK for appointments. n All month, mobile mammography appointments throughout the region, Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital. For a schedule of dates and times, visit www.olbh.com. n 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct.

4, breast cancer support group, Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital, Bellefonte Centre, 1000 Ashland Drive, Russell, Ky. Call 606-833-CARE to register for the free support group. n Noon Friday, Oct. 5, wreath-hanging ceremony, KYOVA City Park, Kenova n 1 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 6, breast cancer awareness fashion show, Huntington Mall n 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7, breast cancer survivor reunion, St. Mary’s Medical Center, outpatient lobby, 2900 1st Ave., Huntington. Jack Cappellari will speak on “Breast Cancer from a Male Perspective.” n noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 9, seventh annual Ladies in Pink Luncheon, Guyan Country Club. Guest speakers will include Dr. Erica Barringer and survivors Deborah Gibson and Amy Herrenkohl. Shopping in the parlor begins at 11 a.m. Reservations required by Wednesday, Oct. 3. Ticket price is $35. Checks should be made payable to

St. Mary’s Foundation and mailed to St. Mary’s Regional Cancer Center, 2900 1st Ave., Huntington, WV 25702. Proceeds benefit St. Mary’s Pink Ribbon Fund, which provides mammograms to local women who are uninsured or underinsured. n 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 9, breast cancer survivor’s dinner, Ramada Inn Limited, 16th Street Road. Call 304-526-2440 for registration information. n Thursday, Oct. 11, breast cancer support group meeting, St. Mary’s Regional Heart Institute, room 204, 2900 1st Ave., Huntington. Call 304-5268221 for more information. n 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 12, free clinical breast exams (breast cancer screening), Edwards Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1340 Hal Greer Blvd., Huntington. For appointments, call 304-526-2440.

ON PAGE 4G:

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Think Pink

The Herald-Dispatch — Huntington, WV, Sunday, September 30, 2012

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4G The Herald-Dispatch — Huntington, WV, Sunday, September 30, 2012

Think Pink

Questions? Call the newsroom at 304-526-2798 www.herald-dispatch.com

Brenda

HARLOW

Bringing attention to cancer prevention File photo/The Herald-Dispatch

The Ladies in Pink Luncheon takes place Oct. 11, 2011, at the Guyan Golf & Country Club. This year’s lunchon is from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 9. Proceeds benefit St. Mary’s Pink Ribbon Fund, which provides mammograms to local women who are uninsured or underinsured.

and combat the appearance-related side effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatment. For more information, call 800-664-7989. n 3 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23, Look Good ... Feel Better, Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital, Bellefonte Centre, 1000 Ashland Drive, Russell, Ky. Free, hands-on group workshop presented by the American Cancer Society and dedicated to helping female cancer patients cope with and combat the appearancerelated side effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatment. To register, call 606-833-CARE. n 8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26, fourth annual Breast Cancer Basics and Beyond conference for health care providers, Edwards Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1340 Hal Greer Blvd., Huntington. Nursing and ASRT CEUs available. Call 304-526-2440 for registration information. n 3:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26, memorial balloon release, Edwards Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1340 Hal Greer Blvd., Huntington. Call 304-526-2440 to purchase balloons, with proceeds benefiting the ECCC Good Samaritan Fund for cancer patients. n 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, women’s breast health fair, South Point First Church of the Nazarene, 409 Solida Road, South Point, Ohio. Sponsored by King’s Daughters Medical Center. Luncheon, gifts, educational literature and items for sale. n 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28, Walk for Women at Ritter Park, Huntington. Registration begins at 12:30 p.m. Other walks in the region include Man, W.Va., Oct. 6; Hamlin, W.Va., Oct. 7; Williamson, W.Va., Oct. 13; and Point Pleasant, W.Va., Oct. 14.

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n 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 12, Zumba for the Cure, Christ Temple Church, gymnasium, 2400 Johnstown Road, Huntington. Event is for all ages and levels and will include prizes and refreshments. Tickets are $15 and $25 (VIP front row placement) in advance and can be purchased at St. Mary’s Wellness Center, St. Mary’s Regional Heart Institute, 2900 1st Ave., Huntington, or by calling Toni Karle at 304-2084525. Tickets are $20 at the door the evening of the event. n Saturday, Oct. 13, Susan G. Komen I Am the Cure Walk, Central Park, Ashland. To donate or join a team, contact Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital Women’s Center at 606-836-PINK. n 5:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 15, breast cancer support group, Edwards Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1340 Hal Greer Blvd., Huntington. For more details, call 304-526-2443. n 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Women’s Day at Kroger, Russell, Ky. King’s Daughters Medical Center’s mobile mammography unit will be available and educational literature will be provided. Appointments are necessary and can be scheduled by calling 606-408-2742. n All day, Wednesday, Oct. 17, Pink Out at Huntington VA Medical Center. Staff and volunteers are encouraged to wear pink to raise awareness. n 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 17, breast cancer awareness 1K and luncheon, Huntington VA Medical Center. Staff, veterans, volunteers and community members are invited to participate. n 1 to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 17, free breast cancer screening, St. Mary’s

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OCTOBER EVENTS

Breast Center, Outpatient Center, 2900 1st Ave., Huntington. Open to the public. Receive a coupon for a discounted mammogram. Registration is required by calling 304-526-1492. n 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, Marshall Dig Pink volleyball game, Cam Henderson Center, Huntington. n 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk, Central Park, Ashland. To donate or join a team, contact Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital Women’s Center at 606-836-PINK. n 10:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 20, breast cancer survivors day of beauty, King’s Daughters Medical Center, Health Education Center, lower level, 2201 Lexington Ave., Ashland. Manicures, skin care, door prizes and educational literature. Light refreshments and free gifts while supplies last. Crowning of Beauty Queen for the Day. Events are reserved for survivors first. To register, call 888-377-KDMC. n 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, Cuts for the Cure, Lee David Salon, 148 West 8th Ave., Huntington. $30 donation per hair cut. No appointment necessary. Refreshments available. All proceeds benefit St. Mary’s Pink Ribbon Fund. For more details, call Lee David Salon at 304-522-3100. n 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21, Marshall Dig Pink volleyball game, Cam Henderson Center, Huntington. Auction items will be available. A portion of the proceeds benefit St. Mary’s Pink Ribbon Fund. n 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 22, Look Good ... Feel Better, Edwards Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1340 Hal Greer Blvd., Huntington. Free, hands-on group workshop presented by the American Cancer Society and dedicated to helping female cancer patients cope with

Next to the American flag and the cross, the pink ribbon is probably the most recognized symbol in our culture today. The pink ribbon represents the fear of breast cancer, hope for the future and the charitable goodness of people and businesses that publicly support the breast cancer movement. It is intended to evoke solidarity with women who currently have breast cancer. Although October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, breast cancer is not confined to a 31-day period; it is a relentless, daily reality for millions of women and their families. We understand that breast cancer gets more attention than any of the other cancers combined. By calling attention to the cancer that affects more than 200,000 women per year, we can also call attention to other cancers as well. Cancer is a devastating disease, regardless of the body part for which it is named and we recognize survivors of other cancers. We respect your journey and travel with you side by side. WV Breast Cancer Awareness Day began Oct. 2, 1995. Since that first BCAD, West Virginians Please see HARLOW/5G

Questions? Call the newsroom at 304-526-2798 www.herald-dispatch.com

Think Pink

The Herald-Dispatch — Huntington, WV, Sunday, September 30, 2012

Is exercise on your to-do list? Amy E.

HANSHAW A client of mine recently stated to me, “I used to think I could not afford the time to work out. Now, I can’t afford not to.” In a modern world where your activities, commitments, and appointments grab hold and lead you into a seemingly circle of daily repetition, how can there possibly be time for anything else? Time for something you know is so important to your health — mentally, physically, and emotionally — yet maybe the last on the “to do” list to get completed, IF you’ve managed to even take that first step to get started. It is safe to say that there are more advantages than disadvantages to exercise. Over time (and not as much time as you would think), exercise helps decrease blood pressure, cholesterol levels, total body fat, increase glucose tolerance, as well as help reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, various cancers, osteoporosis and all-cause mortality. The key is not only to exercise, but to maintain exercise — to put it a little higher on that “to do” list. As a woman, you play such an important role in the lives of others. A mother (grandmother), a volunteer, a business exec, a caregiver, the list is endless and multifaceted. The fact of the matter is, despite the roles played, you are an important and a vital part to the efficiency of those day-to-day commitments and activities. So, the question to yourself should be, ‘how can I NOT afford the time to exercise?’ The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends at least 30 minutes a day of moderate-intensity exercise for health benefits to occur. Keep it fun. Keep it simple, but find a way to maintain it. The Tri-State area has a lot to offer this time of year. As the oppressive summer heat decreases, the number of charity walk/runs seems to increase. The key word to

these events is “walk.” That’s all it takes. If you’re able to do more than walk, great! If not, just walk. Walk at a comfortable, yet challenging pace. Take your family and/or co-workers, form a team and spend up to 45 minutes on a weekend to get some exercise and benefit a great cause of your choice at the same time. For upcoming races in the Tri-State, go to www.tristateracer.com. Or, make it even simpler. Take advantage of your local park, walking trail or neighborhood, again, on the weekends, with the family or even on your own with your favorite music in your ears. If you are currently not able to walk 30 minutes, walk 10 minutes, three times per day, working to build up to a consecutive 30 minute walk. In the meantime, during those crazy weekdays, take 30 minutes, to embark on a simple workout routine. This can be as basic as doing athome exercises using basic household items or maybe walking up and down the bleachers at your son or daughter’s soccer practice. Also, don’t forget about strength training. This is equally important in an exercise routine. Simple strength training exercises can be completed in the home with household items as well. Contact a local gym or exercise facility for recommendations. An exercise physiologist can not only assist you with an exercise prescription, but has the means to measure your current fitness level and physical capabilities so you safely benefit from your exercise, whether at home or at a gym. Keep in mind that exercise is movement. Move your body more than you normally would and the benefits will follow. Be creative with the means you use. Find a simple routine to do on a daily basis that can be maintained, no matter how busy your day. Do not let that hectic lifestyle you lead dictate your health. Make your exercise routine a permanent item on your “to-do” list. Amy E. Hanshaw, M.S., is executive director, Lighten-UP/HIT fit programs director at the HIT Center in Huntington. She can be reached at ahanshaw@hptservices.com. For more information the HIT Center, go to www.hitcenterhuntington.com.

File photo/The Herald-Dispatch

Marshall softball players wear pink for breast cancer awareness. The Thundering Herd and several high school football teams will be wearing pink ribbon stickers on their helmets during the month of October.

Harlow n Continued from 4G

have gathered to hang wreaths, launch balloons, read proclamations, make quilts, take steps against breast cancer, decorate bras and participate in countless other activities to raise awareness about the importance of screening and early detection of the disease. This year is no different. There are countless awareness activities being planned during the month of October. The Thundering Herd and several high school football teams will be wearing pink ribbon stickers on their helmets during the month. We request the faith community to designate one of the Sundays in October as Breast Cancer Awareness Sunday and encourage the congregation to wear pink and recognize breast cancer survivors as well as the survivors of other cancers. Both hospitals will be hosting free clinical breast exam events and we are hopeful women in our area will take advantage of the opportunity to have a free breast exam. Many events planned during October will be fundraising events. Although funds are needed, it is

important to keep in mind that breast cancer awareness goes far beyond raising money. Encourage the women in your life to practice good breast health and to see their health care provider regularly. Remember those women who may not have insurance and remind them not to neglect their health, that there is a program to help them from screening to diagnosis to treatment if necessary. The WV Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program has offered free and/or low cost breast and cervical cancer screening in West Virginia since 1991. The women, age 2564, are insured/underinsured and have an income that is at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. One of the women who used this program said “this program saved my life.” Another said “I got my hope back.” For more information about the WV Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program, please call 304-558-5388 or visit our website at www.wvdhhr.org/bccsp. Brenda Harlow, M.A., is a health information specialist for the WV Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program.

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6G The Herald-Dispatch — Huntington, WV, Sunday, September 30, 2012

Think Pink

Questions? Call the newsroom at 304-526-2798 www.herald-dispatch.com

The Komen Foundation has been funding research related to breast cancer 1982. Courtesy of CTW Features

FightING for a cure

Susan G. Komen for a Cure’s vice president of research and evaluation talks about the organization’s past, current studies and the continual search for a cure By Lisa Iannucci CTW Features “We need to find a cure for cancer.” It’s a common sentiment among those who have it, had it, lost someone to it or know someone who’s suffered from it. The Susan G. Komen for the Cure has made it their sole mission to help and, in May, released their 2012 research program grants, which take aim at early and late stage breast disease. Since 1982, the Komen Foundation has funded $685 million in research grants, 154 grants in 22 states and seven countries. But what does that mean

for patients? We had a chance to talk to Chandini Portteus, the vice president of research, evaluation and scientific programs at Susan G. Komen for the Cure. “The important thing to remember about Komen’s research portfolio is that we’ve been funding since 1982, but our portfolio has shifted over time,” Portteus says. “It has a sense of urgency now. The requirement for the research we fund is to show impact within a decade for women and men, so we focus on research that reduces the incidence and mortality of breast cancer. We take discoveries from the

lab and translate them into the clinic where women participate in the furthering of that knowledge.” Question: When can we expect to see results from the research you’re funding now? What about the research in previous years — are you seeing results now? Answer: At first, our portfolio was biology-based because in the ‘80s and ‘90s we didn’t know much about the biology of breast cancer. We funded some important discoveries back then including Dr. Mary King discovering BRCA1 genes that have a great dispo-

sition for breast cancer (editorial note: a single gene on chromosome 17, later known as BRCA1, was found to be responsible for many breast and ovarian cancers). Now, there are exciting things with research on triple negative breast cancer and we know that this is a more aggressive type of breast cancer. An important thing we learned from studies we did then and the work we do now is that breast cancer isn’t one disease, there are sub-types of cancer and Please see KOMEN/8G

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Think Pink

The Herald-Dispatch — Huntington, WV, Sunday, September 30, 2012

Triple negative

One of the most invasive forms, triplenegative breast cancer is difficult to treat and accounts for 10 percent to 20 percent of all breast cancers. Today, however, it doesn’t have to be a death sentence. By Anna Sachse CTW Features From a scientific standpoint, triple-negative breast cancers (usually invasive ductal carcinomas) are those whose cells lack estrogen and progesterone receptors, and do not have an excess of the HER2 protein on their surfaces. Because the growth of the cancer isn’t supported by these hormones or too many HER2 receptors, it doesn’t respond to common hormon a l t herapy (such as tamoxifen) or therapies that target HER2 receptors, such as Herceptin. Prijatel Anyone can get triple-negative breast cancer, but it is more likely to occur in premenopausal women, says Patricia Prijatel, author of “Surviving Triple Negative Breast Cancer” (Oxford University Press, 2012) and founder of the Positives About Negative blog (HormoneNegative.BlogSpot. com). In addition, although AfricanAmerican women are less likely to get breast cancer than Caucasian women, if they do get it, they are more likely to get triple-negative. While this group of cancers is not hereditary, Prijatel notes that it does have a strong association with the BRCA genetic mutation, which is hereditary. “The correlation works one way, but not necessarily the other,” she adds. “Women with the genetic mutation who get breast cancer are most likely to have triplenegative breast cancer than other forms, but women with triple-negative breast cancer do not necessarily have the mutation.” Other studies have found that wom-

Courtesy of CTW Features

Marc Silver didn’t know how to react when his wife, Marsha Dale, told him she had breast cancer. Realizing he is not alone, he wrote a book “Breast Cancer Husband: How to Help Your Wife (and Yourself) During Diagnosis, Treatment and Beyond.”

Anyone can get triple-negative breast cancer, but it is more likely to occur in premenopausal women, says Patricia Prijatel, author of “Surviving Triple Negative Breast Cancer.”

en with triple-negative were younger at the onset of menstruation, on average had more children (at least three) than non-triple-negative women, they were less likely to breastfeed for more than four months, and they were more likely to not breastfeed at all if they had at least three children, Prijatel says. Another risk factor she finds intriguing is related to metabolic syndrome — a combination of risk factors such as high blood glucose, high blood pressure and abdominal obesity, plus problems like low “good” cholesterol, high “bad” cholesterol and high triglycerides. “Women diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer are much more likely to have metabolic syndrome than those with other forms of breast cancer,” Prijatel says. “Some research suggests that insulin resistance might be associated with triple-negative breast cancer.” Please see NEGATIVE/8G

In sickness

and in health

After a rocky start, breast cancer husband Marc Silver learned how to support his wife during one of the most trying times in her life, and the lessons he learned taught him to be a better husband and caregiver.

By Renee Lee CTW Features After Marsha Dale called her husband, Marc Silver, at work to tell him she had just been diagnosed with breast cancer, she thought maybe she had reached the wrong husband. Silver’s first reaction? “Ooh. That doesn’t sound good.” He recalls hanging up after the conversation and staying the day at work. Silver wasn’t looking to be callous — he didn’t know how else to react. He reacted, he said, by not reacting. This was Labor Day weekend 2001, and it wasn’t until they visited with doctors and Silver heard the word “mastectomy” that he sprung out of denial.

Silver, an editor at National Geographic, and Dale, a high school teacher, live in Chevy Chase, Md. During his wife’s treatment, Silver found himself desperately wanting a book that gave advice to breast cancer husbands. In spring of 2002, as Dale finished up her active treatments toward what had been Stage II cancer, Silver drafted a book proposal. His book, “Breast Cancer Husband: How to Help Your Wife (and Yourself) During Diagnosis, Treatment and Beyond” (Rodale Books) was published in September 2004. Silver’s book tells the story of his family’s battle with cancer, but he also interviewed nearly 100 couples and found that everyone coped with breast cancer differently. “You’re in a daze,” Silver says. “You get hit so hard and sometimes you don’t know why you’re reacting the way you are.”

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8G The Herald-Dispatch — Huntington, WV, Sunday, September 30, 2012

Questions? Call the newsroom at 304-526-2798 www.herald-dispatch.com

Komen

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n Continued from 6G

n Continued from 7G

women come to the table with complicating factors. All of those things need to be taken into consideration when treating a woman or man. We are beginning to understand every woman’s cancer, tailoring it to that person and targeting therapies that come with better outcomes. Q: What happens if you fund a study that doesn’t have a positive result or falls completely flat during the research time? A: Of course science fails and every experiment we do isn’t going to turn out to be a cure. The important thing is to understand the lessons learned. Researchers can come to us, especially during our Promise Grants, and tell us they thought they were going to find something, but their path has changed and they want to redirect their research. Or sometimes a drug treatment wasn’t the right one or the drug wasn’t available. We know that science is an art and we have flexibility. We also have an eight-member scientific advisory board that looks at our Promise Grant projects and gives feedback on its direction. Q: In one study, Hee Lee, Ph.D., at the University of Minnesota is working to develop a prototype cellphone study to deliver information and messaging to empower Korean American women. Why not just create an app, and how has technology changed your studies? A: A few years ago, we funded a mammography reminder system on telephones and the data showed that even women who are insured, collegeeducated and Caucasian, aren’t getting mammograms. Cellphones are a norm for us and while awareness, education and access are important, we needed to bring cell phones into the study and see how it makes a difference. Q: What research is lacking? A: This is one of the things we talk to our advisors about and this year, one area we noted that needed more study is that estrogen preceptor positive breast cancer has treatment options, but within five years after diagnosis, they are coming back with a recurrence of their cancer. What is going on there? This year, we focused

Silver recalls the first time he cried after his wife was diagnosed. “I was driving around doing errands and listening to Ray Charles. All of a sudden I heard these strange sounds in the car and I was like, oh my God, I’m crying.” Silver says. “I remember I didn’t tell my wife about it — I was afraid she’d think ‘Whoa, he’s losin’ it.’” When dealing with cancer, you can feel like all the humor flies out of your life, Silver says. Hair was a sensitive issue for Dale once she started losing it, but the couple found a way to sneak in some humor when it came to wigs. “We were at the wig shop, and I said ‘Honey, will you try on some for me?’” What ensued was a dress-up session of Dale modeling a big blonde Dolly Parton-style wig and one that made her look like Elvira from the 1988 film “Mistress of the Dark.” Silver and his wife found it was a lot easier to laugh at cancer than to con-

Chandini Portteus

on the causes. Q: What about funding drug development? A: We don’t fund drug development. Instead, we fund early stage clinical trials for stage 1 or 2. We’re at that translational bridge and we do things that are really moving out of the lab and to the patients. Funding drug development can be cost prohibitive for us and we feel our mission is to urge scientists to get from the lab to the bedside where the women can see progress. Q: It’s been a rough year. How are you looking forward? A: We were already set to fund $58 million and we met our goal. Research is a priority for Komen and always will be. We are mindful that the economy has affected us all, but we’ve been pleased to see how people are still passionate for what we do. Komen will still be there to help you, provide educational resources. We’ll be there at your diagnosis, and to provide support. We were the first advocacy organization. We know women are dying every day and until no one dies from breast cancer our work isn’t done. For more information on the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, visit http://ww5.komen.org.

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Although triple-negative isn’t a good candidate for hormonal therapy, it can be treated with surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. “In fact, some research has shown that chemotherapy is more effective for triple-negative than for hormone-positive,” Prijatel says. Knowing that triple-negative breast cancer is a family of diseases, the goal going forward is to understand the genetic makeup of the individual tumors that respond to treatment. “So, a treatment may only work on 5 percent of triple-negative tumors, but if we can identify the 5 percent, then we are making good progress,” Jones says. “Also, now that from a genetic point of view these cancers are no longer black boxes, we can also learn from other tumor types. (Our) study, for example, suggests that a drug used for malignant melanoma might be useful in a small subset of the triple-negative cancers. Of course, this would have to be rigorously tested, but it’s an excellent lead already.” If you have a strong family history

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stantly be afraid of it. Silver and his wife have been together now for more than 30 years. Dale was able to share any thoughts, whether good or bad, with her husband. As Silver says, if she couldn’t share them with him, whom could she share them with? Being a caregiver to a sick loved one comes with its own burden. Silver recommends caregivers also take some time off to take care of themselves. Silver talked to some wives who said they would call their husbands’ friends and ask them to go out with him to make sure he was getting time for himself as well. Other advice Silver has for caretakers? Take all the help you are offered from friends and family. It’s also very important to go to doctor’s appointments with your wife, Silver says. You become part of a team, and you can listen and help discuss treatment options. Dale eventually had lumpectomies in both breasts and underwent chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

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Questions? Call the newsroom at 304-526-2798 www.herald-dispatch.com

The Herald-Dispatch — Huntington, WV, Sunday, September 30, 2012

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