2014 EDITION — OCTOBER 10
THE POWER OF
PINK THE POWER OF PINK GALA This year’s 2014 Power of Pink Masquerade Ball will take place Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014 at Kye’s in Jeffersonville.
SURVIVOR STORIES
TRINA AMOS
SHIRLEY BAIRD
RIA DEGROAT & LIA ENGLE
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Page 9
Trina Amos was diagnosed with stage 2A breast cancer in 2007 and underwent a bilateral mastectomy before switching oncologists. Through her hardships, Amos says she is living a much happier life now and has the courage to share her experience.
Despite being diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in January, Shirley Baird maintained her full-time job and an elected position on the New Albany City Council. After undergoing a mastectomy and Staph infection, Baird hopes to raise awareness by telling her story.
SHARON MCELROY
JAMIE THEVENOT
MARILYN WHITE
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Page 23
Two years ago, Sharon McElroy discovered she had breast cancer after doctors found an abnormality in her right breast. Despite an operation that left her voiceless for a short time and a decision to have her breast removed, McElroy says she survived and thrived from it.
An extra $50 saved Jamie Thevenot’s life after she decided to spend the money on a digital tomosynthesis test during her yearly mammogram. Doctors were able to use 3D imaging to discover suspicious lesions in her breast to detect the cancer and begin treatment.
After being diagnosed with breast cancer in the late 1980s and again about 20 years later, Marilyn White says she has seen a significant change in how society reacts to the disease. With advancements in treatment, she was able to take experimental drugs and beat the odds to survive.
Page 15 Lia Engle found out she had breast cancer soon after her mother Ria DeGroat was diagnosed with the same disease in 2011. Testing confirmed DeGroat had passed on a BRCA mutation gene to Engle that causes hereditary breast and ovarian cancer.
THE POWER OF PINK
NEWS AND TRIBUNE - PAGE 2
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POWER OF PINK
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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014
INTRODUCTION
People go through challenging moments of losing people and having their life threatened from illness and real grief. But they get through it. And that's the testament to the human spirit and it's that we are fragile, but we are also divine.
”
— Sheryl Crow, breast cancer survivor
FINDING BEAUTY IN BREAST CANCER T his breast cancer awareness edition is a testament to the strength and the uncertainty we humans face in life. In these pages, you will read about triumph and tribulation. You will read about highs and lows regarding women and their family and friends dealing with the ugliness and resulting beauty of breast cancer. If you read their stories (and you should), you will be amazed at how determined and strong our women of Clark and Floyd counties can be BILL in the face of adversity. Each year, the News and News and Tribune Tribune publisher pays tribute to women and men who have engaged in the battle of a lifetime with breast cancer and come away stronger and more determined to live life to its fullest. For me, it is therapeutic to read their stories. You see, I lost both of my parents to cancer long ago. Neither had breast cancer, but their struggles and victories were similar to the women you'll read about here. They wrestled with the miserable lows of sickness only cancer can inflict. Mom was able to witness the incredible love of family, friends and even strangers during her 8-year battle with brain cancer. If you haven't been touched by cancer, statistics indicate that you will at some point. About 12 percent of American women (one in eight) will develop invasive breast cancer over
HANSON
the course of her lifetime. Besides skin cancer, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among American women. Just less than 30 percent of cancers in women are breast cancer. About 85 percent of breast cancer occurs in women who have no family history of the disease. The ugliness of cancer is easy to see and understand. The initial discovery is paralyzing. Radiation and chemotherapy is sickening. Hair loss, for some, can be demoralizing. However, through all of the ugliness cancer brings with it, the most incredible thing is the light that shines through the darkness of despair. “I have strong faith. God has helped me through all this,” Jamie Thevenot told us. “I'm so thankful for all my blessings.” Jamie was diagnosed with breast cancer in January. “God is really the only one who knows when your time on earth is up. I'm still here about six years later,” said Marilyn White who, at age 84, has faced down breast cancer twice. “That's why I did [this] article,” said
Shirley Baird, “because if anyone is going through this and are afraid, they will see that there is hope out there, and it isn't as bad as they might be thinking.” “The trials we have in our life, the events, they do happen for a reason,” explained Trina Amos. “I’m a much stronger, happier, healthier person than I was seven years ago.” The resulting beauty of breast cancer goes way beyond winning the fight against cancer. It is the faith, the love, the strength that survivors lean on or discover during their battle with the disease that shines a light of hope. At the News and Tribune, it is our hope that the contents of this breast cancer awareness edition will educate, encourage and empower those who read it. — Bill Hanson is the publisher of the News and Tribune. You can contact him at bill.hanson@newsandtribune.com
POWER OF PINK INDEX
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SURVIVOR STORIES • Trina Amos ......................... Page 3 • Shirley Baird ....................... Page 9 • Ria DeGroat & Lia Engle ......... Page 15 • Sharon McElroy ................ Page 17 • Jamie Thevenot ................ Page 21 • Marilyn White ................... Page 23
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS • By the Numbers ................. Page 7 • Detection .......................... Page 11 • Myths ............................... Page 13 • Age Factor ........................ Page 18 • What to Eat ....................... Page 19 • Recovery .......................... Page 22
THE POWER OF PINK
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014
SURVIVOR STORIES
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NEWS AND TRIBUNE - PAGE 3
TRINA AMOS
BLESSED BEYOND MEASURE Woman says cancer has given more than taken BYAMANDA BEAM
newsroom@newsandtribune.com
H
enryville resident Trina Amos didn’t sign-up to be a member of the Pink Ribbon Club, but a breast cancer diagnosis in 2007 would involuntarily force her to be included in the evergrowing group. Seven years later, the 50-year-old survivor wouldn’t change a thing. “Cancer has truly given me more than it ever took away from me,” Amos said. “When I was diagnosed, I thought it was the worst possible news a person could get. I was so wrong; it has blessed me beyond measure.” That positive outlook, however, doesn’t mean Amos’ experience, at times, was difficult. Her son, 15 at the time, and his future weighed heavily on her mind. She wanted to be there for his proms and graduation. Yet fear and uncertainty of her cancer made her question if this would be possible. Still, she battled on. “I have had people say how brave I am,” Amos said. “I don’t think of myself as brave; sometimes I had to do it afraid. You do what you have to beat it.” Conquering the disease required sacrifice. Within a month of discovering her stage 2A breast cancer, doctors performed a bilateral mastectomy on Amos, followed by eight treatments of chemotherapy. The toxic treatment made her ill. On her off weeks, she returned to her job at State Farm Insurance. The days she received chemo she forced herself to rest. Lack of energy and nausea were only the beginning. Her hair that fell halfway down her back began to fall out. A buzz of the razor and the purchase of some wigs made her more comfortable. “That did not affect me near what I thought it would, either. A bad hair day could just do it for me,” Amos said. “But we buzzed it and realized it was not the end of the world. I quickly realized a bad hair day was better than a no hair day.” Midway through her chemotherapy treatment, Amos decided to change course and find a different oncologist, one with which she felt more comfort-
Trina Amos became involved as a member of the Pink Ribbon Club after being diagnosed with stage 2A breast cancer in 2007. She underwent a bilateral mastectomy before switching oncologists and beginning reconstruction surgery.
able. The high number of skilled physicians and medical opportunities throughout the area reinforced her resolve. Patients need to look out for what is best for their situation, she said, and not be afraid to voice their concerns. “You do get close to your doctors, but they’re not necessarily your best friends, so you can’t get real personal with that,” she said. “If you feel like you need to move on, you need to move on. I think that’s a big mistake that a lot of people make with breast cancer ... They just keep going knowing their gut feeling is telling them to do something different.” Her new oncologist was a better fit. Reconstruction surgery also began during this time, but an infection halted her plastic surgeon’s progress. After three months, the process of stretching out the skin and muscles in the chest with devices called expanders had to in essence be started all over again.
STAFF PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER FRYER
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“The trials we have in or life, the events, they do happen for a reason. I’m a much stronger, happier, healthier person than I was seven years ago. It’s given me a lot of courage to share my experience.”
— Trina Amos
These hardships, Amos believed, happened for a reason. In February, Amos’ mother discovered she, too, had breast cancer. Amos, with knowledge from her own incidence, was much better prepared as to what expect, as well as better understood first-
hand the various treatment options. Her mother continues to do great. “The trials we have in or life, the events, they do happen for a reason,” she said. “I’m a much stronger, happier, healthier person than I was seven years ago. It’s given me a lot of courage to share my experience.” A quote she found helped to summarize her feelings. The passage reads, “It’s what we get to make a living. It’s what we give to make a life.” Through telling her story and supporting other survivors, Amos continues to reinvest all the faith and love she had received during her illness. “I wouldn’t change a thing, even if I could. Knowing what I know now, I would have chose the same path that life dealt me,” she said. “I thank God every day for using me to share this amazing journey and give hope to other women facing this battle.”
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friday, october 10, 2014
news and tribune - page 5
Growing Awareness to Save Lives In the battle against breast cancer, early detection is a woman’s most powerful weapon. In fact, according to the National Cancer Institute, when breast cancer is detected in an early, localized stage, the five-year survival rate is 98 percent. That’s why it is so important for all women to make breast health awareness a regular part of their healthcare routine.
A mammogram can detect breast cancer
immediately. Women of all ages should
in its earliest, most treatable stages,
speak to their doctor about his or her
and many major health organizations
personalized recommendations for
recommend annual mammogram
breast cancer screening.
screenings for women beginning at age 40. Experts also recommend clinical breast exams and breast self-exams to check for breast abnormalities on a regular basis. Any woman noticing unusual changes in her breasts should
As we recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we remember the women who have lost their lives to the disease, and we voice our support for those in the fight of their lives.
contact her healthcare provider
Join the Power of Pink on Facebook to show your support for Breast Cancer Awareness. Check out the video and all the pictures from the 2014 Power of Pink Gala beginning Monday, October 27. facebook.com/powerofpink.southernindiana #POP2014
These local sponsors join the News and Tribune in raising awareness of the importance of early detection in the fight against breast cancer and the importance of continued support for breast cancer research.
Mac Spainhour for Sheriff Wal-mart, Clarksville, IN Arts Council of Southern Indiana Gary & Rita Shourds Maple Manor Christian Home, Inc. Greater Clark County Schools Rock Creek Community Academy
John Jones Auto Group - Salem, Corydon, Scottsburg, Greenville New Washington State Bank Sam Swope Volkswagen Bush-Keller Sporting Goods Conn Hearing Aid Center Gold’s Jewelry & Coin
62 Twist & The Feed Store
Carnegie Center for Art & History and the NAFCPL Bookin’ Librarians
A Better Way Floors
Jeffersonville Fire Department
Hi-Tek Firearms & Training
Centenary United Methodist Church
McCoy’s Nursery & Landscape
First Savings Bank
Captain’s Collectibles
Page 6 - NEWS AND TRIBUNE
friday, october 10, 2014
THE POWER OF PINK
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS
FACTS AND FIGURES
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BREAST CANCER: BY THE NUMBERS
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•
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esearchers may not be satisfied until the numbers are zero, but breast cancer-related death and incidence rates are on the decline.
The nonprofit Breastcancer.org recently released the following array of statistics related to breast cancer. Visit the organization's website for a full list of the statistics, as well as helpful resources and information on emerging research related to breast cancer. • About 12 percent of American women (one in eight) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. • Breast cancer incidence rates have steadily decreased in the U.S. since 2000. Researchers credit the drop to the reduced use of hormone replacement therapy by women after the results of the revolutionary Women's Health Initiative (2002) that suggested a connection between the therapy and breast cancer risk. • Besides skin cancer, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among American women. Just less than 30 percent of cancers in women are breast cancers. • Caucasian women are slightly more likely to develop breast cancer than black women. However, in women under 45, breast cancer is more common in black women than Caucasian women. • More than 2.8 million women in the U.S.had a history of breast cancer in 2013. • About 5 to 10 percent of breast cancer can be linked to gene mutations inherited from a person’s mother or father. • About 85 percent of breast cancer occurs in women who have no family history of the disease. These occur due to genetic mutations that happen as a result of the aging process and life in general, rather than inherited mutations. — GreenShootMedia
NEWS AND TRIBUNE - PAGE 7
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friday, october 10, 2014
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SURVIVOR STORIES
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NEWS AND TRIBUNE - PAGE 9
SHIRLEY BAIRD
A JOURNEY OF HEALING
Councilwoman takes on stage 3 breast cancer BY AMANDA BEAM
newsroom@newsandtribune.com
N
ew Albany City Councilwoman Shirley Baird knows how to take charge of a situation and fight for what she believes is right. Stop by a council meeting sometime, and you’d agree. But, in January of this year, Baird would battle a different type of injustice when she was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. Without skipping a beat, the 64-year-old underwent treatment as she maintained both a full-time job and an elected position. Her journey of healing, though, continues. It all started when Baird felt something strange in her right breast. A diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound would deem the mass was suspicious. While no one else in her family has had breast cancer, the biopsy that followed would confirm she did indeed have the disease. Calling her office, her doctor apologized for delivering the unexpected news by phone. “If he would have called me in to his office, I would have known anyway so what difference does that make,” Baird said. “Needless to say, I asked off for the rest of the day because I wasn’t feeling real great.” At home, her husband Jim reassured her that everything was going to be OK, and God would take care of them both. However, before surgery could occur, doctors needed to reduce the size of the tumors. Chemo was ordered, four sessions of strong doses every two weeks followed then by 12 weeks of a weaker variety. The placement of a port helped make the transfusions easier. Baird felt no pain. Chemotherapy brought cravings of sweets to the diabetic. Her doctor eased her worries by saying she could eat what she wanted, and she did. During chemo, the toughest thing for Baird was losing her hair. When getting ready for church one Sunday, she noticed the changes. “I got out of the shower and so much had fallen out, I couldn’t even do the
New Albany City Councilwoman Shirley Baird was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in January. Baird underwent chemotherapy treatments and a mastectomy before a Staph infection sickened her. After she heals, the next step to Baird’s recovery will be radiation and reconstruction.
STAFF PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER FRYER
Donald Trump come over. I was bald Baird. In addition to antibiotics, she on top,” she said. “I told my husband, needed to carry around a portable wound vacuum that ‘Get out the clippers. cleared drainage from the We’re going to shave my site. For three weeks, she head.’” carried around the tenFrom then on out, she “That’s why I did pound device that resembegan to wear a wig. bled a purse. During this Once the chemothera- the Tribune article time, she couldn’t attend py treatments concluded because if anyone a city council meeting. It and the tumors had been was the only one she successfully shrunk, is going through Baird had a mastectomy this and are afraid, missed due to her treatment. on July 24 that removed While the laceration her right breast. Lymph they will see that fully heals, Baird waits nodes and some of her there is hope out outer skin also needed to there, and it isn’t as for the next step in her recovery. Radiation will bebe taken to ensure the gin once that happens. cancer wouldn’t spread. bad as they might Reconstruction would She was on her way to be thinking.” recovery. — New Albany City then follow, although litBut then, a setback oc- Councilwoman Shirley Baird tle skin is left in the area for the plastic surgeons to curred. Staph infection invaded the incision site and sickened use. In fact, skin from her back will be
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used to aid the procedure. Through it all, Baird never has felt her time on this earth is limited. She said she never needed a support group. Two of her other good friends also are facing cancer, and they help each other cope by discussing their commonalities. Knowing how it feels to struggle both physically and financially, the community leader wants to assist others in the same boat. Raising awareness by telling her story is another goal. After being featured in an earlier News and Tribune article, Baird realized the positive influence she could have on other survivors. “That’s why I did the Tribune article,” she said, “because if anyone is going through this and are afraid, they will see that there is hope out there, and it isn’t as bad as they might be thinking.”
page 10 - News and Tribune
Friday, October 10, 2014
THE POWER OF PINK
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS
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NEWS AND TRIBUNE - PAGE 11
DETECTION
MAMMOGRAPHY PROGRAMS
D
efined simply as an X-ray of the breast, a mammogram is recommended once per year by the American Cancer Society for women ages 40 and older. The process can help find cancers that can’t be felt. And though it’s imperfect, the technology behind mammograms continues to improve — as does the research driving the importance of mammograms to critical early detection of breast cancer.
NATIONAL MAMMOGRAPHY PROGRAM The National Breast Cancer Foundation is partnering with medical facilities across the country to provide free mammograms and diagnostic breast care services to underserved women. The group requires that participating medical facilities have the capability to continue treatment after an abnormal finding or diagnosis of breast cancer. Check out the foundation’s online program portal, which can help you find local facilities within the group’s network: nationalbreastcancer.org/nationalmammography-program.
3-D MAMMOGRAPHY A more modern type of mammography, known as 3-D mammography or tomosynthesis, is expected to be used by millions of women in an attempt to detect breast cancer this year. Some experts say this new mammogram can increase the detection of cancer while simultaneously reducing the numer of false positives. Because the technology is so new, though, the long-term verdict about its effectiveness is still not conclusive. More and more clinics are moving toward 3-D mam-
mography as an option. If they’re available in your area, ask your doctor about the benefits and drawbacks — including cost — of this type of mammogram.
MAMMOGRAPHY COMPLIANCE The U.S. Food and Drug Administration requires certification for any facility offering mammography. This is done to ensure adherence with high stan-
•
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dards of safety and quality. If the FDA certificate is not posted in plain view at your doctor’s office, ask the receptionist to let you see it before undergoing your mammogram. It is a simple request that will give you peace of mind during what can already be an emotionally challenging process for many women. — GreenShootMedia
•
DIY: MONTHLY AT-HOME BREAST EXAM Stand in front of a mirror. Inspect both breasts for anything unusual, such as any discharge from the nipples, puckering, dimpling or scaling of the skin.
1 2
Watching closely in the mirror, clasp hands behind your head and press hands forward.
Press hands firmly on hips and bow slightly forward, toward your mirror as you pull your shoulders and elbows forward.
3
Raise your left arm. Use three or four fingers of your right hand to explore your left breast firmly, carefully and thoroughly. Beginning at the outer edge, press the flat part of your fingers in small circles, moving the circles slowly around the breast. Gradually work toward the nipple. Be sure to cover the entire breast. Pay special attention to the area between the breast and the armpit, including the armpit itself. Feel for any unusual lump or mass under the skin. Repeat the exam on your right breast.
4
5
Gently squeeze each nipple and look for a discharge.
Steps 4 and 5 should be repeated lying down. Lie flat on your back, right arm over your head and a pillow or folded towel under your left shoulder. This position flattens the breast and makes it easier to examine. Use the same circular motion described earlier. Repeat on both breasts.
6
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THE POWER OF PINK
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BREAST CANCER AWARENESS
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NEWS AND TRIBUNE - PAGE 13
FACT OR NOT?
BREAST CANCER MYTHS
L
ike many medical subject matters, loads of misinformation is floating around the Internet about breast cancer. •
Opinions have transformed into myths — ones that some people mistake for solid medical advice. When researching breast cancer on your own, it is important to heed the advice of your physician first and foremost. If you do decide to check out any online resources to learn more about the subject, be sure to stick with credible organizations such as the National Cancer Institute, the American Cancer Society or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for your information. Doing so can help both debunk and stop myths in their tracks.
MYTH 1: FINDING A LUMP MEANS YOU HAVE CANCER This is an innately false statement, because only a small percentage of breast lumps turn out to be cancerous. It is recommended, however, that you always see a physician for an exam if
•
• you do come across a lump. You can stay on top of your own personal well-being by performing routine breast self-exams and scheduling your mammogram screenings.
MYTH 2: YOUR FAMILY HISTORY DETERMINES YOUR RISK Also a myth. Most women who have breast cancer have no family history of the disease. But as the reporting and recording of family history continues to improve and evolve, doctors are still cognizant of considering the factor of family history. The American Cancer Society recommends that if you have a first-degree relative with breast cancer you consider some form of diagnostic breast imaging starting 10 years before the age of your relative’s diagnosis.
PHOTO: METROCREATIVECONNECTION.COM
MYTH 3: MAMMOGRAPHY SPREADS CANCER A mammogram, or X-ray of the breast, remains the gold standard for the early detection of breast cancer and cannot cause the disease to spread, according to the National Cancer Institute.
“The benefits of mammography, however, nearly always outweigh the potential harm from the radiation exposure,” the institute states. “Mammograms require very small doses of radiation. The risk of harm from this radiation exposure is extremely low.” — GreenShootMedia
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page 14 - News and Tribune
Friday, October 10, 2014
Mayor Jeff M. Gahan
CityofNewAlbany.com • Facebook.com/NewAlbanyIN
THE POWER OF PINK
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014
SURVIVOR STORIES
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NEWS AND TRIBUNE - PAGE 15
RIA DEGROAT & LIA ENGLE
A DOUBLE DIAGNOSIS
Mother, daughter battle cancer together BYAMANDA BEAM
newsroom@newsandtribune.com
B
reast cancer runs in Ria DeGroat’s family. Her mother and two aunts died from the disease. A third aunt, her own sister and several cousins have survived their diagnoses. Even with this family history, when DeGroat found out in November 2011 she, too, had breast cancer, the news still surprised her. At the time, little did she know her discovery would lead to her then-24-year-old daughter finding out she also had breast cancer one year later. “When I was told I had cancer, I can’t say I ever expected it. I was shocked. But when my daughter told me she had it, that was the blow that really got me,” DeGroat said. “I could fight it, but I couldn’t do anything to make it better for her.” Yet, through a simple stick of a needle, the Sellersburg resident did give her children more knowledge. The results provided an advanced warning that allowed her daughter Lia Engle more time to fight the disease. It’s called the BRCA gene test, the BRCA being a mutation in one of several key tumor suppressor genes that, when affected, can cause both hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. While accounting for roughly 5 to 10 percent of all cases, this abnormal DNA greatly increases a woman’s lifetime risk of developing breast cancer. Anywhere from 45 to 60 percent of those found to have the genes will develop the disease by the age of 70. In addition, children of a parent who has the mutation have a 50 percent chance of inheriting the faulty gene. “From being tested in August or October (2013), never would I think that one month later, two months later that they would be telling me I had breast cancer,” Engle said. “I thought it would be a couple of years down the road. After I had children. After I lived longer. So it was a really big shock.” During this time, Engle was still helping her mother deal with the effects of cancer treatment. Around Thanksgiving of the previous year, DeGroat was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer and opted to have a double mastectomy. Her chemotherapy
Lia Engle, left, and her mother Ria DeGroat were both diagnosed with breast cancer about one year apart from each other. After DeGroat was diagnosed in November 2011, she found out she carried a BRCA mutation, which had been passed on to Engle.
STAFF PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER FRYER
continued through the following fall. After DeGroat found out she carried a BRCA mutation, Engle decided to be proactive and also be tested. As most likely in the cases of her grandmother before her, Engle’s mother had passed the gene down to her. A baseline mammogram and MRI were soon ordered to provide a reference point to doctors so that they could detect any future changes easier. When making the appointments, Engle heard the same thing. Imaging centers scolded that she was too young for the procedure. Then she explained her history. The mammogram would come back normal. The MRI, which does a more thorough job of scanning a 20-something woman’s denser tissue, found an abnormality. At 24, Engle had stage 1 breast cancer. As in many cases of younger survivors, the cancer was aggressive. Luckily, so was Engle’s treatment. “If she hadn’t gone through with what she did, I would have never got tested as
soon as I did. I wouldn’t have found it,” Engle said. “It’s a blessing in disguise for me because it made mine so much easier.” Soon after diagnosis, the Silver Creek High School graduate opted for a double mastectomy. In the future, she wouldn’t have to worry about the likelihood of the disease returning. No lymph nodes were removed, so the swelling called lymphedema wouldn’t be an issue. And since they caught the malignancy in such an early stage, no radiation or chemo was needed. Reconstruction began soon after. “It is really scary. Luckily I had experience and I knew what kinds of question to ask and what to expect, but for people who don’t have that, they don’t know,” Engle said. “With the raising awareness and talking to people, just from the year between hers and mine, we did have different experiences all together.” Like her mother, the doctors recommended Engle eventually have her ovaries removed in order to decrease the chances of ovarian cancer. But first, she
and her husband of three years want to have children. Passing the gene to her offspring does cause her some concern. But with amazing advances in both detection and treatment of breast cancer, Engle believes future generations who have the mutation will have even more options to lead full lives. In the meantime, both DeGroat and Engle want to share their stories in order to help other women diagnosed with breast cancer. A cancer diagnosis, DeGroat said, is not the end. She recommends those struggling with the disease to talk with a survivor about their situation. “If anybody wants to talk about it, I’m willing always to talk about it and let them know our experiences and what we’ve gone through,” DeGroat said. Engle, who works in the medical field, speaks with her patients as well. “The more we know about it, and the more people understand it, we have something to fight it with,” she said. “It empowers us more.”
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THE POWER OF PINK
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014
SURVIVOR STORIES
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NEWS AND TRIBUNE - PAGE 17
SHARON MCELROY
A CANCER ‘SURTHRIVER’
Optimism is hardwired into woman’s persona BYAMANDA BEAM
F
newsroom@newsandtribune.com
or a self-portrait assignment in her photography class, Borden resident Sharon McElroy needed to tell a story. That’s what her instructor had requested of each student. Imagination was to be their focus, not who took the prettiest picture. “You want a story? I’ll tell you a story,� McElroy said. The photos McElroy submitted did exactly this. In one, she posed behind a cat tower surrounded by wigs she had purchased during chemo. Another scene resembled a makeshift yard sale with bras hanging from a clothesline strewn across her open trunk. Beside her sat a sign that announced, “Used bras for sale — no longer needed.� If a picture is worth a thousand words, McElroy’s collection read like a novel. Life hasn’t been easy for the 62-year-old these past several years. Speaking with McElroy, you wouldn’t know it. Optimism has been hardwired into her personality. Her voice escalates with energy, even when discussing her medical troubles. “Cancer is absolutely terrible. Make no bones about it. I make jokes about it and stuff, but that’s just the way that I am,� she said. “But it also has changed my life in ways that I never ever would have known needed to be changed.� McElroy’s life-changing journey with breast cancer began two years ago in August 2012. An enlarged thyroid required her to have surgery. During the presurgical workup, doctors discovered an abnormality in her right breast that would require a biopsy. Already scheduled for the thyroid surgery, she decided to have the sampling of her irregular breast tissue removed at the same time. “I laughed and said, ‘Two-for-one. I get two surgeries for the price of one. Fine. Do whatever you need to do,’� McElroy said. Five days after surgery, she woke from a coma and found herself in intensive care with both tracheostomy and feeding tubes bulging from her body. Her operation had gone horribly wrong. Making things worse, she had no voice. Now, the award-winning middle-school science teacher’s beloved job was in question. How could she instruct a classroom of kids without talking to them?
Sharon McElroy was diagnosed with breast cancer in August 2012, when doctors found an abnormality in her right breast. After a difficult surgery that left her voiceless for a short period of time, McElroy made the decision to have her right breast removed.
STAFF PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER FRYER
“Amazingly to me, my first thought wasn’t ‘I can’t believe this is going to happen to me’,� McElroy said. “My first thought was, ‘Wow. You must have an amazing thing you want me to do, Lord, to have kept me on this Earth alive and you don’t want me to teach.� Twenty-four hours later, McElroy’s surgeon visited her patient with more bad news. The pathologist found malignant cells while examining her breast biopsy. On top of everything else, McElroy had breast cancer. Then and there, she made up her mind on how she would deal with it. “I should have died two separate times before this incident,� McElroy said. “God didn’t leave me here so I would succumb to cancer. I believed I could handle it after what I’d been through, which became my attitude.� When her surgeon returned the next day, McElroy was ready with a small dry erase board, her only method of communication. Between having to wipe off her words, she replied with the following: “That is a highly underused piece of my female anatomy.
(Erase.) It has never served me very well as a single woman anyway. (Erase.) If you need to, just go ahead and take the damn boob.â€? Her stunned doctor had just witnessed McElroy’s unique approach toward combating cancer. The decision had been made. While in the hospital for 25 days due to the thyroid surgery complications, she would also have her right breast removed, a choice she said she made because her breast did not define her. Roughly three months later, with a trache she would have almost half-a-year longer still helping to provide her with air to breathe, McElroy began chemotherapy. Thirty radiation treatments then followed to ensure the cancer would not return. “It’s frightening. It’s scary. It’s unknown. It’s all of these things,â€? she said. “But I believe with all of my heart‌ that having cancer was absolutely the best thing that ever happened to me.â€? Breast cancer has transformed McElroy. Before, she said as a science teacher she relied heavily on her “left brain.â€? Analytical. Organized. Literal. Cause-and-effect ori-
ented. These were some of the words she used to describe her former self. Now, she said, right-brain Sharon has emerged. Through exposing her to art and music therapy, the Brown Cancer Center helped her discover this new zest for life. In addition to enrolling in a graphic arts/photography program at Ivy Tech, McElroy has also begun taking violin lessons, and tries her hand at painting every chance she gets. “You have this right brain Sharon that’s happened after chemo, and that’s turned into this very colorful world especially in the arts,� she said. “Right now, I’m exploring things I never explored before. Which got McElroy to thinking. Not only has she survived cancer. She believes she’s thrived because of it. “Everybody goes through something. Everybody has battles that they fight. They’re all just not connected to an IV, tube or port,� McElroy said. “You don’t just survive cancer, but cancer changes us in such a way we thrive. So you’re not just a cancer survivor. You’re a cancer surthriver.�
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THE POWER OF PINK
NEWS AND TRIBUNE - PAGE 18
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS
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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014
AGE FACTOR
BREAST CANCER IN YOUNGER WOMEN
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ost breast cancer is found in women ages 50 years and older, but this doesn’t mean that younger women are immune from the disease. •
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About 11 percent of all new breast cancer cases in the United States are found in women younger than 45, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And unless they have witnessed a relative or friend go through the diagnosis and treatment process, young women can find it overwhelming to find out they have breast cancer.
WHO IS AT RISK? The CDC identifies certain segments of the population to be at an increased risk of getting breast cancer at an early age, compared with other women their age. Here are some factors to consider: • You have close relatives (parents, siblings or children) who were diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer when they were younger than 45. This is especially true if more than one relative was diagnosed or if a male relative had breast cancer. • You have an Ashkenazi Jewish heritage. • You were treated with radiation therapy to the breast or chest during childhood or early adulthood.
WHAT TO DO The most crucial action you can take as a young woman with an increased risk for breast cancer is talking to your doctor. Your physician may suggest you consider genetic counseling and be tested for mutations in your gene structure. Another recommendation may be to receive mammograms earlier and more often than other women, or if other screening tests may be right for your particular situation.
RESEARCH In 2011, the CDC awarded funding to seven organizations for a nationwide collaboration focusing on education and support for young breast cancer survivors. Among the group are outreach organizations and top-tier universities with goals to shed light on the reasons behind breast cancer occurring at a young age, and what women can do to bounce back after a cancer diagnosis. — GreenShootMedia
Steve Stemler and his family support Breast Cancer Awareness. The best protection, is early detection.
THE POWER OF PINK
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS
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NEWS AND TRIBUNE - PAGE 19
WHAT TO EAT
DIET LINKED TO CANCER
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at well and exercise. How often are we advised by medical professionals that these two simple lifestyle choices can help us live longer, healthier lives? •
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Well, recent international research on the link between high-fat diets and breast cancer only strengthens the validity of the guidance. The Epic Breast Cancer Study researched more than 300,000 women in 10 European countries, and its results were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. The study found that a high-fat diet increases the risk of the most common form of breast cancer by one-fifth. A 28-percent rise in risk is attached to heavy consumption of saturated fat, which is what comes from butter, lard, cuts of meat and some dairy products. The study amplified the call for women to eat healthier to improve their odds of avoiding breast cancer. More research is being done in the area through another study called Women’s Healthy Eating and Living, which is looking into how diets rich in fruits and vegetables and low in fat can help reduce breast cancer recurrence.
WHAT YOU CAN DO If you or someone you know struggles to maintain a healthy diet, you can take these steps:
LOWER YOUR FAT INTAKE • It sounds simple, but what does it mean? Fruits and vegetables have less fat and more fiber than animal products. Most are packed with helpful nutrients, so be sure to mix them in throughout the day. If you’re not likely to sit down and eat an entire carrot for a snack, chop one up and add it to your salad.
VARIETY IS KEY • Research has shown that the healthiest way to make sure your body is nutrient-rich is to consume a wide variety of foods. Fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains are all great diet options on their own, but even more effective when working together to fuel your body. — GreenShootMedia
PHOTO: METROCREATIVECONNECTION.COM
PHOTO: METROCREATIVECONNECTION.COM
page 20 - NEWS AND TRIBUNE
friday, october 10, 2014
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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014
SURVIVOR STORIES
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NEWS AND TRIBUNE - PAGE 21
JAMIE THEVENOT
EXTRA MONEY WELL SPENT
3D scanning device detects woman’s lesions BYAMANDA BEAM
newsroom@newsandtribune.com
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nly 50 extra dollars may have helped save Jamie Thevenot’s life. In January, the Georgetown resident paid the additional charge to upgrade her traditional yearly mammogram to digital tomosynthesis, a more expensive three-dimensional picture of the breast. According to a recent study, these newer 3D screening devices, when used with standard mammograms, improve breast cancer detection rates by more than 40 percent. Few insurance companies, though, cover the cost of the procedure, thus the added fee. For Thevenot, spending the extra bucks paid off. Radiologists were able to detect three suspicious lesions on her left breast through the 3D imaging. While initially the doctor wanted only to watch the spots until her next check-up, Thevenot objected. Her mother and grandmother had been treated for breast cancer. With that family history, waiting made her uncomfortable. “They said we have three little spots, but we’re just going to watch and look at them again next time. I said, ‘No, not with my history. I want them looked at now,’” said Thevenot. Soon after, a stereotactic biopsy would confirm the unimaginable. Like her mother and grandmother before her, Thevenot was diagnosed with breast cancer. “The day [the doctor] called, I’ll never forget. My husband came home from work and we were just waiting for that call,” she said. “I still think I’m kind of in shock over it.” Luckily, Thevenot’s cancer was caught early and had yet to spread beyond the breast. She opted for a lumpectomy to remove the diseased areas, followed by 25 rounds of radiation to ensure the cancer was fully eradicated. In the interim, the doctor also recommended a hysterectomy so Thevenot could take a medicine that would reduce the likelihood of the malignancy returning. A day after this second surgery, hospital personnel wheeled her to radiology so the next phase of her treatment could begin. Radiation, it turned out, caused her the
Jamie Thevenot was diagnosed with breast cancer in January after upgrading her traditional yearly mammogram to digital tomosynthesis. The technology provided a three-dimensional picture of her breast and radiologists were able to identify three suspicious lesions.
STAFF PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER FRYER
most discomfort. The treatment seared her “The genetic people at Norton’s [hospiskin. For ten days, she laid in bed as a tal] say they haven’t had anybody with burn victim, praying for relief my genetic history with a grandmother “I have strong faith. God has helped me and a mother, to have two primaries, and through all this,” Thevenot then for me to be 47 [at diagnosaid. “I’m so thankful for sis],” she said. “All that togethall my blessings.” er has made me kind of a Her mother, the person “I just want unique situation.” she calls her “rock,” also For now, Thevenot will congave her both hope and re- everyone to know tinue to be monitored through assurance. Only a year af- I love them. I scans every six to nine months. ter fighting breast cancer, If the breast cancer does return, her mother was diagnosed want to do more the doctor advised her to have with an unrelated pancreat- for others.” both breasts removed. ic cancer. While her moth“If he says, ‘This is going to — Jamie Thevenot er survived, genetics may save your life’ I’ll do it. I don’t have played a role in her susceptibility to have a problem at all,” she said. the illness. Fate would have it — and geThevenot, though, doesn’t dwell on her netic testing would show — that Thevenot circumstances. She continues to work at received the same suspect copies of two John Jones Auto Group as a sales account genes — the ATM and the PALB2 — executive. Spending time with her family, from her mother. Doctors are now closely including her husband Greg and sixthmonitoring Thevenot to ensure she doesn’t grade son Bryce, keeps her busy, too. contract pancreatic cancer as well. Both helped her physically and mentally
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during her ordeal, as did her friends and colleagues. Still, she wants to return the support. “I just want everyone to know I love them. I want to do more for others,” Thevenot said. “That’s what I want to do in life is take care of others.” In the same respect, the new grandmother also has learned she needs to take better care of herself. For many mothers, this can be difficult to do. “I do think through all of this I need to do more for me, and I don’t know how to do that. I really don’t,” she said. “I don’t feel comfortable doing for me. I’m more comfortable doing for you.” No matter what comes in life, Thevenot said her devotion to a higher power will get her through. God has a plan for her, of that she is certain. “When you have faith in God, and put God first in your life, you know you’re going to be OK,” she said. “And I know I’m going to be OK.”
NEWS AND TRIBUNE - PAGE 22
THE POWER OF PINK OCTOBERFRIDAY, 10, 2014
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS
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RECOVERY
AFTER THE TREATMENT
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earing the words “you’re cancer-free” can be a life-changing experience for people who have just struggled through strenuous rounds of treatment. They can also be the beginning of a new chapter full of challenges in its own right.
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FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENTS Your physicians will want to watch you closely following your successful treatment. During your follow-up appointments, you will be asked about any problems or sicknesses you may be experiencing. It is crucial to answer all questions as truthfully and detailed as possible. This will help your physicians stay on top of your still-sensitive medical situation. Your visits will also include exams, X-rays or scans to uncover any signs of treatment side effects. Follow-up appointments are generally scheduled every three to six months, and will decrease in frequency the longer you are cancer-free. Your cancer check may be moved to once a year after five years.
DEALING WITH THE FEAR Fear of recurrence is a common emotion for people who have had cancer. Though the anxiety may lessen over the months and years after a successful round of treatments, it is important to learn how to deal with these feelings instead of simply ignoring them. Many cancer survivor support groups are available to help you realize the magnitude of your achievement in not only attaining a cancerfree diagnosis, but also for persevering through the difficult treatments. Talking to others about the positives you have gained through your experience can be the uplifting experience you need to help you reach your post-treatment goals.
HEALTH INSURANCE It is absolutely crucial to maintain quality health insurance, even after a successful treatment experience. The costs of follow-up appointments, additional testing and further treatment from unforeseen recurrence can add up in a hurry. Ensuring that your health insurance will help incur some of these charges can help you stay focused on staying healthy instead of worrying about substantial medical bills. — GreenShootMedia
THE POWER OF PINK
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014
SURVIVOR STORIES
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NEWS AND TRIBUNE - PAGE 23
MARILYN WHITE
BUCKING THE ODDS
Jeffersonville woman fights off cancer twice BYAMANDA BEAM
I
newsroom@newsandtribune.com
n her 84 years, Marilyn White has fought off breast cancer not once, but twice. Her first diagnosis came in the late 1980s, when the medical community didn’t fully understand cancer. With surgery and chemotherapy, she persevered. About 20 years later, an unrelated malignancy developed in her other breast. Doctors gave the Jeffersonville resident only a year to live. Through the use of experimental drugs, Marilyn bucked those odds and proved them wrong. “I wasn’t sure I could do it all over again,” she said. “I did. That was six years ago. I’m still taking treatments every other month that last for 41⁄2 hours hooked up to a machine. Bob still goes with me to the treatments so I’ll have someone to talk to.” The Bob she’s referencing is Bob White, Marilyn’s husband of more than 60 years. The New Albany graduate fell for his classmate when they were both in high school. After scouring the phone book for her address, he’s been by her side ever since. Through her bouts with cancer, Marilyn needed his assistance. Treatment for the disease can be worse, at times, than the initial illness. Upon her first diagnosis, the surgeon removed her left breast along with a few lymph nodes and prescribed radiation. They also questioned her eating habits, looking for a cause of the tumor. “They had no idea what caused cancer,” Marilyn said. “They still don’t know exactly because cancer has many different forms. That’s partly why it’s so hard to do anything about it.” During therapy, she resumed work as a second grade teacher at Pleasant Ridge Elementary School. Teaching and raising the youngest of their five children kept Marilyn’s mind active and off her own difficulties. When she did feel weak from the medicine, Bob took over the cleaning and cooking duties, enticing his wife to eat with homemade soups and other dishes. “I had a lot of help. Some of the
Marilyn White was diagnosed with breast cancer in the late 1980s and again about six years ago. As opposed to her first diagnosis where cancer wasn’t greatly understood in the medical community, White said the second time around included more advancements in technology and society. She also underwent experimental treatment instead of taking a traditional route.
STAFF PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER FRYER
“They knew enough about cancer neighbors brought me potpies and food, because you are so weak, so sick, that that they didn’t think they could keep you couldn’t cook,” Marilyn said. “I it from growing,” Marilyn said. Advancements had taken place in don’t know who they felt sorrier for, for me or for Bob, because he was the both society and the medical community since her first dichief cook and bottle agnosis. More people washer then.” spoke of breast cancer. Luckily, the treatments Before, the disease worked. Marilyn recovwas discussed only in ered fully, and for about “God is really the 20 years, rarely worried only one who knows whispers. Few spoke of it in public. In 2008, about whether or not her when your time on pink ribbons and cancer would return. breast cancer awareThat changed when her Earth is up.” doctor felt a solid mass — Marilyn White ness was the norm. Marilyn could even during a routine exam, this time in her right breast. Unlike her first tell the difference in openness from experience with cancer, this time the ma- her hospital stays. Experimental trials also were availlignancy was fast-growing. Due to these attributes of the disease, the doctors ex- able, a welcome development after the physicians warned traditional treatpected Marilyn to not survive a year.
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ments might not stunt the disease’s growth. “She went ahead and took the medicine. I thought it was a good idea to be experimental. If it looks that bad, let’s experiment,” Bob said. “Those experimental drugs that helped to kill her cancer, they have little things that go around and look for the cancer cells and kill them.” Once again, Marilyn beat the odds. Even today, she tries to inspire hope in others battling the disease. “That’s why I say don’t give up, because even though my doctor was saying you only have a year to live, they really don’t know everything,” she said. “God is really the only one who knows when your time on Earth is up. I’m still here about six years later.”
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friday, october 10, 2014