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It takes on many forms. But true beauty is a reflection of the inner woman — her strength, her grace, her vitality, her warmth. W h at i s b e a u t y ?
Within these pages, five women share trials and triumphs in their battle against cancer. Their stories underscore their strength, their passion for life and their extraordinary beauty. M a n y t h a n k s to Integris, whose sponsorship made this section possible, to the five brave and beautiful women who agreed to share their journeys, and to the following who donated time and material in an effort to underscore the beauty and the bravery of women who face cancer. A P PA R E L | EDITOR |
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S C AN I T Scan this code or go to NewsOK.com to watch a video featuring the personal stories of the f ive women showcased in this supplement.
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Rebecca Debee is the picture of health. She feels good and her smile, her complexion, every move she makes broadcasts that. Recovery from her cancer diagnosis and treatment has engendered in her a sense of peace with herself, her body and her life. Rebecca is a stay-at-home mom with three children — Leila 7, Ellie 5, Harry 3. She has been married for 12 years to Eddie, her high school sweetheart.
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IN HER OWN WORDS T h e d i a g n o s i s | In 2008, I had a mole removed from my left shoulder. It was melanoma. I was told it would be fine. Then in October 2010, I found a lump under my left arm. I went to my doctor. He knew my history with melanoma and immediately scheduled a biopsy. It came back melanoma and I was diagnosed with stage 3A melanoma. I had just the one lymph node that was malignant, but I had all my lymph nodes taken out.
f i n d i n g i n n e r s t r e n g t h | I had tons of family in town that helped me get through this. Our church family was amazing. I don’t think we ever didn’t have groceries provided for us. Amazing watching people come out of the woodwork who want to help you. t h e g r e a t e s t c h a l l e n g e | I was given a choice to watch and wait or do treatment. I wanted to fight and decided to do the treatment. It was high-dose interferon — five days a week for four weeks. It was the worst. It was basically like having severe flu for a month. It was hard to get up and walk. I had stomach problems. But I made it through that. I got to ring the bell at the cancer institute. Then I did injections at home for 10 months. In October (2011) it was damaging my body so bad that my liver was shutting down. I had to quit. I really could not parent at all the first month. Throughout the first year, I did a lot of “momming” from the couch. l e s s o n s l e a r n e d | It’s been so great since then. The first couple of weeks off (of chemo), I thought, “I feel really good. I wonder what I could feel like if I really take care of myself?” Now I eat better. I don’t think I’ve ever been in better shape. I don’t want to feel that way again. C l o s i n g t h o u g h t s | When you get a cancer diagnosis and someone gives you a percentage on your life, you just enjoy things more. It’s not annoying having your kids get in bed with you at night. I’m really glad I’m here. I’m glad I can be a part of life. And having your health. When you lose it then you get it back, you don’t want to sit around anymore. T h e g o o d n e w S | Becca finished her treatments in October 2011. She loves running, working out and has been very involved in the Livestrong program at the YMCA. favo r i t e I n t e g r i s m o m e n t | I love those people. The people in the chemo suite were just amazing. They learn your kids’ names. Everyone is just really positive. They don’t let you be depressed.
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IN HER OWN WORDS T h e d i a g n o s i s | It was a fluke. I went to see my gynecologist. She asked when I had had my last mammogram. I told her it had been a couple of years. So she scolded me and handed me a piece of paper with the number of a place where I could get a mammogram. I put the paper on my dresser. It laid there. Finally in December 2011, I called to get a mammogram. Sure enough, it came back positive and my doctor told me to go get an ultrasound. They had trouble finding the tumor. It was next to chest wall and it was very small. B R AV E
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My doctor told me I might be eligible for a new procedure called MammoSite. They put these microbeads in tubes and apply radiation just to the cancer. Then I went to Integris. Dr. Prabhu told me I could have the new treatment. It was twice a day for five days. And then I was finished.
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f i n d i n g i n n e r s t r e n g t h | Friends and family. And swimming and dancing and Girl Scouts. t h e g r e at e st c h a l l e n g e | Trying to make people feel good about what’s happening. To meet Ione Brown is to instantly have a new friend. Her warmth, openness and sparkling personality make people feel they have known her for years, not minutes. Ione’s focus is on life — if you can’t enjoy it or laugh about it, she won’t waste her time on it. Her philosophy: Smile and make the best of it. Ione is married with four grown children, three daughters and a son. She spends her time swimming, dancing with a group at the Will Rogers Senior Center and volunteering for the Girl Scouts of America.
l e s s o n s l e a r n e d | There’s so much new (in cancer research), you don’t need to be afraid. C l o s i n g t h o u g h t s | Share your life with your friends, it makes them feel good to help you. And count your blessings. T HE GOOD NE WS | Ione feels good and is looking forward to performing with her dance group at the Will Rogers Senior Center on Oct. 19 and 20. At the end of October she plans to go on a Girl Scout campout with 150 people. fav o r i t e I n t e g r i s m o m e n t | When Dr. Prabhu said I could do the MammoSite.
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In a word, Darci Gregory is “charming.” Her smile and her twinkling eyes naturally draw people to her. She is gentle, competent and engaging. It is readily apparent that she delights in life — something she says has been punctuated by her cancer diagnosis.
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Darci is married and has three boys, Alex 15, Zac 13, and Nick 9, and works as a legal assistant. IN HER OWN WORDS T h e d i ag n o s i s | I was diagnosed Sept. 3, 2010. I went for a mammogram because I found a lump. And it spiraled from there. It was Stage 3 breast cancer. It was a complete shock. I proceeded with two lumpectomies … (and) started six rounds of chemo in October 2010. Then I followed up with seven weeks of radiation. I was 37 when I was diagnosed.
f i n d i n g i n n e r s t r e n g t h | Most of my strength has come from my husband (my boyfriend at the time), my family and my girlfriends — and my will to live and be there for my children. t h e g r e at e s t c h a l l e n g e | I think dealing with not being healthy has been the hardest thing. Not being able to do the things I know I’m capable of doing. Not being that super mom. l e s s o n s l e a r n e d | Life is so precious. Enjoy every day for what it is. No better how bad it is, it’s still life, and you can still contribute … things that used to be so important are not important at all. C lo s i n g thoughts | Do self-exams. Had I not done the selfbreast examination, I would be constantly dealing with cancer. It was that aggressive. It probably would have taken me. T HE GOOD NE W S | Darci has finished her chemo and radiation and is cancer-free. She has nearly completed paralegal school at OU and is planning lots of vacations with her husband and family. fav o r i t e Integris m o m e n t | Ringing the bell. I knew it was the end.
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One look at Natalie Taylor, and it’s hard not to smile. Her broad grin and her sense of humor are contagious. The battles she has fought, both in losing her mother to breast cancer and waging her own war against the disease, have left her with a warmth and a joy for life that light up a room. Natalie is married with four grown children — the oldest being twins. She was a pharmacy tech trainer for 35 years and now is retired. IN HER OWN WORDS T h e d i a g n o s i s | I had had my knee replaced and was getting ready to return to work when I found a lump. I had a mammogram Aug. 30 (2011). On Sept. 2, my doctor arranged to have a diagnostic ultrasound. Then a biopsy. The next day, my doctor asked me to come in. I had Stage 3 breast cancer. I was kind of puzzled. I’m not a smoker. I have regular mammograms. finding inner strength | I made a promise to my mother before she died that I if I ever had breast cancer, I would fight. And I have faith in the Lord. t h e g r e at e s t c h a l l e n g e | To accept my mortality. I am the only person who can do this for myself. I have to get through it. l e s s o n s l e a r n e d | Life is so precious and so short. I learned a lot about myself. C l o s i n g t h o u g h t s | You have to be positive; you have to have faith. As long as you keep a sense of humor, faith and a positive attitude, you’ll be OK. T h e g o o d n e w S | Natalie is getting close to finishing her year of treatment, and doctors have determined that she does not carry the gene associated with hereditary breast cancer, giving her daughters a good chance at never developing breast cancer. fav o r i t e I n t e g r i s m o m e n t | It (the diagnosis) was a shock. I just had a mammogram eight months before. I just lost it. The doctor and the nurse were both crying.
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Linda Cooper’s demeanor is all business. Indeed, life revolves around business for her. She owns her own business and is heavily involved in the Association of Women Business Owners — both locally and nationally — and the South Oklahoma City Tips Club. Her straightforwardness and vitality is a clear signal that she meets her challenges head on – even cancer. Linda has one son, Matt; a daughter-in-law, Lucinda; two grandchildren, Carson and Andie; a sister, Jan; and a boyfriend, Bob. She loves traveling and gardening. IN HER OWN WORDS T h e d i a g n o s i s | I was diagnosed in December of 2011. There was no lump. I just felt different. The Lord was telling me there was something wrong. My doctor did a mammogram and an ultrasound. It showed nothing. Then they did an MRI. There was a clear picture of a tumor on my breast wall. It was Stage 2 breast cancer. It was not a good Christmas. I had a complete double mastectomy. I also had two lymph nodes removed and went through eight doses of chemo. The first four were really strong.
f i n d i n g i n n e r s t r e n g t h | All my family. My boyfriend. And all my friends have helped me through, and of course my faith. t h e g r e a t e s t c h a l l e n g e | The realization that I had cancer that is very rare. l e s s o n s l e a r n e d | I lost my husband to lung cancer. But I have a lot of faith. It has made me stronger. C l o s i n g t h o u g h t s | Make sure that you get all the tests that you can get. T h e g o o d n e w S | Linda is nearing the end of her radiation treatments. She continues to enjoy her friends and family and is keeping up with the pace of operating a business. fav o r i t e I n t e g r i s When I got to ring that bell.
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WE ARE HERE TO TELL YOU THAT IT’S NOT. And because ONE IN EVERY EIGHT WOMEN is diagnosed with breast cancer, it’s not something we take lightly, either. That’s why we have a comprehensive network of five centers throughout the Oklahoma City area dedicated to breast health that goes beyond simply booking an appointment … to building a relationship. From prevention to diagnosis to treatment and recovery, we’re here to provide thorough, specialized and – because we know how important it is to you – convenient care.
It all centers on this: 90% OF BREAST CANCER CASES CAN BE TREATED SUCCESSFULLY IF DETECTED EARLY. So get the simple mammogram that could save your life – and we’ll make sure it doesn’t take too much time out of your daily life. Evening appointments, convenient locations … and if it’s determined that a biopsy is needed, in most cases we can do it the same day. And all of it comes from the one place with the most beautiful results of all: MORE SURVIVORS OF MORE TYPES OF CANCER than anywhere in Oklahoma.
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integrisOK.com 405.951.2277
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