2017 Town&Gown Pink Zone by Town & Gown

Town&Gownâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

2017

The Tie That Binds Katie Anderson-Wheeler, Heather Sanford, and Marjorie Miller are examples of the strength shown by breast-cancer survivors

CONTENTS 6

FROM THE COACH

THE NEW PINK LEADER Less than a year into her job as executive director of the PA Pink Zone, Erin Tench is already making an impact in growing the organization and its efforts • by Jodi Morelli

THE FIGHTS THAT BIND Pink Zone game and the battle against breast cancer have special meanings for several Lady Lions • by Josh Langenbacher

28 AFTER A MASTECTOMY Reconstructive surgery is one option following procedure • from Geisinger Health System

EXPLORE OPTIONS Breast-conserving surgery offers another possibility beyond a mastectomy • from Geisinger Health System

32 EXPANDED COVERAGE Pennsylvania becomes first state to have 3D mammograms covered by insurance • from PA Breast Cancer Coalition 42 “JUST ACT” What you still don’t know about breast cancer • from Brandpoint

SURVIVOR PROFILES 36 LARA ECHERD 38 ROBERTA HARDIN 40 HEATHER SANFORD

Women’s Corner

ON ALLEN

EST. 2016

Profiles & interviews of local women, coverage of issues that directly affect women, and health & wellness tips specfically for women. The fourth week of every month in www.SaulyBoys.com

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PINK ZONE 2017

FROM THE COACH I will never forget the day I found a lump in my breast. For me, that traumatizing moment happened during a routine morning. At the time, my daughter, Rhaiyna, was a newborn and I was still nursing her. On this particular morning, I went into Rhaiyna’s room, picked her up out of her crib, settled in my rocking chair, and began feeding her. It was then that I felt the lump. It was a really odd feeling. It felt like a little tiny marble or pebble was stuck under my skin. I tried to move it around — to see if I could smash it or something. But it would not go away. I didn’t really panic or anything. In fact, I just thought it was kind of odd. I figured it was probably a clogged milk duct or something caused by me nursing my daughter. Still, I decided I would go to the doctor and have it checked out. My doctor was able to get me in that morning, and I went in fairly confident that she would say that there was nothing to worry about. Unfortunately, that did not happen. My doctor did a physical exam and took some X-rays. After reading the X-rays, she came back in the room and said, “Yes, Coquese there is a lump there, and I’m not sure what it is. … We are going to have to do a biopsy.” She asked me to come back the next day for the biopsy. When I returned the next afternoon, they took me in a room and came in with what seemed to me to be the longest needle in the history of medicine. They stuck it in my breast, drawing fluid out of the lump. “Well,” I said. “Is it cancer?” The technician gently let me know that it would take a few days before they would have the results and my doctor would call me with the information. 6

The next few days were a foggy blur for me. I didn’t tell anyone what I was going through — not even my husband. I didn’t want anyone worrying unnecessarily. But boy, did I worry! All kinds of questions ran through my head. And, quite frankly, it was all very scary. Finally, my doctor called and said she had the results of my biopsy. The lump they found was just a cyst, and when they did the biopsy, they drained all the fluid in the cyst. They would keep an eye on it for a few months to see if it returned, but she felt confident it would not. I breathed a long, huge sigh of relief. Having this experience made me appreciate on a more personal level how impactful Pink Zone truly is. For many women and men, the postbiopsy talk they have with their doctors goes much differently than mine. So the work that we do assisting organizations who provide education, early detection, and support for individuals and families fighting cancer, as well as those engaging in research for a cure, is incredibly important. Pink Zone is so much more than just the annual Lady Lion basketball game. We have several other special events, and our fund-raising efforts are ongoing during the year. What makes Pink Zone really special, from my perspective, is the dazzling way we honor and celebrate survivors, the special relationships we have with our beneficiaries, and the energetic group of volunteers who devote their time to helping find a cure for this disease. As we embark on our next decade of Pink Zone, the opportunity to grow in reach and to do more for our beloved community is before us. If you would like to join in the fight with us, simply e-mail our executive director Erin Tench at erin@papinkzone.org and let her know of your interest. Together, we can make a difference! Coquese Washington Penn State women’s basketball head coach

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The New Pink Leader Less than a year into her job as executive director of the PA Pink Zone, Erin Tench is already making an impact in growing the organization and its ef forts

By Jodi Morelli

Pink. It’s no longer a color associated only with baby showers and princesses. It’s a color that, in recent decades, has taken on a new and powerful meaning — a meaning of awareness, strength, and hope.

Chuck Caroll (3)

In the early 1990s, a pink ribbon became the symbol for the fight against breast cancer. Since that time, pink has become the universal color to promote breast-cancer awareness. Locally, pink has become the color of an organization that

Tench (left) with breast-cancer survivor Tammy Miller at the Pink Zone’s annual Little Black Dress Goes Pink event.

is taking the fight to a whole new level. The Pennsylvania Pink Zone is a nonprofit organization that has a new leader and an army of volunteers to help educate and empower those who have been affected by the disease. Erin Tench is the new leader of Pink Zone, and she is excited to help the organization continue to grow and thrive. Having taken on this new role in May, she is committed to increasing fund-raising and awareness efforts across Centre County and beyond. Tench, who brings skills and experience in the areas of donor relations, fundraising sponsorship, event planning, and volunteer management to her position, says that she was drawn to the executive director role because it seemed like a good fit for her skill set. Additionally, she has a passion for the cause and has been touched by it personally. “Many strong women in my life, spanning many generations, have been affected. It hits close to home,” she says. The Pink Zone’s mission statement reads that it “promotes cancer awareness and empowers survivors through year-long efforts to raise funds critical in supporting vital breast-cancer organizations, charities, and facilities that focus on breastcancer education, research, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.” Many think of Lady Lion basketball when they hear Pink Zone. In 2007, the Lady Lions, under head coach Rene Portland, held the first Think Pink game, which raised more than $20,000 to support breast-cancer research. During that game, the Lady Lions were the first sports team to wear pink uniforms in breast-cancer awareness efforts.

From that game, the Pink Zone came to fruition. In 2011, the Pink Zone at Penn State officially became the Pennsylvania Pink Zone, an entity that has grown to the point that it is able to be supported year-round as a nonprofit organization. Tench is the second executive director of the organization; Miriam Powell was her predecessor. “I’m simply building on a foundation that was already put in place,” Tench says. “The organization just grew so fast. It grew beyond what people thought it would be.” An arm of the organization is the Student Pink Zone Organization at Penn State — a group of students who have taken the organization’s mission to the college community. According to Tench, the group does fund-raising and engages in the student community. The group also organizes efforts for other sports besides basketball to do pink events. Additionally, the student members coordinate a 1-mile walk/run, which raises about $20,000 annually for the Pink Zone. The student group president, Sarina May, sits on the board of directors.

Tench with members of the Penn State Lady Lions basketball team.

According to Tench, the student group is a vital part of the Pink Zone’s awareness efforts. Tench works closely with the members and relies on the group to help with fund-raising, as well as furthering the organization’s overall goals of promoting education and research. “Working with the Pink Zone organization and with Erin has provided me with an insightful learning experience and has improved my communication and leadership skills. I enjoy working with the students at Penn State, but I also enjoy working with the board because it allows me to see the big picture in every small task that I complete,” May says. “I’m so thankful to Erin and the board for being patient and mentoring me as I learn how to run an organization, manage my time, and be the best president I can be. … They are a huge inspiration to me, and I hope that one day I can give back to them what they have given me.”

Tench with the staff from Viva Bella Salon, which does all the hair and makeup for the Little Black Dress Goes Pink event.

Tench says having such an active and involved board of directors has been essential in carrying out the Pink Zone’s work in the community. The board consists of 15 volunteer members — including May and Lady Lion head coach

Proud to Support the Pink Zone

Diane Ray, D.M.D, M.S.

Coquese Washington. Within the general board are three main board committees — marketing, governance, and development. Volunteers are the backbone of the Pink Zone, whether it’s the board of directors that oversees the organization or the

student group on campus, which rosters between 40 and 50 students, with about 20 active members. According to Tench, there are about 200 volunteers that work with the organization in various roles, helping to plan and execute the different fundraising and awareness events, and many, if not most, of those volunteers have been touched by breast cancer in some way. “Our volunteers each have a story to share and a reason for being there and doing what they’re doing,” she says. Managing and organizing volunteer efforts is a big part of what Tench does in her new role. Although she says she’s essentially “responsible for everything” related to the Pink Zone as the organization’s only full-time employee, her main tasks include forging different types of partnerships, working to develop social media promotions, making sure sponsors’ and donors’ needs are being met, and nurturing relationships with the organization’s six beneficiaries — Geisinger-Lewistown Hospital, J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital, Kay Yow Cancer Fund,

Mount Nittany Medical Center, PA Breast Cancer Coalition, and Penn State Cancer Institute. She says that although she works out of her home, she is rarely there. She is out and about in the community, meeting with partners and sponsors, and supporting businesses that support her organization. She also continues to enhance the organization’s Web site — a new site that launched within her first 90 days on the job. A brand new feature on the Web site is an online registration for survivors to attend this year’s Play4Kay game benefitting Pink Zone. As of early December, 215 had registered electronically, which is exciting since the game isn’t until February 26, Tench says. Although the Pink Zone has become its own entity, the basketball game that started it all is still an important part of its identity. Through the past 10 years, the Lady Lions have raised $1.6 million. The 2016 game was packed with 9,124 fans, with 640 breast-cancer survivors in attendance.

“A top priority always is focusing on fund-raising around the Lady Lion basketball game, looking for gameday sponsorships, and all the other planning that goes into that day,” Tench says. “It’s just such a great celebration of survivorship. They write down the number of either days or years that they have been a survivor — it’s amazing to see a range of maybe 10 days to 30 years. Whether it’s recent or in the distant past, seeing 700 survivors on the floor together sharing in that experience is just amazing.” Each survivor in attendance receives four tickets to the game, and Fullington Trailways provides transportation free of charge so that survivors from 20 different communities are able to attend the event. After the game, survivors and loved ones are invited to meet coaches and players to take pictures and get autographs. While the Pink Zone’s annual basketball game celebrating survivors is

at the heart of the organization’s work in the community, Tench has another priority of “growing the reach” of the organization, making sure the work being done extends well beyond one basketball game. “The basketball game is the culminating celebration of survivorship, but we want to have year-round fund-raising — not just a single event,” she says. As she continues in her first year as executive director of the organization, she says without a doubt, the best part of the job is the people. “What I enjoy most is the people,” she says. “I work with an incredible board. Their help, advice, and the time they give to this cause is just amazing. And the survivors. I hear their stories and am in awe of their strength. I love that we are all able to celebrate together.” Jodi Morelli is a freelance writer who lives in Pleasant Gap.

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The

Fights

that

Bind Play4Kay game benefitting Pink Zone and the battle against breast cancer have special meanings for several Lady Lions

By Josh Langenbacher

Contributed photos (5)

Sarah McMurtry (left) with her mom, Lisa, who is a two-time cancer survivor.

The bond, to be sure, is one that five members of the Penn State women’s basketball program wish wasn’t shared. But the commonality of a loved one fighting breast cancer binds the family histories of Sierra Moore, Leah Knizner, Peyton Whitted, Sarah McMurtry, and Jaylen Williams in ways no other fight can. Memories for each player vary. For Moore, whose mom is a breast-cancer survivor, the news came from a phone call during winter break in her first season at Penn State after she had transferred from Duke. “I was with my teammates watching movies,” she says. “They were all there to console me when I got off the phone with [my mom]. It was a moment where you really appreciate everything she’s done for you.” For McMurtry, whose mom also is a survivor, a dizzying schedule of doctors’ appointments crammed into a few weeks set off concern that became solidified when her parents missed her middle school basketball game (a rarity) in a neighboring township.

“I got home that night and asked why they weren’t there, and my mom sat my brothers and I down and broke the news to us,” McMurtry says. For Whitted, the only other member of the team old enough to remember when their loved one was diagnosed with cancer, the relationship-changing moment came when she was in high school. Her grandparents had moved from Nashville into the Georgia residence Whitted shared with her parents and three siblings after her grandmother, now a survivor, was diagnosed with breast cancer. Soon after, her grandfather was diagnosed with lung cancer. “I remember when [my grandmother] found out [about her diagnosis], and she was very sad, very upset,” says Whitted. “I remember her crying. She was really feeling it hard. For us, we came together and comforted her. We knew it was tough. She doesn’t like seeing anyone in her family hurt or ill.” For Knizner and Williams, their young ages prohibited the life-changing moments teammates experienced. Williams says she was about 4 years old when her grandmother, a survivor, was diagnosed with breast cancer, but she has no recollection of her grandmother’s fight. Not wanting to stir unwanted emotions in her grandmother, Williams gleans information from her teammates about a breast-cancer survivor’s plight. “To hear their stories of what happened, it’s like a different experience for me,” she says. “It’s really interesting to hear what my grandmother went through, but I don’t necessarily want to put her in the position to start talking about it. It’s good to hear from Sierra or Leah what happens.”

“You’re playing for such a great cause, and sometimes that’s more important than basketball and winning and losing games.” Jaylen Williams For Knizner, her story diverges from her teammates in that she is the only member of the program to have lost a loved one to breast cancer. Her grandmother, Philomena “Philly” Knizner, died in 1999 when Leah was 3 years old. While Knizner doesn’t have many memories of her grandmother, one remains sharp. Knizner’s birthday — December 22 — runs so close to Christmas that finding both birthday gifts and Christmas gifts posed a challenge to her family when she was growing up.

One year, Knizner was obsessed with Laa-Laa, the yellow Teletubbies character, but her mother couldn’t find one and was exasperated. Her grandmother, however, found one that became a gift Knizner has kept to this day. Until a few years ago, Knizner kept Laa-Laa in her room; today, the keepsake is tucked away in storage. “I remember sitting on her lap and being so excited to get Laa-Laa that my grandma started crying because it made me so happy,” Knizner says. Although the individual stories contain their own chapters, the overarching story of feeling humbled and deep appreciation for the Pink Zone remains the same for each member of the Lady Lions’ basketball program. Now in its 11th year, Pink Zone started from modest origins. In the summer of 2006, Big Ten programs were tasked with submitting a proposal for a $5,000 gift that would grow interest in women’s basketball. Rene Portland, Penn State’s head coach at the time, hatched a plan for the team to play a game the following season in pink uniforms, becoming the first school in the country to set that trend. About 30 breast-cancer survivors were honored in the inaugural game, and it raised $20,000 to support breast-cancer research. A young Leah Knizner falls asleep in her grandmother’s arms. Philomena Knizner passed away from breast cancer in 1999.

Since then, thousands of survivors have been honored and millions of dollars have been raised. In 2016 alone, more than $220,000 was added to a tally of more than $1.6 million since Pink Zone’s creation. “I think it does [take on more meaning],” Williams says. “[Head coach] Coquese [Washington] will talk to us about how games like those that mean more than just yourself, you have to get outside of yourself. You’re playing for such a great cause, and sometimes that’s more important than basketball and winning and losing games. Having a platform to raise money for such a great cause means so much to me. It makes me so happy and so proud to be part of such a great cause.” Sierra Moore (left) found out her mom, Jilda, had breast cancer during her first season at Penn State.

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When Penn State plays Michigan on February 26 in this year’s Play4Kay game benefitting Pink Zone, it is likely some survivors who will be honored will be family members of Lady Lions’ players, just as has been the case in previous years. Moore, for one, is counting on her mom being one of the attendees. Moore, who is in her third year in the program, has had her mom at Pink Zone games before, including in 2015. Feeling inspired playing before her mom, who had a double mastectomy, Moore posted a team-high 17 points and career-best 14 rebounds against Wisconsin, earning her third career double-double. Afterward, Moore’s mom, Jillda, won her daughter’s Pink Zone jersey in an auction. “Me and my mom are really close,” Moore says. “She’s like my best friend. Hearing that [she had cancer] — I’m not really a crier, but it really got to me. I was really upset. The thought of losing your best friend is crazy. But I knew she was strong and could fight it and would be OK.”

“It means so much to me to know my mom gets to stand up as a survivor.” Sarah McMurtry McMurtry, too, says she plans on her mom, Lisa, attending. Lisa is a two-time cancer survivor, having beaten thyroid cancer when she was 32. McMurtry’s parents live in Pittsburgh and frequently travel to see their daughter play at the Bryce Jordan Center. Each year, the Pink Zone game is circled as the family honors a woman who was diagnosed in March 2010. “It means so much to me to know my mom gets to stand up as a survivor,” McMurtry says. “It’s such a proud moment to see how far awareness and funding and research has come.”

Penn State Athletics

Peyton Whitted says she shows her love and passion for breast-cancer survivors when she plays the Pink Zone game.

Breast-cancer awareness has turned into a yearlong cause for people such as Knizner. Every year, she and her parents, Beth and Matt (who was a starting quarterback for the Penn State football team in 1987), and sister, Madeline, participate in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure on Mother’s Day in memory of her paternal grandmother. “[My dad’s] always thinking of her in whatever he does,” Knizner says. “He pushes himself for our family, but also does it for his mom. I know for him and my grandpap, it’s just kind of an unsaid thing he does. It’s something our family does for her. I know me and my sister find it to be a pain to wake up so early in the morning, but when we wake

up, we realize how happy it makes my dad. My mom loves it, too, because she had a great relationship with his mom. It’s a happy day.” That awareness comes into sharp focus for Knizner and her four teammates during the lead-up to the Pink Zone game, as well as the contest itself. Whitted is unsure whether her grandmother will be able to attend this year — traveling is more difficult for her grandmother as she gets older — but she has attended Pink Zone games in the past. Whitted, whose relationship with her grandparents grew even closer after they moved in with her family, says her grandmother’s diagnosis heightened awareness that any day could be a loved one’s last. Since her grandmother’s diagnosis, she says she’s grown to appreciate her grandmother’s cooking — Whitted’s favorite is a chicken and dressing her grandma makes every time she comes home, as well as other Southern staples such as macaroni and cheese and collard greens —

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Whitted with her grandmother, Lillie McKinley, who was diagnosed with breast cancer when Whitted was in high school.

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Jaylen Williams (left) was 4 when her grandmother, a survivor, was diagnosed with breast cancer.

and hearing others laugh even more. “Pink Zone is ‘love’ and ‘fight,’ ” Whitted says “That’s what I think of when I play in the game. I think of those two words. A lot of survivors come to the game, and some people are still dealing with it. It makes you think of all those people and all the other people in the world fighting breast cancer. It motivates you and inspires you. I show my love and passion for them when I’m playing. I can take one game out of my season and give it all to them.” Josh Langenbacher works at the Altoona Mirror. He has written about Penn State sports since 2007.

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PINK ZONE 2017

AFTER A MASTECTOMY Reconstructive surgery is one option following procedure FROM GEISINGER HEALTH SYSTEM

Moving forward with a mastectomy is an incredibly personal and emotional decision women make in their fight against breast cancer. If you’re considering a mastectomy, here’s everything you need to know. First, mastectomy is a term used to describe several different procedures. “A mastectomy can involve removing one or both breasts, as well as removing lymph nodes in the underarm area. This is done to determine if cancer has spread,” says Dr. Mona Duncan, surgeon at Geisinger Gray’s Woods. Some mastectomies include the removal of breast tissue, the areola, nipple, and underarm lymph nodes; some spare the breast skin; and others remove only breast tissue, sparing the skin, nipple, and areola. With a mastectomy comes the option for breast reconstruction. “Reconstructive surgery following a mastectomy restores the shape and look of your breast. It can be done at the same 28

time of your mastectomy or at a later date in a second operation,” Duncan says. If you chose to have a mastectomy without breast reconstruction, the surgery will likely take one to three hours. It may require an extra day in the hospital, but it’s increasingly common for people to go home the same day as their surgery. If you’re having a double mastectomy, the procedure will take longer and you may spend more time in the hospital recovering. And if you’re having reconstruction done after the mastectomy, the surgery will take longer and require you to stay a few more days in the hospital. If you have a mastectomy, you don’t necessarily have to get breast reconstruction right after or even at all. If you chose to have reconstructive surgery at the same time as your mastectomy, your doctor and plastic surgeon will coordinate your procedures to be available at the time of your surgery. If your treatment includes radiation therapy, you may choose a different option for breast reconstruction. “Radiation may impact your breastreconstruction options. Instead of having reconstructive surgery right away, your surgeon may place temporary tissue expanders behind the chest-wall muscle. These temporary expanders form the new breast mound,” Duncan explains.

Dr. Mona Duncan

This option gives you the opportunity to delay your final reconstructive surgery until after you complete radiation. When your surgery is complete, the surgeon will close the incision with stitches, which may dissolve or get removed later. You

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also may have one or two small plastic tubes placed where your breast was removed. “These tubes will drain any and all fluids that accumulate after your surgery. They’re sewn into place and attached to a small drainage bag,” Duncan says. Regardless of breast reconstruction, you will likely have some soreness in your chest, underarm, and shoulder following a mastectomy. During recovery in the hospital, your blood pressure, pulse, and breathing will be monitored. “Your doctor and nurses will teach you how to care for yourself at home, including how to take care of your incision and drains,” Duncan says. They’ll also teach you what the signs of an infection are and explain what activities you’ll have to refrain from and for how long. You also may get prescriptions for medication to manage your pain and possibly an antibiotic.

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PINK ZONE 2017

EXPLORE OPTIONS Breast-conserving surgery offers another possibility beyond a mastectomy FROM GEISINGER HEALTH SYSTEM Finding out you have breast cancer is scary. Trying to figure out all of your options can be confusing and overwhelming. When all of those facts and emotions are combined, you may naturally gravitate toward the option for a mastectomy, but there’s value in weighing all of your treatment options. “Women may opt for a mastectomy with the mindset that they want all of the cancer out and don’t want to worry about it coming back,” says Dr. Mona Duncan, surgeon at Geisinger Gray’s Woods. “But most women with breast cancer also have the option of breast-conserving surgery.” With a mastectomy, the entire breast, surrounding tissue, and even lymph nodes are removed. This is a highly invasive surgery, potentially requiring recovery time in the hospital and breastreconstruction surgery. Depending on your breast cancer, breast-conserving surgery is an option. “Breast-conserving surgery removes the cancer and surrounding tissue, but just enough tissue to keep the chance of cancer coming back low while leaving the breast looking as normal as possible after surgery,” Duncan says. The two general breast-conserving surgeries include a lumpectomy and a partial mastectomy.

“The location and size of each person’s tumor is different, which means the amount of tissue removed during surgery varies from person to person,” says Duncan. A lumpectomy is the removal of the cancerous lump and some of the breast tissue surrounding it. A partial mastectomy is more extensive, involving the removal of the area of breast that contains the cancer, as well as some of the breast tissue around the tumor and the lining over the chest muscles below the tumor. Many people who opt for breastconserving surgery also have radiation therapy. Some also may have chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or both. There are risks and benefits to consider when weighing your option of a mastectomy or a lumpectomy with radiation therapy. “The biggest benefit of lumpectomy combined with radiation is that overall

survival is the same as with mastectomy while the breast is preserved as much as possible,” Duncan says. Radiation therapy may trigger some side effects and requires frequent trips to a treatment center. “Having a mastectomy may mean you won’t also need radiation therapy, although some women do need this additional treatment,” Duncan says. The risk with this option is the invasiveness of the surgery and the loss of a breast. Some women find it hard to cope with the idea of losing their breasts, associating them with a part of their feminine identity, driving them to choose breast-conserving surgery. “If you’re having a difficult time figuring out which option is best for you, speak with your doctor,” Duncan says. “He or she will be able to help you weigh the risks and benefits, with the ultimate goal of curing your cancer.”

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PINK ZONE 2017

EXPANDED COVERAGE Pennsylvania becomes first state to have 3D mammograms covered by insurance

FROM PA BREAST CANCER COALITION

Contributed photos (2)

Did you know 3D screening mammograms are free for women insured under Pennsylvania law? Do you know where you can get a 3D screening mammogram in your area? Governor Tom Wolf made Pennsylvania the first state in the nation to recognize 3D screening mammograms to be exactly what they are: mammograms, which means they are covered at no cost. 3D screenings are free for women insured under Pennsylvania law and for PA women insured by Medicaid. 3D mammograms are one of the best screening options for women, especially

those with dense breast tissue, which can hide tumors on a regular mammogram. Without additional tests, some women may have cancer that goes undetected until it reaches stage III or stage IV, when the disease is far less treatable. “This modern technology is offering new opportunities for physicians to diagnose breast cancer in women and provide life-saving treatment earlier than ever,” Governor Wolf says. “Questions have arisen as to whether 3D mammograms should be covered by insurance in the same manner that traditional mammograms are …. My administration’s answer to this question is an absolute Yes!” Following the governor’s historic announcement that 3D screening mammograms are covered under existing law at the PA Breast Cancer Coalition (PBCC) Conference, the PBCC conducted a survey of the more than 350 mammography centers across the state with two goals in mind: Find which centers offer 3D screening mammography (tomosynthesis) and inform Pennsylvania women on where 3D mammograms are available.

PA Breast Cancer Coalition president and founder Pat Halpin-Murphy (right) looks on as Governor Tom Wolf signs the law that requires 3D mammograms to be covered by insurance in Pennsylvania.

The PBCC received responses from 89.7 percent of the centers and found that 39 percent (137) of responding facilities offer 3D screening mammograms, including Mount Nittany Medical Center and Geisinger Gray’s Woods clinic in State College. “It’s great to be the first state in the nation to provide life-saving technology like 3D screening mammograms, which are now available at no cost to women insured under Pennsylvania law,” says PBCC president and founder Pat Halpin-Murphy. “3D mammograms provide two major, undeniable benefits: better detection and fewer false alarms. That is why the PA Breast Cancer Coalition has set out to ensure that every woman knows where she can get a 3D mammogram.”

3D screenings are covered for women who are insured under Pennsylvania law. What does this mean? According to the Pennsylvania Insurance Department, that

applies to any individual, small group, and large group commercial policies, but does not apply to government programs, self-funded coverage, or to policies issued outside of the state (such as to an employer in Delaware or Ohio where an employee happens to live in Pennsylvania). Those other programs or policies may provide the same coverage for mammograms but are not subject to PA law, so they don’t have to provide coverage required by PA’s mammogram-coverage law. The governor’s announcement applies specifically to screening 3D mammograms, which are different from diagnostic mammograms. According to the National Cancer Institute, diagnostic mammography takes longer because more X-rays are needed to obtain views of the breast from several angles. The technician may magnify a suspicious area to produce a detailed picture that can help the doctor to make an accurate diagnosis. Women diagnosed with breast cancer are given a diagnostic mammogram for several years following their diagnosis, even if they no longer have symptoms.

To find a 3D mammogram center by county in Pennsylvania, visit pbcc.me/3D or PABreastCancer.org. Sites are arranged by county. If your mammography center offers 3D screenings but is not on the list, have the facility call 800-377-8828 or e-mail Info@PABreastCancer.org. The PA Breast Cancer Coalition is proud to stand with Governor Tom Wolf and First Lady Frances Wolf as we fight for the women of this great state. Until that day when we declare the ultimate victory, we will work to find a cure for breast cancer now… so our daughters won’t have to. The PA Breast Cancer Coalition, a 501(c)3 organization, represents, supports, and serves breast-cancer survivors and their families in Pennsylvania through educational programming, legislative advocacy, and breastcancer research grants. The PBCC is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to finding a cure now … so our daughters won’t have to. For more information, call 800-377-8828 or visit PABreastCancer.org.

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Survivor

LARA ECHERD BY SARAH BUCK

It was October 2014 when Lara Echerd, then 35 and an assistant teacher at Gray’s Wood Elementary School, began to experience occasional pain in her left breast. Thinking it was an infection, she didn’t give it much thought. It wasn’t until she noticed a large lump that she decided to ask the school nurse her opinion. The nurse quickly suggested that Echerd have the lump checked out. Echerd soon found herself getting an ultrasound, a mammogram, and meeting with a physician.

“All this time I really thought it was nothing major,” she says. “When the doctor came in, she told me it was very concerning and that they wanted to do a biopsy on my breast, as well as my lymph nodes. I was stunned!” Her biopsy was scheduled for the next day, and Echerd remembers asking her surgeon, “What do you think it is?” The surgeon looked her in the eyes and said, “I think it’s cancer.” “I tried so hard to maintain my composure,” Echerd says, “but it was tough not to burst into tears.” She was officially diagnosed on November 12, 2014, just one day after her 36th birthday. She had triple positive breast cancer. “When my doctor told me she thought it was cancer, I was completely stunned,” she says. “My family does not have any history of breast cancer.” She worried about how her having cancer would impact her job and how others would react. She remembers praying a lot and finding comfort in Darren Andrew Weimert

“I tried so hard to maintain my composure,

but it was tough not to burst into tears. ... When my doctor told me she thought it was cancer, I was completely stunned.“ those quiet moments. She was scheduled for a breast MRI, PET scan, and appointments with the breast surgeon and oncologist. She felt grateful that they guided her every step of the way, answered her questions, and, most importantly, encouraged her. Within a year and a half, she underwent successful treatments,

including chemotherapy, a double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction, 70 rounds of radiation, and a final reconstruction surgery. With the help of a support system, including friends, family, and coworkers, she was able to make it through the challenges she had to face. Now 38 years old, she has been cancerfree for more than a year and a half. She advises those going through a similar journey to try and see cancer as a blessing in disguise. “I know that sounds crazy and is not what you need to hear when you are first diagnosed,” she says, “but after a few weeks, find a way to pray, ‘Lord, let cancer be a blessing, not a curse, in my life.’ ” She also has her own words that she uses to encourage others. “Choose strength,” she says. “Choose positivity. Choose faith. Choose to be a blessing in the midst of an ugly battle.”

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Survivor

ROBERTA HARDIN BY SARAH BUCK

“My story is an interesting one,” explains Roberta Hardin, who was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 59. Due to her sister having breast cancer, Hardin started having annual mammograms in her 30s, along with doing regular self-exams. “In August 2015, I got out of the shower and looked at myself in the mirror,” she says. “I immediately noticed an impression on my left breast. It looked as if someone had pressed on my breast with their thumb, removed their thumb, and the impression remained.” At this time, she believes she heard God say to her, “I got you,” and a complete calm fell over her. She didn’t tell anyone because she wanted to save them from worry. Plus, her annual mammogram was already scheduled for January, so she figured she’d wait and see. Following her mammogram, she was called back for a repeat mammogram and ultrasound, and it was decided that she needed to have a biopsy. Hardin clearly remembers the phone call she received from her doctor on February 2, 2016, at 12:35 p.m. The doctor said he had good news and bad news. The bad news was that Hardin had stage-1 breast cancer. The good news, as the doctor put it, was that “if you have to have cancer, you have the best kind possible.” “Despite the ‘good’ news, I wanted to cry,” Hardin explains, “but I immediately 38

remembered my experience in August and was at peace. I listened to what the [primary care physician] said, took notes, and silently prayed.” The oncologist explained that he didn’t feel that Hardin would need chemotherapy, since they caught it so early. Hardin met with a surgeon the following week, who suggested she have a lumpectomy and radiation. “I chose mastectomy, but before anything, we waited for results of the BRCA test,” she says. “It came back negative, so surgery was scheduled for two days after I got those results.” She had her left breast removed and ended up having four sessions of chemotherapy,

“It has made me want to tell my story to the world

so that more people will be proactive and take care of themselves.“

Top, a photo of Hardin’s breast in 2015 shows the impression on it. Below, Hardin (second from right) with her children (from left) Keith Andre Hardin, Althea Harden-Miller, Janette Ortiz, and Angela Hardin.

after getting the results of her Oncotype test. After the surgery, the surgeon told her that the lab results indicated that there were cells on the other side of her breast. They were not yet cancerous, but most likely would have become cancerous. The mastectomy turned out to be the better decision. One of the most important things Hardin learned during her journey was that she can trust God to keep His word. She learned that people should know their bodies and pay attention to them. “It has made me want to tell my story to the world so that people will be proactive and take care of themselves,” she explains. By sharing her story, she inspired her niece, who lives in Arizona, to get a mammogram, which resulted in her having a double mastectomy. Hardin has been cancer-free since March 3, 2016. If she could give advice to other women going through cancer treatment, it would be that this is not something you should choose to go through alone. “Also, having faith in God is of utmost importance,” she stresses. “If someone receives the diagnosis, worrying about it won’t change anything. Making sure they are getting proper care and staying positive is what makes a big difference.”

Darren Andrew Weimert

Survivor

HEATHER SANFORD BY SARAH BUCK

After noticing an obscure lump in her breast for about a week or so in August 2014, Heather Sanford finally decided to make an appointment to have a mammogram. Since she was only in her 30s, she felt that she had no reason to worry. Those feelings turned to ones of being lost and confused when she was diagnosed with stage 2A invasive lobular carcinoma. “It was a ton of information in a very short amount of time, and I felt overwhelmed by all the choices I had to make,” says Sanford, who lives in State College and is a lead applications programmer/analyst at Penn State. “I allowed myself some time to cry, but then I steeled myself for what was coming ahead and went in with a ‘get it done’ attitude.” She made it a point to find something positive from each of her medical appointments, such as she had a great hair day or her nails looked amazing. She also talked openly with her son (who was 10 when she was diagnosed) about what she would be going through and how it would affect her energy levels and her ability to do things with him. Less than two months after being diagnosed, she had a unilateral mastectomy. She also has undergone multiple reconstructive surgeries. The treatments were successful. During her journey, she was grateful for her mom being there for her. Sanford always felt she could call and commiserate with her, especially since her mom also was diagnosed with breast cancer at a young age (48). Sanford also gives credit to her work family and friends for being a 40

“There were so many people that came forward to help me.

It was such a blessing.”

huge support to her when she needed them. “There were so many people that came forward to help me,” she recalls. “It was such a blessing. People sometimes don’t realize how the simplest things, like a gift card to see a movie, bringing over a meal, or even just a hug, are things that I needed the most.” In the midst of everything going on, she and her husband decided to get a divorce. Becoming a single, divorced mom while going through the emotional turmoil of multiple surgeries was the most difficult part of the entire journey. In doing so, however, she learned just how strong she can be. She learned that she had more friends than she ever knew she had and

that life is about experiences. She believes that anyone going through cancer treatment should reach out and accept help. She admits that she is a very independent person, but in realizing that she needed help, she was better able to cope and heal emotionally. Her experience inspired her to help other young women facing breast cancer. She started a Face 2 Face networking group through the Young Survival Coalition (youngsurvival.org). The group meets every other month at the Mount Nittany Medical Center and discusses topics relevant to young women and breast cancer. The group’s next meeting is 2 p.m. January 8 and includes a

Some members of Sanford’s Young Survival Coalition group, Face 2 Face, include (from left) Michelle Huerbin, Jennifer Savage Torretti, Sanford, Jen Sabol, Marjorie Miller, and Katie Anderson-Wheeler.

presenter who will guide the group through a “gentle, restorative yoga practice with a long savasana, or meditation.” It has been slightly more than two years since Sanford’s cancer was removed. She is now 41 years old and able to thank her breastcancer experience for helping her become a stronger woman. She has learned valuable life lessons that, had she not been through such a difficult experience, she may have never had the chance to learn.

PINK ZONE 2017

“JUST ACT” What you still don’t know about breast cancer FROM BR ANDPOINT

The topic of breast cancer can feel familiar. That is, until you or a loved one is diagnosed. Suddenly, breast cancer moves from a topic that feels championed to a topic that is entirely too new, too unknown, and too fresh. Suddenly, there is not enough information or resources to help a family cope. Nearly all Americans are aware that breast cancer poses a serious health threat to both women and men, but despite the vast awareness, many don’t know what it really means to fight this disease. According to a recent study conducted by Ford’s breastcancer awareness initiative, Warriors in Pink, more than 40 percent of Americans are unfamiliar with the day-to-day challenges patients face while in treatment, and even more, nearly 75 percent, admit that they are 42

unsure how to best support patients. Loved ones not knowing how to help makes a difference because family and friends are proven to be patients’ greatest resources for getting through treatment. Supporters may not know where to start in providing support, feeling that the issues facing patients are too big for them to solve. But what you still don’t know about breast cancer is that the little things matter more than ever. In fact, the ability to maintain day-to-day routines during treatment is one of breast-cancer patients’ top concerns — second only to life expectancy. “In terms of the day-to-day, it’s those tasks that were hardest for me,” says breast-cancer survivor Jenn Nudelman. “So my friends and family just came and did things. They didn’t give me a choice. A lot of times people reach

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out and say, “What can I do?’ But I’m not a person who asks for help. It was those friends who didn’t even ask, just acted, that I really shared the journey with.” The key to care and being able to “just act” is being familiar with what types of support patients need most. When asked what type of support that is, patients report needing the most help with daily activities such as household chores, errands, and meal preparation while undergoing treatment. “People brought meals to me,” says survivor Lisa Hedenstrom, “and my husband organized a lot of the logistics — taking me to appointments and helping me organize those appointments. Family and friends would come help with tasks for me, too. Because of them, I didn’t have to worry about grocery shopping or other types of tiring daily chores.” Another survivor, Lori Redunski, could relate. “My husband hired a cleaning crew to come in and my kids would come home and see the lines in the carpet, smell the cleanser, and feel comfortable in their home. It made our life so much easier,” she says.

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These daily tasks are often overlooked, but every action taken to help patients to focus on their health and fighting this disease makes a difference. “There are missing things that people don’t think about,” says survivor Heidi Floyd. “For example, if you need your sidewalk shoveled because of the snow, your lawn mowed, or your pets cared for. Who has energy to walk their dog when they’re doing eight or nine hours of chemo or daily radiation?” While help with these daily tasks undeniably lessens the burden on breast-cancer patients, it’s important to remember that emotional care also is vital for those going through treatment. “Through it all, you need at least one supporter who is genuinely there to do just that, to support you; to pray with you and to make you laugh,” says survivor Deborah Hayes. “Amidst trying to be strong throughout treatment and recovery and making sure that everything in your personal life still gets accomplished, one really does need that supportive friend or group to share your innermost feelings.”

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