Wednesday, October 1, 2014 | The People-Sentinel | THINK PINK | Page 5A
In Honor Of those who won their battle or are still fighting
Emma Chavis Agidius • Selena Babb • Geneva Bates • Lynda Bechtold • Deborah Bennett • Eleanor Bolen • Jacqueline OdomBrown • Jerino J. Brown • Georgia L. Carroll • Carmen Cobb • Annette Cook • Pearline Hightower-Corbitt • Angie Dowdy • Norma Jean Easterling • Ann Fairey • Dorothy Sease Fenn • B.J. Funderburk • Lana Griffin • Arie Guess • Annette Hair • Georgia Ann Hammond • Emily Highsmith • Amy Holder • Liz Hutson • Chris Hutto • Pearline Jenkins • Sue Johnston • Demaris Jowers • Tricia Keel • Willise Keel • Sherry Kinard • Linda Farron Knapp • Cindy Lambert • Angelene Little • Angelia Long • Willie Mae McDuffie • Kathie Messex • Etta Mixon • Jennifer Mock • Kathy Montgomery • Linda Moore • Marjorie Morris • Clary Ann Myrick • Donna S. Owens • Retha Owens • Anette Parker • Claudia Peeples • Michael Peeples • Deb Price • Lee Ethel Price • Joanna Priester • Pamela Williams-Raysor • Cindy Sanders • Ruther Sanders • Maggie Scurlock • Sharon Sinclair • Myrtle Smoak • Claudette Towne • Norma Waldrop • Suzanne Walker • Christine Washburn • Beverly White Williams • Rita Williams • Teressa Corbitt-Williams • Tonya Williams • Doris Williams • Lillie Mae Williamson • Kathryn Yearry
TTHINKPPINK
Carolyn Allen • Gussie Greene Arban • Jo Ann Atwater • Minnie L. Barton • Rose Neal Beasley • Dwynell Bridgmon • Faye Blakeney • Debbie Chobani • Victoria Clarke • Velvie Connor • Kathy Crosby • Helen W. Drayton • Dora Duncan • Cloria Hay Edwards • Martha Murdaugh-Gadson • Patricia Gandy • Thelma Goode • Jackie Harrington • Antionette S. Hill • Aelise Hughes • Cleareatha Johnson • Hazel S. Johnson • Janet Keller • Bonnie Bodiford King • Emma Sue Klebe • Bonnie Dyches Laird • Margie A. Lee •Remell Milligan • Jan Parler • Shirley Parler • Frances Williams-Phoenix • Rosa Ross • Jewel Hartzog Saylor • Martha Smyly • Patricia Johnson Still • Antionette Storr • Marie Thomas • Shara Olean Tubbs • Mary Vojtech • Audrey Webster • Martha Bush Whetstone • April Ward-Williams • Jessie Lee Williams • Debra Rowell Wilson • Rosemary White • Ann Salter Young • Sherry Zawacki • Peggy Zissett
In
Memory Of those we have lost
Page 6A | THINK PINK | The People-Sentinel | Wednesday, October 1, 2014
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very woman’s breast cancer journey is different and yet has some similarities. It’s different because each of us has a unique set of circumstances that we call “our life” with its commitments to spouses, family, jobs and community organizations and the things we love to do. And the journey is similar because there are some common treatment options. Cancer is scary. Women die every day because the cancer was not discovered soon enough and it spreads to the lymph nodes and from there to other parts of the body. The cancer I have is very aggressive. I have no family history of breast cancer. Less than 15 percent of new breast cancer patients do. I am a non-smoker, non-drinker and got mammograms yearly. I had been planning for back surgery to fix four herniated discs, not stage three breast cancer. Although we lost my brother-in-law last year from lung cancer, I really knew little about breast cancer. Tests showed I had a 3 cm tumor deep in my lymph nodes and the cancer had
likely spread to both lungs, my left ovary, my right hip and back, all from a very, very small tumor in the left breast I could not feel. A routine mammogram saved my life. I have been blessed every step of the way on my cancer journey because as a woman of faith I knew the outcome was always in God’s hands. So many people have prayed for me. It is humbling to know friends and people you have never met are sustaining you with prayer. I was also blessed because I have an incredible loyal and caring staff (at Knapp Law Firm). Even when I was too sick to stand up, they carried on. But I was also blessed to be able to work throughout all forms of treatments. And I have a loving husband and a terrific daughter who not only took care of me, but did lots of little things to lift my spirits. I have never been alone, not for one chemo treatment, hospital stay or doctor visit. In addition to temporarily losing my toe nails, taste buds, hair and eyebrows, any vanity and several infections, I don’t remember crying much. For me the worst part was the fatigue and not
being as mentally sharp as I am use to. There are things we laugh about in hindsight like the only thing that tasted the same was strawberries and I drank a lot of strawberry shakes. The worst pain was a result of food poisoning I gave myself the night before I was scheduled for surgery, not the later breast and lymph node surgery. For seven months I never went anywhere but to the hospital, to see a doctor or to work. For our first date night we went to see the opening of Guardians of the Galaxy. It was great! I am in radiation now five mornings a week and still take one chemo treatmentHerceptin- every three weeks. My cancer journey has deepened my faith and given me a heightened level of compassion for those fighting cancer that don’t have a ready support system or good medical insurance. And I have renewed appreciation for my clients, who have become my friends. They sent flowers and cards, and put me on prayer rolls and voiced their support and willingness to wait for the attention they deserved until I was having a good day.
‘I have never been alone’ Linda Knapp Breast Cancer Survivor
Ken & Lance Kinard Caregivers Sherry Kinard Breast Cancer Survivor
Cancer
“The simplest things make the
and the caregiver
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ancer not only affects the person diagnosed. It also affects their loved ones who take on the role of caregiver along with the added responsibilities, stress and emotions. That’s certainly true for Sherry Kinard and her family after the Barnwell resident was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer in April 2013. “I just broke down,” said her husband Ken of when Sherry called him at work to tell him of her diagnosis. “You try to be macho and hold it back, but it doesn’t always work like that.” Ken not only had to care for his wife but also his son Lance who was dealing with an ankle injury. This was on top of working a full-time job at MOX and being in the process of buying a home. “He was catching it having to take care of both of us,” said Sherry of her husband. However, Ken managed to balance everything while staying positive for his wife. On Sherry’s first chemotherapy treatment, a day that was full of emotion, Ken surprised his wife with a big balloon that featured a monkey holding a banana with the words “Hang In There” written on it. “I was trying to keep her mind off of things,” said Ken, who encourages caregivers to let their loved ones know they’re needed. “There’s a time to be serious and a time to laugh.” “That’s just like him,” said Sherry with a smile. “That was the one bright spot on that day.” Sherry’s sister took her to her next chemo appointment, but the doctor had to put in a port because her vein collapsed while they were trying to inject a needle, a common side effect of chemo. After that happened, Ken made it a point to never miss an appointment so he could be
Jonathan Vickery Managing Editor jonathan.vickery@morris.com
there for Sherry. “He never wavered,” said Sherry of Ken. “I know he’s got my back.” Lance, though hindered at first from helping as much as he wanted due to his injury, also did his best to cheer up his mom. He cooked her favorite foods, completed extra chores around the house, and would lie down on his mom’s bed and simply talk with her. “I don’t know how I would do it without them,” said Sherry of her family, specifically Ken and Lance. While Sherry was the one battling cancer, she said her ordeal was also tough on her husband and son, a high school junior at the time. “It’s so easy to give up,” said Ken. However, Ken and Lance weren’t in it by themselves. “God blessed us with so many friends and family,” Ken said. Lance said friends, family, his parents’ co-workers and church members cooked them enough food that lasted for weeks. Others volunteered to clean the house, prayed, spent time with the Kinards and donated gift cards for food and gas. Sherry’s hairdresser came over to cut her hair the night it started falling out from treatments. “We couldn’t have gotten through it without everybody,” said Sherry of how her whole family received support. She encourages caregivers to not let pride get in the way and be afraid to ask others for help. Several of Ken’s co-workers, some of whom went through similar experiences with family members, encouraged him by offering help and advice. Lance also had a support group at school, including teachers who worked with him and offered kind words. His friends were also there with offers for rides and studying. “The simplest things make the biggest difference,” said Lance, who encourages people to support caregivers as well, even if it’s just coming over to talk. “That’s what really helped me.” Teenagers have enough stress as it is without having to help a parent dealing with cancer. That’s why Lance said, “Don’t be afraid to let what’s inside you out. Holding it in
biggest difference...That’s what really helped me.” - Lance Kinard
makes it worse.” He did that by talking about how he felt with his friends and family. He also found a positive outlet to relieve frustration and stress that built up. Instead of turning to drugs and alcohol, as some do in times of crisis, Lance turned to soccer. “Find something you’re passionate about and do it,” he said. “It’s a small amount of time for you to get away.” The family’s faith is another area of support that has helped them. “God’s giving you a trial to overcome,” said Lance, citing how many Christians lose their faith in times of trials and tribulations. His dad gave him a card a while back that reads “Don’t Quit” and includes a spiritual message about keeping faith. “You’ve got to keep your faith,” added Ken. “Every pit has a bottom. It may take a while but you’ll climb out of that hole. He who endures conquers.” Speaking to cancer patients and their families, Sherry said, “Don’t quit, no matter what.”
Wednesday, October 1, 2014 | The People-Sentinel | THINK PINK | Page 7A
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‘I Choose Life’ Laura J. Mckenzie Publisher laura.mckenzie@morris.com
Ruther Sanders Breast Cancer Survivor
“I choose life.” For Ruther Sanders, beating cancer was an unquestionable choice. And to do so, she relied on her faith. “I found out I had cancer in February 2008,” said the 68-year-old Barnwell resident from her home recently. “I had gotten a mammogram for the seven or eight years prior to that and the report always came back that my right breast had an abnormality, but they never could find anything.” In 2008, though, Sanders said her doctor, Dr. Robert Jones, decided to send her to the Cancer Center in Orangeburg. “I had two biopsies before
nosed, she called each one of her children - Rev. Reginald Mixon, Stephanie, Keith Walker and Patrick Mixon, her close friends Essie Kemp and Margie Harris, and Rev. Butterfield of New Jerusalem Baptist Church. “I never felt alone,” she said. “I had so many friends, family, my husband Jerry, my church and my pastor Rev. Butterfield, to come by and bring me food. They were all so wonderful.” Sanders was supposed to take four doses of chemotherapy and six weeks of radiation. “After two doses of chemotherapy, they found another spot in the same area. They had to go back in and get that little tumor out. Everything was still contained in that one spot,” she “They were crying and said. “We waited four weeks and I wasn’t,” she said. “I started back up knew my God is a healer with the chemo.” She said the first and He will bring me couple of rounds through this.” of chemotherapy weren’t bad, “but those last two did they found it,” said Sanders. me in – I was hospitalized for “The cancer was right on the three days.” chest wall.” Her last treatment was June “My doctor called and asked 4, 2008. me to come in. Everyone was Then the radiation began. acting so sad and I wondered Sanders credits her radiolowhy,” she said. gist for doing a good job. “I When her doctor told her never got burned. I did it like of the cancer, “I told him, a champ. That was the easy ‘Do what you have to do. I part.” CHOOSE LIFE.” The treatments caused her “They were crying and I hair to fall out. “Want to see?” wasn’t,” she said. “I knew my she asked, slipping off her God is a healer and He will short, black wig. Most of her bring me through this.” head is bald with patches of Her lumpectomy surgery hair. “It never grew back,” she was scheduled for February said. “I have three wigs. They 28, 2008. “I woke up and felt are comfortable.” fine. I had no pain. I was supSanders returned for checkposed to stay overnight but I ups every three months for sevwanted to go home.” She said eral years. Now there is more her doctor allowed her to go time between treatments. home as long as she stayed “I have made it to six years in bed. cancer-free,” she said. Sanders’ daughter, Stepha“I owe it all to my Lord and nie Washington, brought her God.” mother home and cared for “At the first mention of canher in the following days and cer, it shakes you up a little bit. weeks. Once I got myself together, I When Sanders was diag- gave it over to God to handle
and He did.” She said her close friends and big circle of family saw her through it. “When you have so many caring people around you, you don’t have time to ask ‘Why me?’ or have a pityparty. I always had someone there with something positive to say.” Her ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren also keep her positive. When asked what she wished she had known before being diagnosed, she gave three answers – diet, exercise and yearly mammograms. “Diet is very important. I never realized that before. I’ve stopped eating a lot of fatty and junk foods. Now I eat a lot more green, leafy vegetables. I love vegetables, particularly broccoli, and I learned to steam them myself,” she said. “I learned it is not always the food that is the problem, but how you prepare it.” She found that drinking grape juice before treatments seemed to help. She also said after treatments that food would taste like cardboard but a nurse told her to eat off a paper plate with plastic utensils instead of a normal plate. “It worked. I could taste the food.” “I get up and exercise,” she said. For her, that means going for mile-long walks daily. “I do it at my own pace. I don’t just sit around.” She also gets her annual checkups. “I don’t care what the statistics say about not needing one every year. It saved my life.” Her next one is October 4. She said her mother died of ovarian cancer at the age of 56, something that might have been avoided with an annual exam. “Anytime you have an issue with a personal area, go see what it is. Don’t procrastinate.” Finally, keep positive. “I am a woman of faith,” she said. “I didn’t have down moments. My faith brought me through this. My faith is even stronger now.”
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magine a life without cancer In Honor Of
Linda Farron Knapp - breast cancer, self Polly S. Brant - colon cancer, mother Janet Salvato Snider - breast cancer, cousin
In Memory Of
Kevin L. Knapp - lung cancer, brother-in-law 2013 Tony Brant - lung cancer, father 2013 Eric Bodiford - Hodgkin’s lymphoma, cousin 2012
We personally understand your cancer concerns and can handle your legal needs.
803.541.7676 Knapp Law Firm, PC - 21 Hugh St. - Barnwell, SC
#1001819841 (6col, 10.5in x 2in) 09/24/2014 09:46 EST
Page 8A | THINK PINK | The People-Sentinel | Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Let Your Faith Be Bigger
Than Your Biggest Fears Selena Babb Breast Cancer Survivor
Selena Babb (center) credits an “army of angels”, such as her family, with getting her through her breast cancer journey. She is pictured with her sister Tiffany Steadman, son Morgan Myrick and mother Beverly Babb.
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t age 41, I never thought I would be diagnosed with Invasive Breast Cancer. One thing I learned, cancer does not discriminate. On February 7, 2014, I went in for my routine checkup. My doctor found a tumor and also found swollen lymph nodes and told me to not delay setting up an appointment for a mammogram. Of course, the news I received on Valentine’s Day from the radiologist was not the news anyone hopes to ever hear – the biopsies of the tumor and lymph nodes were found to be malignant. I cannot begin to explain the thought process of when I heard those words. All I could manage was ‘God I know you got this battle’. God already had a plan in place, from lining up the doctors, hospitals, etc. and that was a good thing because I had no clue what direction to take. The hardest part of it all was telling my son. So many thoughts ran through my head…how do you bring up the subject, what do I say, how do I help him understand that I will be fine? That’s what moms do, right??? Make the bad stuff go away. It was a busy two weeks, from February 14 to February 21 not only had I been diagnosed, I had also met with a surgeon, met with an oncologist, had an MRI of the breast, PET Scan, Echocardiogram, and had minor surgery for my port placement, only to begin chemotherapy on February 24. I think the doctor’s plan was to move so quickly that I didn’t have time to think or react (that is not always a bad
thing). But through all the chaos and the scariest feelings, I have felt more peace than I thought was possible. When I started chemotherapy, I have to admit, I was pretty nervous but quickly realized that I was going to be okay, that eight treatments would not keep me from living my life as I normally would. I continued to work and even enjoyed my weekends spending it with family and friends. Then came the day when I noticed my hair beginning to thin; I took control of that situation and shaved my head. I was determined to take my hair before the chemo got the opportunity to do so. My last chemotherapy treatment was momentous – just the idea of knowing it was the last time I would have to feel this bad again from the chemo. I had just completed chemotherapy and I was one step closer to finishing this journey. One thing that breast cancer didn’t take from me was the will to survive. No, it wasn’t a journey that I wanted to be on but between my family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, churches, even people that I do not know; I know I have an army of angels that have been by my side who helped me fight this battle both emotionally, mentally and financially. Having breast cancer shed a whole new light for me and I have learned to not take anything in life for granted. Don’t get me wrong…not every day is sunshine and rainbows, I certainly have my share of woes. I try my hardest to remain positive and keep my sense of humor, not only for
myself but for those who are rallying behind me. I still have a small road ahead of me with radiation and another surgery, but I am looking forward to the end of this journey. This journey has helped me lean on God so much more than I ever had. He is our great comforter. I don’t know why cancer was in God’s plan for me but I know He has a reason. My faith in God is my anchor. I remain hopeful and upbeat about my diagnosis and remind myself that although I might have cancer – it does NOT have me. My plea to every woman is to please schedule your yearly appointments and get your mammograms. Don’t delay -- Early detection is the key to survival! Much love to you all, Selena Babb