Breast Cancer Awareness

Breast Cancer Find out how the American Cancer Society is helping, educating and serving our communities

Steven Walker is behind the wheel in the CHANDA GREEN FOR THE SOUTHERN

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very day, cancer patients across Southern Illinois face the challenge of getting to and from their medical appointments. Imagine having to deal with a cancer diagnosis, then having to worry about how to get to the medical professionals you need. That is exactly why the American Cancer Society started the Road to Recovery program, to provide transportation and relieve the worry.

The program is quite literally driven by an army of volunteers, selfless men and women who donate their time to the cause, getting cancer patients to and from their medical appointments.

One of those volunteer drivers is Steven Walker of Herrin. He’s been volunteering for ACS for about four years and says he has gained so much more than he has given.

“I just like helping people,” he said.

“They’re mostly older folks and they’re mostly good people. They just need a little help getting where they need to go and I’m happy that I’m able to help.”

Steven decided to get involved after seeing something on the Internet about the American Cancer Society needing volunteers.

“My brother had colon cancer and I remember all that he went through — surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatments — and all the trips he made to and from doctors’ offices and hospitals before he was finally cancer free,” he said.

“I couldn’t really help my brother since he lives in California, but I could help folks who lived around me, who were dealing with the same kind of thing.”

All it takes to become a Road to Recovery volunteer, Steven said, is a safe driving record, a valid driver’s license, some free time, a vehicle in good working condition and the desire to make a difference.

“It’s really a matter of providing a service and doing something for somebody that they can’t do for themselves,” Steven said. “If you have the time and the resources, please consider volunteering. The American Cancer Society does so much good. There is such a need, and you’ll get so much out of it.”

There are many cancer patients who

Steven Walker volunteers with the Road to Recovery program. He said he gets just as much out of meeting individuals he takes to treatment as they might from his volunteer service.

STEVE MATZKER, THE SOUTHERN

‘If you have the time and the resources, please consider volunteering. The American Cancer Society does so much good. There is such a need, and you’ll get so much out of it.’

Steven Walker, Road to Recovery volunteer are too sick to drive or don’t have a car or friend or family to help, but in order to fight their cancer, they often need treatment on a weekly or daily basis. The American Cancer Society recognized the need and designed the Road to Recovery Program to be stress-free for both the patients and the volunteers. Transportation is provided at no cost to the patients.

Training sessions, maps and directions are provided to the volunteers and most trips are made on weekdays, during business hours.

Driver coordinators help schedule the rides. Coordinators can work whenever it’s convenient for them, during the evening or on weekends. All it takes is as little as four hours a week to make a big difference in people’s lives.

Road to Recovery is the very essence of the American Cancer Society mission — people helping people overcome cancer. If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a volunteer driver, contact the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.

According to statistics gathered by the American Cancer Society and published this year, in 2014, an estimated 1,665,540 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer, and 585,720 will die of cancer, about 1,600 deaths each day. Men have a 44 percent chance of being diagnosed with an invasive cancer in their lifetimes; women have a 38 percent chance. Cancer remains the second most common cause of death in the U.S., accounting for nearly one of every four deaths.

If you need a ride to treatment or want to volunteer to drive patients to their treatments, call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345.

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS Wednesday, October 8, 2014 Page 7

Page 6 Wednesday, October 8, 2014 BREAST CANCER AWARENESS

‌ reast Cancer in B the United States

An estimated 232,670 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the United States during 2014.‌ About 2,360 men in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014.‌ Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed non-skin cancer in women.‌ An estimated 40,430 breast cancer deaths (40,000 women and 430 men) are expected in 2014.‌ Breast cancer ranks second among cancer deaths in women (after lung cancer).‌ The five-year survival rate for breast cancer is 99 percent among individuals whose cancer has not spread beyond the breast at the time of diagnosis.‌

RISK FACTORS

Facts about Being female and increasing age are the most important risk factors for breast cancer.‌ Other important factors that increase a woman’s risk for developing breast cancer include certain inherited genetic mutations (BRCA1 and/or BRCA2), a personal or family history of breast cancer, extremely high breast-tissue density as seen on mammograms, biopsy-confirmed atypical hyperplasia, a history of high-dose radiation therapy to the chest between the ages

Mammography can identify breast cancer at an early stage, usually before physical symptoms develop when the disease is most treatable. The American Cancer Society recommends yearly mammograms starting at age 40 and continuing for as long as a woman is in good health.‌ At this time, breast cancer cannot be prevented, which is why regular mammograms are

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of 10 and 30 and having Li-Fraumeni or Cowden Syndromes.‌ Other factors that moderately increase risk include being of Ashkenazi Jewish decent, having a long menstrual history, being overweight or becoming obese after menopause, recent use of oral contraceptives, use of postmenopausal hormone therapy, never having children or having one’s first child after 30, consumption of one or more alcoholic beverages per day, and being physically inactive.‌

so important. Still, there are things women can do to put their health first and help lower their risk of developing breast cancer. Women’s best overall preventive health strategies are to:‌ Maintain a healthy body weight throughout life Engage in regular physical activity Reduce alcohol consumption To find the Society’s complete breast cancer early detection and nutrition and physical activity guidelines, visit cancer.org/breastcancer.

The Society offers people facing breast cancer free services to overcome daily challenges, like transportation, lodging, guidance through every step of the cancer experience, and information to help them make decisions about their care.‌ Trained American Cancer Society volunteers who are also breast cancer survivors provide one-on-one support to newly diagnosed patients through the Society’s Reach To Recovery® program.‌ The Society partners with volunteer beauty professionals to deliver Look Good Feel Better®, a community-based free service. It teaches women beauty tips to look better and feel good about how they look during chemotherapy and radiation treatments.‌

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BREAST CANCER AWARENESS Wednesday, October 8, 2014 Page 5

ERVIN: Passionate FROM PAGE 3

“I cut my hair short to get people talking,” she said. “I take off my hat and they ask if I have cancer. I haven’t ever had that burden, but it gets women talking and that’s what’s important.”

Rosi gathers her sisters together every chance she gets. Yes, she’s probably the loudest, most outgoing and most obvious person in any room, but just let her sisters start talking and Rosi gladly takes a back seat.

“When the survivors start talking, you can watch the stories start to touch the women who are listening,” she said.

“Each story will resonate with different women and motivate them. I just get them together, get them talking, then pass out my materials, so that they know where to go or what number to call to get the information or service they need.”

Melissa Johnson of Carbondale is one of Rosi’s sisters. She was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 30. She had her lumpectomy in 1996, followed by weeks of radiation and chemotherapy.

She refused any additional treatment, even though some were advocating more.

“I knew my body and I had done my homework,” she said. “The American Cancer Society’s Reach for Recovery Program helped me to educate myself and allowed me to be an advocate for myself, to ask all my questions and keep asking until I got answers, to challenge what I was being told or not being told, so I could make the best decision for me.”

Melissa doesn’t like to be called a cancer survivor.

“That sounds like someone who’s been through a disaster like a tornado, something that is probably never going to happen again. That’s not what happened to me. I had cancer and I lived through it.

I’m living proof that you can have cancer and recover, and that you can be your own advocate.”

Sister Jackie Weston of Carbondale was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004.

What followed was a biopsy, a lumpectomy, and numerous appointments with her oncologist and radiation oncologist.

“What I learned is that your spiritual life plays a big part in your recovery. “My co-workers put me on their prayer lists,” Jackie said. “You have to stay positive and to do that you need a good support system. If it’s not your family, then it can be your friends or your church or work family or other women who know, first hand, what you’re going through. That’s why this program of Rosi’s is so important.

Pin-A-Sister is a faith-based, breast cancer awareness program that was launched in 2007 in Chicago and has since spread to more than 20 states.

STEVE MATZKER, THE SOUTHERN

Jackie Weston (from left), Melissa Johnson and Linda Roberson are all breast cancer survivors. Rosi Ervin (right) is the head of the Pin-A-Sister Program in Carbondale.

‘It’s about empowerment. It’s about gathering with other women who know what you’re talking about because they’ve been through it.’

looked at it and how I still see it,” she said. “I rest in God’s hands today. I may not know the future, but I know who holds the future.”

The other women nod their heads and offer up a chorus of “Amen.”

While her sisters were telling their stoRosi Ervin, Pin-A-Sister Coordinator ries, Rosi sat back, smiling and nodding, offering a wink or a pat on the arm when radiation, but she took some time and That’s why I come when she calls.” she thought they were needed. And after gathered her family around her to talk Sister Linda Roberson of Marion was all of the stories had been told, she had about her condition before she made 45 when she had her first mammogram, the last word. the decision. and she was 45 when she was diagnosed “You can see why this work is so “I made information packets for each with breast cancer. She knew she had a important to me,” she said. “It’s about of my five siblings, all they needed to lump, but she had had ignored it. empowerment. It’s about gathering with know about breast cancer, and invited “A month later, the lump was still other women who know what you’re there, so I knew I had to go see about it,” each of them to offer their opinion and she said. “It was a mass that needed fur- asked each of them for their support,” she talking about because they’ve been said. “I had a great support system along through it.” ther examination, the doctors told me. I Rosi’s latest project is starting a supwith my God, the supreme physician.” went in for a biopsy, then prayed about port group in the area, women who have After much prayer, Linda decided to it and was blessed with other spiritual have the chemotherapy, two rounds, fol- some experience with breast cancer, who women who were praying for me.” can meet at least once a month to share lowed by radiation treatment and five Linda’s mass was malignant and she their stories and their support. She’s layyears of follow-up exams and medicaunderwent a lumpectomy, but tests ing the groundwork and getting the word tion. Fifteen years later, Linda is very showed that it had not spread to her out. So, if you’re interested, call Rosi at much cancer free and very thankful. lymph nodes. After that, she was told 618-503-0268.

“I was in God’s hands. That’s how I that she needed chemotherapy and

Page 4 Wednesday, October 8, 2014 BREAST CANCER AWARENESS

Melissa Johnson (counterclockwise from top left) Jackie Weston and Linda Roberson are all breast cancer survivors. Rosi Ervin (top right) is the head of the Pin-A-Sister Program in Carbondale.

STEVE MATZKER, THE SOUTHERN

Rosi Ervin is passionate about the Pin-A-Sister Program and about sharing her sisters’ stories CHANDA GREEN FOR THE SOUTHERN

R

osi Ervin is a retired nurse. She has a health ministry as and a parish nurse at Rock Hill Baptist Church in Carbondale, where she serves as an educator, advisor and advocate. She works with the Jackson County Health Department and

Southern Illinois Healthcare in promoting many different health programs, and for the last four years, she’s served as the Pin-A-Sister coordinator in Carbondale.

Pin-A-Sister is a faith-based breast cancer awareness program that was launched in 2007 in Chicago and has spread throughout the U.S. and to Mexico, South America and Africa. The program provides education, information

and support to African-American and Hispanic women, symbolized by pink ribbons that the women pin on each other at their gatherings while making commitments to have regular breast exams and mammograms. Millions have been screened for breast cancer because of the Pin-A-Sister program.

Rosi is passionate about Pin-ASister and about her mission, to get the

word out.

She’s a tiny thing, short and thin, with a close crop of gray hair that she almost always covers with a fashionable hat, but get her started talking about her sisters, the cancer survivors she regularly recruits to spread her message of prevention, and she takes on a larger-thanlife persona.

SEE ERVIN / PAGE 4

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS Wednesday, October 8, 2014 Page 3

Making Strides to Finish the Fight Against Breast Cancer

‌T

he American Cancer Society invests more in breast cancer research than any other cancer and is doing the most for people with breast cancer today to end the disease tomorrow. Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among women in the U.S. other than skin cancer, and the second leading cause of death after lung cancer, and the Society has played a role in nearly every major breast cancer research breakthrough in recent history.

While significant progress in the fight against breast cancer has been made in recent years, more needs to be done.

In 2014, approximately 232,670 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 40,400 will die from the disease in the U.S. Every day in Illinois, 25 women will hear the words “you have breast cancer.”

The American Cancer Society is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide information, answers and emotional support to individuals with cancer. Breast cancer is the number one reason people turn to the Society for help. In fact, one out of two women who have breast cancer turn to ACS. For more information, call 1-800-227-2345 or go to www.cancer.org To change these stats and the course of breast cancer forever, the American Cancer Society is dedicated to building awareness and generating funds to fight the disease.

Won’t you help us in the fight against breast cancer?

Sincerely, Rhonda Cox Chair, Regional Leadership Board

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Cancer Society, SIH work together to help cancer patients Look Good and Feel Better

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he American Cancer Society and Southern Illinois Healthcare have been partners in many worthy endeavors. They have worked together, along with the Personal Care Products Council Foundation and the Professional Beauty Association/ National Cosmetology Association, to make the Look Good Feel Better Program a success in Southern Illinois.

It’s a free program offered throughout the United States, designed for women undergoing chemotherapy, radiation and other forms of cancer treatment, offering instruction and advice on dealing with the temporary appearance changes of treatment.

Amy Behrens of Carterville is the office coordinator for SIH Cancer Care Services. Her office is in The Place, a storefront location in the University Mall, near the SIH Breast Center.

“The Place is a resource center for all types of cancer,” she said. “We have educational material on cancer, health insurance and community-based programs.

We help with the Look Good Feel Better Program, putting on the programs The Look Good with certified Feel Better Program cosmetologist, has helped 900,000 and getting the women in the U.S. and word out.” nearly 1.5 million Amy’s unofglobally. ficial title is wig consultant.

She helps cancer ART SERVICES patients find a wig that’s best suited for them and get their first wig free.

“It’s just one part of the American Cancer Society’s Look Good Feel Better Program,” she said. “They supply the Amy Behrens, office coordinator, wigs and we provide the manpower (or SIH Cancer Care Services womanpower) to get them to the women who need them.”

Amy is an enthusiastic supporter of all is building near Carterville and she really gets going. that ACS and SIH offer for patients who “I can’t wait for it to open this spring,” are undergoing cancer treatments, but she said. “It’s part of our progress in ask her about the new 43,500-squarefighting cancer that includes sustained foot, $25 million cancer center that SIH

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‘It’s a great program and it’s free.’

remission, manageability and prevention.

We’ll have all of our cancer resources under one roof, including the programs I’m a part of. That’s really exciting for SIH and for Southern Illinois.”

The Look Good Feel Better Program celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.

Since it’s inception, the program has spread to 26 countries. It has helped 900,000 women in the U.S. and nearly 1.5 million globally.

“It’s a great program and it’s free,” Amy said. “Women can get $150 worth of free makeup and a free wig, but more importantly, they get to talk to other women who are going through the same thing. Just listening to them talk is very moving. And when they thank me for helping them and give me a hug, well, it’s the best feeling in the world.”

The next Look Feel Better Program is set for Oct. 7 from 10 a.m. to noon at The Place. Registration is required. To register or for more information, call Amy at 618-457-5200, ext. 67167, or visit lookgoodfeelbetter.org or www.cancer.org.

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