In The Pink

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Times-Call Publication

October 3, 2009

Denver Race for the Cure takes to the streets tomorrow Special to the Times-Call

Online registration is still open for the 2009 Susan G. Komen Denver Race for the Cure tomorrow. The 17th annual 5K run/walk starts and finishes at the Pepsi Center, kicking off at 7 a.m. and finishing with an awards/survivors’ tribute ceremony and corporate sponsor expo.

With nearly 64,000 participants, the 2008 Denver Race for the Cure was one of the largest Race for the Cure events in the United States.

Online registration at www.komendenver.org is the fastest, most convenient way to sign up, organize a team and raise money.

In April, the Denver Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure distributed $2.83 million dollars to nonprofits across 12 Colorado counties.

“With times so hard, many more people are uninsured or underinsured, and asking our grantee organizations for help. We’re asking everyone to increase their fundraising 17 percent, to mark the race’s 17th year in Denver,” says race co-chair Nanette Doyle.

Adds race co-chair Rhonda Mickelson, “If each 2008 participant asked 10 friends to skip one latte and contribute $5 to the race, we would raise $3.2 million.”

Online registrants get a personal race center to send e-mails, monitor their progress, start or join a team. Not racing? Sleep in for the Cure at www.komendenver.org, or visit the race page to sponsor a participant.

Three-quarters of the funds raised by Komen Denver Affiliate stay in Colorado, helping fund 36 nonprofits offering breast cancer screening, treatment, support and education. The other 25 percent underwrites national breast cancer research grants. In September 2008, the national Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization funded more than $100 million in fast-track breast cancer research, including $599,999 to the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center.

Recognizing that breast cancer affects people of both genders and all walks of life, the race will include an untimed co-ed 5K run, co-ed 5K walk and a one-mile family fun walk.

Entry fees are $35 for adults, $25 for children 18 and under and adults 65 and older. Prices increase on race day. Register online at www.komendenver.org.

Photos courtesy Denver Race for the Cure

Kristi Ritter Specialty Publications Editor

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Race for the Cure events Daughter reflects on loss of mother The meaning behind the pink ribbon Survivor stories and inspiration Women look to an uncertain future

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Catching breast cancer early Local breast health programs Screenings crucial in detection Resource gets you on the move

kkritter@times-call.com, 303-684-5275

Summer Stair Specialty Publications Associate Editor sstair@times-call.com, 720-494-5429

Contributing Writers Kate Frasure, Lauren Seaton, Brian Smith Cover Photos by Paul Litman

Design by Trisha Allin

m9/24/2009yTCkkritter October 3, 2009

Times-Call Publication

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Decades later a daughter reflects on life, love and loss

By Brian Smith Longmont Times-Call

RoxAnn Mack poses with a blanket with a photo of her mother Norma Riley, who died of breast cancer in 1981. Mack has captained a team every year for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure since 1996. (Brian Smith/Times-Call) Above right: RoxAnn and Rachael Mack pose at the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. (Courtesy RoxAnn Mack)

Since 1996, RoxAnn Mack has raced in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure with a picture of her mother, Norma Riley, pinned to the jersey number on her back.

It is her way of dealing with the loss of the person in that photo. The race means more to Mack than most people could understand. For the past 14 years, Mack has captained a team each October consisting of family, friends and co-workers.

“I’ll keep doing it until I can’t walk anymore,” she says. “I do the race for everyone who can’t.”

One of those people who can’t is her mother, who died in January 1981 at the age of 43.

“The doctor bluntly told her ‘you have six months to live ... maybe,’ and as soon as he said that, her spirit just fell. From that day forward, she believed she had six months,” Mack says holding back tears. “She died six months later.”

Twenty-eight years later, Mack is still trying to deal with the tragic loss of a loved family member. “It’s a gradual process. I’m still on the brink of tears.”

At the time Mack’s mother was diagnosed, breast cancer was not something talked about in polite conversation.

To this day, her two younger brothers don’t talk openly about the experience to “not bring back those painful feelings.” It wasn’t until after her death that Mack’s father, Roy Riley, even opened up about the subject.

“I think he was trying to be the strong father and not let his emotions show.”

Norma tried to be strong, too. A radical mastectomy left her feeling like part of her womanhood had been taken and she was embarrassed to even let her husband see her.

Mack doesn’t want to live her life under a silence or a

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shame. For her, walking in the Race for the Cure and sharing her mother’s story is more than a way of coping or coming to terms with a disease which affects untold numbers of women and men around the world. It’s about the future.

Rachael is her shy 11-year-old daughter who has done the race with her mother for six years.

“I don’t want her to go through any of it,” Mack says.

“My hope is that there will be a cure for breast cancer in my lifetime, or at least in the lifetime of my daughter.

No one should go through the pain of this disease or the losses that result from it.”

And while Mack sometimes wishes she had the guidance of her mother to help raise Rachael, she remembers there are things to be learned from even the most tragic of all circumstances.

“It makes you more aware of the people around you, of the relationships you have with them and just how precious time can be,” Mack says.

And that is what’s most important to her; seeing the positive in a cloud of negative, the optimistic side of life, practicing a little humility and humbleness.

Mack lovingly remembers her mother like only a daughter could; kind, forgiving and generous. But her mother is still with her. Her brothers, husband and other relatives continue to remind her she is her mother’s daughter, not only in her attitude toward life, but toward parenting and sharing with the world.

“I think that if my mom was alive today, she would run the race with me,” she says.

Mack believes her mom is with her every step of the way: in her memories, in her personality and in the races she runs, even if it may be in the form of a picture pinned on a jersey or watching from somewhere up above.

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Times-Call Publication

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Ribbon displays signs of hope

By Kate Frasure Longmont Times-Call

A looped, pastel pink ribbon is no stranger to the world. The ribbon is worn by survivors, co-survivors and supporters to bring awareness of breast cancer to everyone. So when and how did this ribbon come to have such a significant meaning?

The generic pink ribbon didn’t arrive until 1992, when the editor of “Self” magazine, Alexandra Penney, wanted to spruce up the second annual Breast Cancer Awareness Month issue. She teamed up with Evelyn Lauder, senior corporate vice president at Estée Lauder, and together they came up with the idea to create a ribbon they would distribute throughout New York City. They also launched The Estée Lauder Companies Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign.

“Mrs. Lauder realized that the women of the world needed a voice

and that much more needed to be done to raise awareness,” says Anna Klein, director of Global Communications for The Estée Lauder Companies.

A week later, a story came out about a 68-year-old woman named Charlotte Haley. She made peach-colored, looped ribbons which she gave out to the public with a card that read, “The National Cancer Institute annual budget is $1.8 billion, only five percent goes for cancer prevention. Help us wake up our legislators and America by wearing this ribbon.”

Penney and Lauder approached Haley about helping with the ribbons by giving them national attention, but Haley refused. She wanted nothing to do with them because they were too commercial.

Not wanting to copy Haley, lawyers to Penney and Lauder suggested that they come up with a different color for their ribbon. A pastel pink was chosen to represent breast cancer awareness.

Today, women continue to find em-

powerment through the pink ribbon.

To Jo Bottorff of the Denver American Cancer Society branch, the ribbon symbolizes strength, hope and awareness. The nine-year breast cancer survivor says when she sees the ribbon it reminds her to start each day with a positive attitude.

“On my five-year cancer survivor anniversary I got a pink ribbon tattoo, so when I look in the mirror I see my tattoo and not my scars,” Bottorff says.

She feels that the ribbon reminds women to get a mammogram and to continue to support the fight to find a cure.

“The BCA Campaign has grown beyond what we could have ever imagined,” Lauder says. “When I launched The Estée Lauder Companies Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign, breast cancer was a disease that was spoken about in whispers. Now, it is not only talked and written about, but survivors, politicians and celebrities have joined us in unison with our mission of creating a world without breast cancer.”

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October 3, 2009

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Lisa Mansfield Barnica Occupation: Self employed doing home enhancement, which includes cleaning, organizing, interior decorating and staging.

Family: I am a single mother with a 23-year-old daughter in college. I am fortunate to have my family close by.

My grandma, parents, two sisters, two brother-in-laws, four nieces and a nephew.

Year diagnosed with breast cancer: November 2008 Years as a survivor: 1 year Hobbies: My hobbies include biking, rollerblading, hiking and tennis, all of which I do not do enough of. I also enjoy hanging out with friends, entertaining and Margarita Monday with my sister.

What inspiration helped you through the process: What scared me more than losing my breasts, was losing my mind, and if I let it get to me or consume me then it would be taking over my mind. My inspiration through this has been my faith in God, as well as the love and support from my family and friends.

I also came up with many mind tools to help. This is what I call the circle. My family and friends need to be strong to help me through it. If I am weak, it could make them weak. So I need to be strong so they can be strong for me.

Don’t get me wrong, I had plenty of meltdowns, but I tried not to be down for long. I tried to stay ahead of the game and jump ahead to find out what I was facing, preparing myself for the rough

ride ahead. This is what I called paving the road before I go down it, making it an easier ride. I looked at the big picture. I looked at people with worse cancers, illnesses and far worse situations. I looked at people living in third-world countries and all the poverty – the Middle East and all the violence. It made my breast cancer seem not so big.

Distraction is helpful. I kept myself surrounded by family and friends. I read a lot. Wrote a lot. Watched a lot of movies, anything to take my mind off of it so I wasn’t thinking about it all the time.

I tried to focus on my inner beauty, and remind myself about the things I like about me and embrace those qualities.

Attitude is key on how you get through everyday life. Last, but definitely not least, is humor, which gets us through our darkest times.

How has this experience changed your life: Well, I have been through a whole lot in my life. I have overcome a lot of challenges, crisises, opticals, griefs and heartaches. It is true what they say, what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger. So I would say that it has fine tuned me. Even now, I don’t sweat the small stuff. I don’t take my health for granted, nor my family or friends or the things that are important to me.

I want to help with education and understanding for people who have not been through it, in case they may face it someday.

I want to help, love and support anyone who has been or is going through what I have. I am reconnecting with old friends and making many new ones. I give more, I love more, I live more.

Rochelle Borrego Occupation: Cake decorator Family: Son, Jacob Year diagnosed with breast cancer: I was diagnosed with stage 1 Ductal Carcinoma in 2006. On Jan. 5, 2007, my 7-year-old son, Jacob, developed a mysterious inflammatory eye condition. It was overwhelming to deal with two major medical conditions at the same time. However, crazy as it may seem, the experiences throughout the next two years were the most positive experiences of my life.

Years as a survivor: Two Hobbies: Cooking, baking, collecting old cookbooks What inspiration helped you through this process?: As you might imagine, between me and my son we had mountainous medical bills. My family not only supported us emotionally, but also physically and financially. They put together a fundraising cookbook, took me to appointments, took care of my son when I couldn’t and just loved me. My friends at church were also wonderful, giving us rides when

I couldn’t drive, taking Jacob for playdates when I wasn’t feeling well, praying for us constantly and being there to talk. My co-workers had fundraisers at work, contributed to the cookbook and bought cookbooks.

They sent flowers and cards and came to visit when we were up to it. We had top-notch medical care, and on top of that people were loving, kind and compassionate at every medical office we visited.

How has this experience changed your life?: I am currently working on a book called “The Adventures of Captain Uveitis and his Sidekick ChemoGirl” which covers our medical story, as well as the wonderful experiences we had along the way.

Ann Maree Beaman Occupation: Professional Artist (Oil Painter) Family: Husband Tom (married 41 years); daughter Jeni (35), son Stetson (21), son-in-law Ron and three wonderful grandchildren.

Year diagnosed with breast cancer: 1993 Years as a survivor: 15 years What inspiration helped you through this process?: My faith in God and his faithfulness to me is primarily what brought me through the cancer experience. The love and encouragement of my husband, Tom, was also a daily gift that I will never forget. He lifted me up when I was discouraged, encouraged me to lean on

God for courage, healing and peace. He helped me see that this was not going to last forever, and took me to and from every chemo treatment. He gets an A+ in “for better and for worse!”

How has this experience changed your life?: Cancer, of course, changes anyone’s life who has to go through it. I know it made my relationship with God and my faith in him stronger and I was so aware of how near he was to me during that time. Perhaps it made me more aware of the beautiful things in this world, which I hope comes through in my artwork.

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m9/24/2009yTCkkritter October 3, 2009

Two women choose not to let their family’s medical history define their lives

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Kimiko Hirai Soldati with her husband, Adam, and two boys, Blake, left, 3, and Isaac, 1. (Courtesy K. Weatherwax Photography)

By Lauren Seaton Longmont Times-Call

Kimiko, right, with her mother, Judy, when she was young. (Courtesy Kimiko Hirai Soldati)

Times-Call Publication

Cancer is a word that former Olympic diver and Longmont native Kimiko Hirai Soldati grew up with. When she was in fourth grade, her mother Judy – not yet 40 years old – was diagnosed with breast cancer.

During the remaining years of childhood, Soldati watched her mother go through a mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiation and remission. The cancer came back in Judy’s bones, though, forcing her to be bed ridden as her spine collapsed in on itself.

She passed away in 1991, leaving Soldati with an emotional void and a new high-risk label. (Judy’s sister is a breast cancer survivor, and Judy’s mother passed away from liver cancer several years after Judy’s death).

Now Soldati has a family of her own. Two young boys – Blake, 3, and Isaac, 1 – and an unborn daughter, Maiya, due on Dec. 2. There is no guarantee that Judy passed on a genetic mutation to Soldati or that Soldati will pass it on to Maiya, but it is a possibility.

The uncertainty of being undiagnosed is an increasing reality for many women. Genetic testing is one option that can provide answers by determining whether a mutation is present. If there is, women have more options than they used to.

Chemoprevention is one. It involves taking medication which blocks the effects of estrogen. This medication is covered by some insurance companies (CIGNA, for one), but also has possible side effects such as hot flashes and nausea and

does not guarantee a cancer-free future.

Bilateral prophylactic mastectomies have been proven to reduce the risk of breast cancer by 90 percent in women with a family history of breast cancer. Common Colorado insurance companies Aetna, CIGNA and UnitedHealthcare all cover this procedure for women in a high risk category, but the emotional decisions can be as difficult to make as the financial ones.

While there is more widespread access to aggressive preventative care, not all women are choosing it.

For Soldati, monitoring is most important. She got regular mammograms starting in her early 20s, but has interrupted the cycle to give birth to and breast feed her children. However, she did make an exception with Isaac to monitor her own health. “I was willing to cut short my second son’s breast feeding (to get another mammogram),” she says.

Cancer doesn’t scare Soldati, partly because she’s grown up with it and because her faith in God is so strong. But she knows she has a responsibility to her family, especially her unborn daughter.

“I’ll do my best to educate her. It’s something I can’t slack on,” Soldati says.

Even with preventative options cancer is still prevalent.

Based on rates from 2004 to 2006, the National Cancer Institute estimates that one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. The NCI also estimates that more than 192,000 women nationwide will be diagnosed in

Continued on 10

m9/24/2009yTCkkritter 10

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October 3, 2009

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Denise Miller, M.D., F.A.C.S. Board Certified General Surgeon Member, American Society of Breast Surgeons Dr. Miller specializes in breast cancer surgeries, including mastectomy, lumpectomy, lymph node dissection, and sentinel node biopsy. She is also certified in Breast Ultrasound.

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Kimiko Hirai Soldait with her two boys, Blake, left, 3, and Isaac, 1. (Courtesy K. Weatherwax Photography)

Continued from 9 2009.

On Sept. 9, 2004, Reilly Alpenborg’s mother became one of these statistics.

After being diagnosed, Lori Alpenborg – then a Longmont resident – had multiple lumpectomies, radiation and chemotherapy. She battled hard and in 2005, she went into remission and has been cancer free since.

But now Reilly, a Longmont resident, is in a high risk category. Her greatgrandmother had breast cancer, and her maternal grandmother passed away from lung cancer. Lori’s remission doesn’t make the past or future any easier for Reilly to face. “It was a part of our lives, and it’s really hard to go back to it,� she says. “It’s too scary to think that it’s a possibility.�

For many women it’s already a reality.

In Colorado, the incident rate of breast cancer is slightly higher than the national average, but since 1990, the death rate has decreased. In 2005, it was slightly lower than the national average.

Choices, Costs and Colorado While health care reform holds a post on the national stage, it is not helping those who have already had or are going through treatment now. Lori chose to get acupuncture throughout her cancer treatments. At the time, such alternative treatments were not covered by her insurance, so she paid for them herself.

Now, many insurance companies cover acupuncture to treat nausea associated with chemotherapy.

However, coverage doesn’t necessarily mean cheap. “The radiation nearly bankrupted me,� Lori says. For Soldati, who qualified for and had a breast MRI, she’s still surprised by the medical bills.

According to Dr. Lee Newcomer, senior vice president of oncology for UnitedHealthcare, the average cost of chemotherapy without Herceptin (a drug that targets the gene HER2) is $40,000. Even if an insurance company covers 80 percent of that, the price tag doesn’t include hospitalizations, radiation therapy or physician visits.

For many Coloradans, that number is just too high. According to the Census Bureau, 35 percent of more than 1.2 million families in Colorado made less than $50,000 in 2007.

In addition, the Centers for Disease Control estimates that 16 percent of adult females under the age of 65 in Colorado didn’t have any health care coverage in 2008, a number that is likely much larger now, since the state’s unemployment rate is the highest it has been in 20 years.

For different reasons, neither Soldati nor Alpenborg feel an imminent need to act aggressively on their high-risk label.

They understand that their future’s have unknowns, but they also know this doesn’t make them unique. “I don’t know any women who aren’t touched (by breast cancer) in some way,� Soldati adds. “It’s good to bring the reality home. It can happen to anyone.�

m9/24/2009yTCkkritter October 3, 2009

Times-Call Publication

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m9/24/2009yTCkkritter 12

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October 3, 2009

When mammograms aren’t enough

Local Breast Health Programs

New innovations help catch breast cancer early

This October, the Longmont Senior Center and Longmont United Hospital will be sponsoring breast cancer awareness programs for women of all ages.

These events are free to the public.

Article Resource Association

Following a false diagnosis of stomach cancer, it took five years of countless doctors, tests and hospital visits before Barbara Robertson was accurately diagnosed with breast cancer. Despite annual mammograms, her breast cancer had gone undetected until an MRI finally found that the cancer in her stomach was actually mimicking a primary tumor in her breast.

“Not knowing what is wrong with your body is a scary thing,” Robertson remembers. “Thankfully, the root of the problem was found through MRI and I am now undergoing appropriate treatment.”

Although annual mammograms are strongly recommended and are often the best way to detect breast cancer, additional screening methods may sometimes be necessary, especially for women with dense breast tissue, family history or other risk factors. The good news is that recent innovations in medical imaging are making it increasingly easier for doctors to detect and diagnose cancers like Robertson’s at an earlier stage, which is often the key to longterm survival.

“Thanks to increased testing, innovations and greater awareness of screening, breast cancer is not only being caught at earlier stages more often, but its detection and treatment is now also less painful and less invasive for the patient,” says Kay Wissmann from the Breast Cancer Network of Strength.

“This was not possible several years ago.”

To take full advantage of the benefits of medical imaging, patients need to know their options and talk with their doctor to ensure that the appropriate tests are used at the right time.

A few of the most recent, major innovations in imaging for breast cancer that all women should be familiar with include: • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) uses magnets and radio waves instead of X-rays to produce detailed, cross-sectional images of the body, and can be used to look specifically at the breast.

Higher quality images are produced by dedicated breast MRI equipment than

The Role of Intuition and Stories in Promoting Breast Health According to Michelle Bowman of Longmont United Hospital, there will be a panel of women who have had breast cancer.

They will speak about their experiences and give tips on staying healthy so hopefully other women will not have to go through the struggles they have been through. The panel of breast cancer survivors will talk specifically about eating well, drinking plenty of water, breast massage, the importance of sleep and meditation as being major factors in the prevention of breast cancer.

This program will occur on Oct. 12 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the Longmont Senior Center, 910 Longs Peak Ave. The event is more geared toward women 55 and older. Space is limited, call 303-651-8411 to register.

John Foxx/ARA

by machines designed for head, chest or abdominal MRI scanning. For certain women at high risk for breast cancer, MRI is recommended along with a yearly mammogram, according to the American Cancer Society.

• Digital mammography is similar to standard mammography, but images of the breast are captured electronically and viewed on a computer screen, rather than through X-ray (as in a standard mammogram). The magnification, brightness or contrast can be changed to help the doctor see certain areas more clearly. While many centers do not offer the digital option at this time, it is expected to become more widely available in the future.

A recent study from the National Cancer Institute found that digital mammography was more accurate in finding cancers in women younger than 50 and in women with dense

breast tissue.

• Molecular Breast Imaging (MBI) begins with an injection of a short-acting, “radioactive tracer” that travels through the body and highlights cancer cells, detected by cameras, that mammograms often miss. MBI serves as a complementary form of detection for higher risk women, and tends to show fewer “false positives” than mammograms, meaning fewer women have to undergo unnecessary biopsies. Recently, a study at the Mayo Clinic concluded that MBI found three times more breast cancers than mammography in a test group of women. A similar study has been conducted by George Washington University, finding that MBI has high sensitivity in detecting breast cancers.

For more information on these and other life-saving tests visit MedicalImaging.org, MayoClinic.org, Cancer.org or NetworkofStrength.org.

Be your Breast Friend: Personal Stories of Breast Health “This program is more broad based and will talk about breasts in a respectful and positive way,” Bowman says. This panel will also speak about the latest in nutrition, treatment and wellness for breasts. Survivors will share information about “what they wish they had been told” to prevent serious breast health conditions including breast cancer. Bowman, a breast cancer survivor herself, also says there will be a discussion on bras for younger women.

This event will take place on Oct. 20 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Gallery of Longmont United Hospital, 1950 Mountain View Ave. Open to women of all ages and requires no prior registration.

– Kate Frasure

m9/24/2009yTCkkritter October 3, 2009

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Screenings crucial in breast cancer detection Metro Services

Breast cancer screening means checking a woman’s breasts for cancer before there are signs or symptoms of the disease. Three main tests are used to screen the breasts for cancer. Talk to your doctor about which tests are right for you, and when you should have them.

Mammogram The most effective means to detecting breast cancer, a mammogram is an X-ray of the breast. Mammograms can detect breast cancer early, when it is easier to treat and before it is big enough to feel or cause symptoms. Having regular mammograms can lower the risk of dying from breast cancer. If you are age 40 years or older, be sure to have a screening mammogram every one to two years.

Clinical Breast Exam A clinical breast exam is an examination by a doctor or nurse, who uses his or her

We’ve upped the ante in the war against breast cancer.

FIRST WITH DIGITAL MAMMOGRAPHY. MORE ACCURACY. LESS RADIATION. At Boulder Community Hospital, our commitment to fighting breast cancer is stronger than ever. That’s why we offer Digital Mammography, an advanced technology in the battle against breast cancer.

Studies show that women with dense breast tissue, women under the age of 50, and pre- or peri-menopausal women experience significantly better results with digital mammography.

Studies show that when breast cancer is detected at the local stage, the five-year survival rate is 98%.

Digital technology allows our radiologists to manipulate the images of breast tissue for more accurate detection while using less radiation.

To schedule a mammogram, contact: FOOTHILLS HOSPITAL | 303.440.2170 4747 Arapahoe Avenue, Boulder COMMUNITY MEDICAL CENTER | 303.440.2170

1000 W. South Boulder Road, Lafayette BOULDER MEDICAL CENTER | 303.440.3029

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hands to feel for lumps or other changes.

Breast Self-Exam A breast self-exam is when you check your own breasts for lumps, changes in size or shape of the breast, or any other changes in the breasts or underarm (armpit).

Having a clinical breast exam or a breast self-exam does not decrease risk of dying from breast cancer. If you choose to have clinical breast exams and to perform breast self-exams, be sure you also get regular mammograms.

Breast cancer screenings are typically available at clinics, the local hospital or a doctor’s office. If you want to be screened for breast cancer, call your doctor’s office.

They can help you schedule an appointment. Most health insurance companies pay for the cost of breast cancer screening tests.

For more information on cancer prevention and control, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site at www.cdc.gov/cancer.

m9/24/2009yTCkkritter 14

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October 3, 2009

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Survivors Sharing Stories Sara L. Broers Brown Occupation: Artist and stay-at-home-mother of two Family: Married with two preschoolers Year diagnosed with breast cancer: April 2009

Norman G. Wagner

Years as a survivor: Almost half a year Hobbies: Artist, quilter and life giver What inspiration helped you through this process?: I joke by saying, “If you are going to get cancer, get breast cancer.” I have always been well supported in my world with my family and friends. When I had babies, I joined the MOMS Club of Longmont and found an incredible group of women. With their friendship and advice, I got through the first lonely years of being a stay-at-home-mom with two babies in diapers. These women gave me hope in dealing with my son’s food issues and were there in late-night hours of colic screaming. Most importantly, we took a break from our mommy-lives once a month to just be women together at Mom’s Night Out. I also quilt. I joined the Longmont Quilt Guild and found another group of women who would bend over backwards to help each other out in times of need.

Though no one wants to join the Pink Sorority, when I did this past April, I found another group of inspiring women. These women were there to hold my hand through chemo, drive my kids to school, and just listen and hug me when I needed to cry. My journey has only begun as a cancer survivor. But the silver lining to joining this Pink Sorority is that it is filled with wonderful women. These women and my other incredible women friends will not let me falter alone. They are there to support and inspire me to keep on moving forward and surviving.

How has this experience changed your life?: It is sort of a given that a cancer diagnoses is going to change your life. It changes your life in the same way a diagnoses of autism, diabetes, Parkinson’s or even food allergies would change it. One has to learn how to live differently, to adapt, to move forward. There is a time, in the beginning, when you feel like you have been given a death sentence. This is normal. For me, in the beginning, I felt that I would just handle this, have a surgery and chalk this year up as one cruddy year.

That was when I was Stage II with maybe only a couple of lymph-nodes involved. Then I started learning about breast cancer. I learned that there isn’t just one breast cancer. I learned I didn’t, literally, have my grandmother’s breast cancer. She was diagnosed two years ago at age 82. She had a mastectomy and was able to move forward beyond her diagnoses without further treatment. Being that I was 33, I had a lot of testing prior to my surgery for gene mutations, hormone receptors and metastasis. My PET scan showed metastasis to my liver. This is the call that put me into Stage IV. Incurable. A death sentence. I remember sitting in my oncologist’s office that day as he was talking about whether I would be HER2-neu positive or triple-negative, clinical trials, and that his job would be to keep me stable and healthy until science had a chance to catch up. I felt like I was in a glass jar. Moving past this initial shock, the bilateral mastectomy, the recovery period of the surgery and into the chemo phase, I have discovered that having cancer isn’t too Earth shattering for me. I still live my life as I did a year ago. I just have to fit in infusions and weeks after my treatments that I can’t function well. It is still about managing time.

I have lucked out to have such a supportive family to pitch-in and take care of the children for me. There are days when I am overwhelmed with the weight of the reality that my life will not be as I initially envisioned. I am hit with a bit of fear that I won’t live long enough to see my children get married and hold my grandchildren. But then again, maybe I will. So even though I was doing a pretty good job of living in the NOW before I was diagnosed, I have learned that living in the NOW is all I have. If I fear my future, I will miss my present. And for today, I feel pretty good even though the chemo drugs lay heavy in my veins. I am going to go outside and watch my kids play in the yard. It is a beautiful day.

Together, we can find a cure.

Oil Can Henry’s is Proud to Support Breast Cancer Awareness

Occupation: Retired from Rocky Flats in Golden in September of 1992 after 33 years Family: My wife, Judy, two sons, Chris and Chad, a daughter, Terri, eight grandchildren Year diagnosed with breast cancer: March 2009. While it was only the right breast, my oncologist’s advice and my decision was to have both breasts removed. They removed one lymph gland under my right arm for further pathology tests, which came back negative for cancer cells. I started treatments on May 13 and finished on Aug. 19.

Years as a survivor: Still in treatment Hobbies: Hunting, fishing in South Dakota, playing poker online and playing with my grandchildren.

What inspiration helped you through this process?: My inspiration to get through this has been my family and friends. My wife has put up with many different moods and being sick after the chemo for seven to 10 days. But she continues to remind me, “we will beat this.” My sons and daughter encourage me all the time, and my grandchildren tell me they love me each and every time we’re together. I also thank my many friends who e-mail and send cards.

How has this experience changed your life?: I definitely look at life and my family as being more precious. It’s as if I was a given a second chance to live my life more fully and try to be a better person. I just hope I can achieve that. I think it’s important that all men realize they need to do a breast examination as often as women do.

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m9/24/2009yTCkkritter 16

Times-Call Publication

October 3, 2009

Survivors Sharing Stories

Caring Experience...

Doreen Dillon

October is National Early detection saves lives.

Breast Cancer Women’s Imaging Center, an outpatient service of Longmont United Awareness Month Hospital, is offering low-cost digital mammography screening to the first Please contact 303.651.5145 to schedule an appointment. If possible, please bring a prescription from your primary care physician. Women’s Imaging Center is located at 1380 Tulip, Suite B.

Women’s Imaging Center A S  L U H

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Occupation: Homemaker Family: Husband, Jim; children, Matthew, Brian, Amanda Year diagnosed with breast cancer: 1991 Years as a survivor: 18.5 years Hobbies: Volunteering at school and church, playing saxophone and piano, reading, and a variety of sports, including swimming, hiking and tennis.

What inspiration helped you through this process?: Faith in God helped me through the process of dealing with cancer (not that I didn’t “bang” my head on the wall a few times out of frustration). I knew that God had a plan for my life, and also has my days numbered – I can’t change that! But, I can enjoy the days that he gives me, and choose to be a servant through those days. I have two dear friends in Texas – Mary Yienger and Janet Barnard – who were there for me through the process.

How has this experience changed your life?: Experiencing cancer changed my life in that I value each day more, am more sensitive to those who have a cancer experience and have a desire to encourage them and hear their story. The immediate impact was that I realized that some of my focuses in life were too trivial.

Sharlene Haeger Occupation: Park Ranger Family: Two dogs and a horse, my sister and her family in Boulder, and a brother in Chicago.

Year diagnosed with breast cancer: 1998 Years as a survivor: 113/4 years Hobbies: Hiking with my dogs, horseback riding What inspiration helped you through the process: I was driven to keep up with normal activities (work and grad school, at the time) as much as possible. I was afraid if I didn’t do that, the disease would take over. I got through it with a lot of support and help from family, friends and co-workers.

How has this experience changed your life: I prioritize somewhat differently since then. I don’t take good health for granted anymore, and I place a higher value on quality experiences than material gain. Connections with people have greater importance. I also have a category called “Life’s too short for _____________.”

Anything that falls into that category, I look to change or minimize.

Donna Mae Norris Occupation: Retired Family: Husband, five children and nine grandchildren Year diagnosed with breast cancer: January 2006 Years as a survivor: Three-and-a-half – I don’t like the word “survivor” as that implies that I am a victim. I view breast cancer as a medical problem which I responded to and I am recovering from, similar to other medical problems.

Hobbies: Reading, gardening, traveling, quilting What inspiration helped you through this process?: My mother had breast cancer and a mastectomy 45 years ago with no return of cancer, so her experience gave me confidence for my own recovery. Plus, I recovered from kidney cancer (unrelated) 15 years ago, so I feel sure that I have stopped the breast cancer with a double mastectomy.

How has this experience changed your life?: I’ve decided to modify my diet and exercise to improve my overall health and lose weight. I feel comfortable to have chosen to not have prosthetic breasts at this time, so any loss of weight will help me to be more visually balanced.

m9/24/2009yTCkkritter October 3, 2009

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Celebrating National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

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(Next to Good Times)

303-410-2763 5170 West 120th Ave (Near Kohls)

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FRIENDLY MOTOR COMPANY

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Times-Call Publication

October 3, 2009

Survivors Sharing Stories

Donna Angsteadi

Suzanne Phillips Occupation: Physical Therapist/Mom Family: Married for 18 years to Rick; children, Connor, 16, Logan, 14 Year diagnosed with breast cancer: January 2009 Years as a survivor: I wish it were in years, but not yet! Seven months (I started becoming a survivor the day I was diagnosed) Hobbies: Cycling, piano, writing What inspiration helped you through this process?: Because I LOVE to ride my bike, Lance Armstrong was my first crutch to lean on. I re-read his book (for the third time), which helped me get through the initial phase of denial, and then acceptance.

My other inspiration has been my sister-in-law, who passed away from leukemia two weeks after I was diagnosed. Her refusal to never give up during her battle, and her never ending cheerfulness inspires me to this day. And I cannot deny the fact that the unwavering support of my rock solid husband, two boys, family and friends continue to keep me afloat.

How has this experience changed your life?: I was thinking about that today on my bike ride! How can it NOT change your life?

Some people say that cancer is a “gift.” It’s hard to call a life threatening disease a gift, but everything they say about cancer, and how it changes your view on life, is absolutely true. It has made me not only aware of my mortality, but also

more comfortable with it. Every day is truly a gift. I have learned what an incredible support group I am surrounded by, and there is confirmation that the man I married is as amazing as I suspected he was when I first met him at age 28!

My birthday was in September, and instead of complaining about being another year older, I welcomed the privilege of celebrating another year. To say that you become more grateful for your life and your love, after being diagnosed with cancer would be an understatement.

My cancer diagnosis also motivated me to rally my friends to ride with me in the women’s only Venus de Miles bike ride on Aug. 30. I knew the timing would be good – I would be well enough post-chemo to train for a bike ride. I sent out an e-mail, designed some cute bike jerseys, and asked any of my friends who were interested, to sign up for the Venus ride and make a small donation on the side to the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation or Susan G. Komen foundation. I decided to call ourselves “Soozer’s Cruisers.” To my utter amazement, somewhere between 60 and 90 women signed up for the ride (I’m not sure on the numbers just yet!). I raised thousands of dollars for both foundations, and we rode in celebration of life and woman power! I have a bunch of friends who cheered us on along the ride for support. Had I not gotten breast cancer, I might not have been so motivated to try and make a difference. My new saying is: “one person can make a difference, but TOGETHER we can change the world!” I aim to change the world by helping to eradicate breast cancer sometime in my lifespan.

Supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Applewood Living Center

“A Rehab and Skilled Nursing Facility”

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Occupation: Registered Nurse (retired) Family: Four sons and spouses, nine grandchildren Year diagnosed with breast cancer: 1997 Years as a survivor: 12 years Hobbies: Time with family and friends, bowling, golf, music, poetry, writing, crafts and gardening.

What inspiration helped you through this process?: My belief that all things do work together for good to those who love God. How has this experience changed your life?: It has made me more aware that we are all vulnerable, yet strong.

Breast cancer is a random and deadly disease.

The most significant risk factors for breast cancer are being female and getting older.

Breast cancer typically strikes women during their most productive years both professionally and personally.

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m9/24/2009yTCkkritter October 3, 2009

Breast Cancer in the United States

1. American Cancer Society’s Cancer Facts & Figures 2009 2. American Cancer Society’s Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Facts and Figures 2009 3. www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content /CRI_2_4_1X_What_are_the_key_statistics_ for_breast_cancer_5.asp?sitearea 4. caonline.amcancersoc.org/cgi/content /full/58/2/71 5. American Cancer Society’s Breast Cancer Facts & Figures 2007-2008

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“I wanted to learn more about how to live the type of lifestyle I had before battling the disease. Would I still be able to enjoy my passions, like golf and travel?”

Komen.org

• One in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. (5) • Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women in the United States ages 40 to 59. (4) • Breast cancer is second only to lung cancer in cancer deaths among women in the United States. (1) • The five-year survival rate for breast cancer, when caught early before it spreads beyond the breast, is now 98 percent. (compared to 74 percent in 1982).

• An estimated 192,370 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in the United States in 2009.

(1) • An estimated 1,910 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in men in the United States in 2009. (1) • An estimated 40,170 women and 440 men will die from breast cancer in the United States in 2009. (1) • There are about 2.5 million breast cancer survivors alive in the United States today, the largest group of cancer survivors in the country. (3) • Approximately 5 to 10 percent of breast cancers in the United States are due to inherited mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 breast cancer genes (less than 1 percent of the general population). (1) • Approximately 95 percent of all breast cancers in the United States occur in women 40 years of age and older. (5) • Recent studies suggest that many women are not following recommended guidelines for mammography screening by having their first screening later than recommended, not having one at recommended intervals or not receiving follow-up of positive screening results. This may lead to more advanced tumor size and stage at diagnosis. (2)

Times-Call Publication

California resident Mary Jean Lynberg

New resource helps get you on the move Article Resource Association

When a woman is first diagnosed with breast cancer, all kinds of questions go through her mind, and not all of them are about the cancer itself.

“Will I be able to remain active? What kind of impact will treatment have on my lifestyle? Can I still be intimate with my significant other?“ When California resident Mary Jean Lynberg was first diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer back in 2004, she felt numb and physically ill.

“My doctor had informed me that the type of tumor I had was fast growing and as a result, she would be very aggressive with my treatment. She told me that meant several rounds of chemotherapy, radiation and maybe even surgery. I was very aware that life as I knew it was going to go through some drastic changes,” Lynberg says.

According to the American Cancer Society, 40,000 women (25 to 30 percent of women with breast cancer) are diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer every year. HER2 is part of a family of genes that play roles in controlling cell growth. In some breast cancers, for reasons no one understands, cancer cells have too much HER2.

Shortly after Lynberg was diagnosed, one of the first things she did was seek information and comfort online.

“While I found several support groups

that helped me get informed about my special form of breast cancer, I couldn’t find a site that spoke to the rest of my life – those topics that could benefit me on the road back to wellness,” she says. “I wanted to learn more about how to live the type of lifestyle I had before battling the disease. Would I still be able to enjoy my passions, like golf and travel?” Thankfully, Lynberg was able to continue pursuing those passions in one form or another, partly because her treatment included an oral therapy that she could take wherever and whenever she needed it.

Today, Lynberg’s breast cancer is in remission, but she remembers the struggles she faced at the time to figure it all out. However, she is happy to learn that the women who follow in her footsteps will not experience that same struggle. Launched last September, a new online resource is helping women and their loved ones continue to live a healthy, active, on-the-move lifestyle despite their cancer diagnosis.

HER Move (www.hermove.com) is the first Web-based, lifestyle program specifically for women in all stages of HER2-positive breast cancer, including the newly diagnosed, those living with advanced or metastatic disease and the long-term survivors. In addition to a unique offering of health and wellness information, there are resources that inspire women with HER2-positive breast cancer to live life to the fullest

as best they can by staying on-themove and living a healthy and active lifestyle.

Marybeth Bond, a travel expert and author of 11 travel books for women, is among the experts who have material posted on the site. “Travel has an uncanny way of taking us back to the simplicity that makes life precious again. A close friend recently told me that her first trip after diagnosis marked the beginning of hope – hope that she could live the life she had precancer.”

But the key, points out Bond, is to recognize that “travel” has many definitions. “An afternoon visit to a botanical garden, a day cruise on a lake, or a walk in the woods with a loved-one can turn your attitude upside-down, change negatives into positives and pain into purpose.”

Those who have questions about intimacy, sexual connection and romance – generally not topics that are easy to discuss with your doctor, let alone their partner – can find answers courtesy of Ruth Peltason, author of the book, “I Am Not My Breast Cancer.” A breast cancer survivor herself, she interviewed hundreds of women from all walks of life to get their take on the topic and shares what she learned on the site.

There’s also a section dedicated to caregivers headed up by HER2 Support Group’s, www.her2support.org.

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Times-Call Publication

October 3, 2009

Changing The Caring Experience...

Trusted.

Women’s Imaging Center A S  L U H

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Early detection saves lives and digital mammography is just one way to ensure your breasts are healthy.

As caregivers, we encourage preventive screening. Please do not hesitate in scheduling your annual mammogram. We are here to help you feel at ease. At the Women’s Imaging Center, we specialize in breast health and osteoporosis detection. Call now to schedule an appointment, 303.651.5145.

Remember, digital mammography offers the detailed images needed for early detection.

Recipient of Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

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