Breast Cancer Awarenes 10 28 2015

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015

DAILY JOURNAL

ADAM ROBISON | BUY AT PHOTOS.DJOURNAL.COM

Before Wanda Barbour Dent became the women’s health nurse navigator at Baptist Cancer Center in Oxford, she fought her own battle against breast cancer.

Nurse shares the journey with her patients

BY MICHAELA GIBSON MORRIS DAILY JOURNAL

Before Wanda Barbour Dent became a nurse navigator, she made her own journey through breast cancer.

The veteran nurse took the position as women’s health nurse navigator at the Baptist Cancer Center in Oxford a month after finishing radiation treatment for breast cancer.

“This is the most wonderful, satisfying job I’ve had in 42 years,” said Dent, who lives in Tupelo.

“If I was a rich woman, I’d do this job for free.”

That’s a high bar given Dent’s love of the profession.

“Not every day has been a good day,” said Dent, who graduated from nursing school in 1974 and later completed her bachelor’s of nursing science, “but I’ve never had a day that I didn’t love being a nurse.”

Her career has covered labor and delivery, pediatrics, neonatal intensive care, nursing education and administration. Since 1996, she has worked primarily in nursing education. In 2009, she received the Mississippi Nurses Association Nightingale Award as mentor of the year.

Dent keeps signs of hope, like the wall hanging at right, close at hand in her office where she helps women facing breast and other gynecologic cancers as they navigate treatment and survivorship.

She has worked for Baptist Memorial HospitalNorth Mississippi in Oxford for a total of nine years. In 2013, she decided to apply for a new nurse navigator position at Baptist, but the position was not filled. Dent didn’t know what was around the corner.

2014, at the age of 58, she got a call back; there was something abnormal on her mammogram.

She had gone on hormone replacement therapy after menopause and had begged to stretch the period of treatment as far as she could. Her doctor had already started the process to wean her off ABNORMAL RESULTS when the abnormal mamSince she was 40, Dent mogram popped up. had annual mammograms “In hindsight, it was not like clockwork. In March a smart thing,” said Dent,

whose tumors were positive for estrogen receptors.

From the beginning, she leaned on Allen Linton, who has served as the Baptist Cancer navigator since 2005. Linton was with Dent from biopsy through treatment and into survivorship.

“Having Allen Linton as my navigator was priceless,” Dent said. “I could text, call or email for help.”

Dent had an initial lumpectomy, but opted

for a mastectomy after two spots were identified – one where the cancer was still contained within a milk duct and another where the cancer had spread beyond the milk duct. Only the first lymph node showed signs of spread.

She went through radiation, but opted against chemotherapy. A genetic

typing of her cancer showed she had low risk of reoccurrence with her treatment plan.

“The side effects outweighed the benefits,” Dent said.

Having an active role in her treatment plan – something her oncologist TURN TO DENT, 11A

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10A

THE PINK PROJECT

DAILY JOURNAL |

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015

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11A

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EVENTS CALENDAR

Ongoing NMMC Mobile Mammography Unit will travel to the following locations around Northeast Mississippi in October. The cost of a screening mammogram is $267 and is available by appointment. Resources are available for those without adequate health insurance coverage. Call (662) 3777982 or (800) 843-3375.

• Oct. 26-27 - Tippah County Health Services, Ripley • Oct. 28 - Fulton Medical Clinic

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FACTS & STATS

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• About one in eight U.S. women – 12.4 percent – will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime.

• In 2015, an estimated 231,840 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed, along with 60,290 new cases of non-invasive breast cancer (also known as carcinoma in situ). About 40,290 women are expected to die in 2015 from breast cancer, though there has been a decrease in death rates since 1989, with larger decreases in women under 50. These decreases are thought to be the result of treatment advancements, earlier detection through screening, and increased awareness.

• For women in the United States, breast cancer death rates are higher than death rates for any other type of cancer, besides lung cancer.

• Except for skin cancer, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among American women. Just under 30 percent of cancers diagnosed in women are breast cancers.

• White women are slightly more likely to develop breast cancer than African-American women. However, in women under 45, breast cancer is more common in AfricanAmerican women than white women. Overall, African-American women are more likely to die of breast cancer. Asian, Hispanic, and Native-American women have a lower risk of developing and dying from breast cancer.

• As of early 2015, there were more than 2.8 million women with a history of breast cancer in the U.S. This figure includes women currently being treated and women who have finished treatment.

• A woman’s risk of breast cancer approximately doubles if she has a first-degree relative (mother, sister, daughter) who has been diagnosed with breast cancer.

• Less than 15 percent of women who get breast cancer have a family member who has been diagnosed with it.

• About 5-10 percent of breast cancers are thought to be caused by inherited gene mutations (abnormal changes passed through families).

• Mutations of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are the most common. Women with a BRCA1 mutation have a 55-65 percent risk of developing breast cancer before age 70, often at a younger age than it typically develops. For women with a BRCA2 mutation, the risk is 45 percent. An increased ovarian cancer risk is also associated with these genetic mutations.

• The most significant risk factors for breast cancer are gender (being a woman) and age (growing older).

Source: American Cancer Society

THOMAS WELLS | BUY AT PHOTOS.DJOURNAL.COM

Stylist Misty Kidd volunteers her expertise to facilitate the Look Good Feel Better program at NMMC Oncology Services. The American Cancer Society program is provided free of charge to women in cancer treatment and those who have recently completed cancer treatment.

Looking good, Feeling better

American Cancer Society program aids cancer patients |

BY MICHAELA GIBSON MORRIS DAILY JOURNAL

M

akeup can’t cure cancer.

But there can be magic in blush, lipstick and women who understand where you’re coming from.

The American Cancer Society’s Look Good Feel Better program teams up with certified beauty professionals to provide makeup and techniques to overcome the appearance-related effects of cancer treatments. It’s offered free of charge to women going through cancer treatment and those who have completed treatment in the past six months. It includes women going through radiation, chemotherapy and surgical treatments.

“We’re just here to help them feel better about themselves,” said Tupelo stylist Misty Kidd, who volunteers to lead the Look Good Feel Better program offered in partnership with North Mississippi Medical Center Oncology Services in Tupelo.

Every other month, Kidd and beauty professional Delores Lagrone of Tupelo meet with a group of cancer patients to guide them through beauty tips specific to skin, hair and nails impacted by cancer treatment.

“It’s very personal,” Kidd said, with usually three to five participants. “We cover the 12 steps of applying makeup, from cleansing to lipstick, as well as how to care for wigs and head coverings.”

Kidd, a certified cosmetology instructor, works as the finance director at Tupelo Academy of

Dent

FIND OUT MORE

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CANCER PATIENTS can talk with the social worker at their cancer centers or contact the American Cancer Society directly to find a Look Good Feel Better session at the Tupelo office at (662) 844-8544 or the national center at (800) 227-2345.

CERTIFIED BEAUTY PROFESSIONALS interested in volunteering should call (800) 227-2345

As part of the free Look Good Feel Better program, women receive a bag of name-brand cosmetics, valued at $250-$275. The products are donated through the Personal Care Products Council Foundation and the Professional Beauty Association as part of their partnership with the American Cancer Society.

Cosmetology and a stylist at Split Endz Salon in Tupelo. She said she loves the opportunity to work with cancer patients.

“Lots of the ladies may be drained from treatments when they come in,” Kidd said. “When they leave, they are the most excited.”

Sometimes there are tears as they share with each other and Kidd, but just as often there are laughter and jokes.

“The women are gathered together from all different walks of life,” said Cindy Edwards, NMMC cancer social worker. “They start talking and sharing far beyond a bag of makeup.”

The program is available at cancer centers across Mississippi, In addition to sessions in

and the most beautiful woman in the world,” Dent said.

He also gently encourFROM 10A ages her to take better pushes for with all of his care of herself without patients – was very reaspushing. He invites her suring. out for walks, makes sure “You don’t have any they eat healthfully. control over the disease,” “He’s been a big part of Dent said. “When a physi- my working to get back cian includes you as part out and more active,” of the care planning, it Dent said. “He’s right makes a big difference.” there with me.”

She had her last treatTheir four children have ment Oct. 15, 2014, the been the next line of supsame day her grandson, port. After her mastecIsaiah Barbour, was tomy, the children gave adopted. her scarves to wear with “We had big fun toher scrubs to camouflage gether,” celebrating their the asymmetry. milestones this year, Dent “I still wear them,” Dent said. said. “I’ve become a scarf Her husband, Tupelo at- lover.” torney George Dent, was Her friends and church incredibly supportive dur- family at First Presbytering her cancer journey, ian Church in Tupelo have sending flowers routinely encircled the entire family and bolstering her selfthrough the journey. confidence with his love.

“I’m fortunate to have a “He tells me every day really good support systhat I’m the love of his life tem,” Dent said.

Tupelo, the American Cancer Society has Look Good Feel Better sessions offered at Baptist Memorial Hospitals in Oxford and Columbus and Magnolia Regional Health Center in Corinth.

“They’ve been tremendous partners,” said Sonya Summerlin, hospital systems manager for the American Cancer Society in Mississippi.

The sessions are open to any woman in active cancer treatment or within six months of finishing treatment, even if the sessions are at a different center from where they are a patient.

“It is amazing and inspiring to see the immediate difference in the women’s spirits and appearance as they participate in the sessions,” said Lillie Willis, pro-

NEW ROLE

While Dent was still in treatment, Baptist reposted the position of nurse navigator, and she applied again. She started mid-November 2014 in the new role.

“If I had gotten the job before breast cancer, I would have been good,” Dent said. “But because I’ve had breast cancer, it’s a whole different ball game.”

Breast cancer patients make up a large portion of the patients she follows through diagnosis and treatment.

She doesn’t always share that she’s a breast cancer survivor. But when it seems like it might be helpful, she opens up about her experience. She understands how cancer forces people to reexamine big questions like “What does this mean for my life?” and “Am I going to be here?”

gram manager, mission delivery for the American Cancer Society in Mississippi.

The Personal Care Products Council Foundation and the Professional Beauty Association partner with the American Cancer Society to make the program possible, donating all the name brand beauty products in the special Look Good Feel Better bags. Every bag has the same kinds of products, but the brands vary.

“They’re valued between $250 and $275,” Willis said. “They take all of it home.”

There’s always room for more volunteers. The program is open to licensed beauty professionals including cosmetologists and estheticians. They go through a Look Good Feel Better training session before they begin leading the programs.

“It’s rewarding,” said Kidd, who was recruited as a volunteer by one of her clients who works at NMMC Radiation Oncology. “This is my way to pay it forward.”

“I do feel like it makes me much more empathetic,” Dent said.

Her work with women begins when they are first diagnosed.

“I try to be with them at the first visit,” Dent said.

She has access to their pathology reports and helps them translate the medical report and understand the range of treatment options.

“We work closely with the physicians,” Dent said. “They (the patients) can call me anytime.”

She goes to appointments with them as scheduling allows, taking notes to help them process the information.

She follows them through their course of treatment at the Baptist Cancer Center.

When they finish their post-op follow up, she puts together a survivor care plan for them, making sure they know what

michaela.morris@journalinc.com

scans and appointments they will need. In addition, she presents them with their cancer story, so they have all the information on their tumor, treatments and follow-up plans in one place.

She also reaches outside the cancer center, making presentations to community groups. Right now her focus is on making sure women without sufficient resources know they can access screening and diagnostic mammograms.

Baptist Memorial-North Mississippi has funding through Komen for the Cure North Mississippi affiliate and the University of Mississippi Panhellenic Council Care Walk to cover the costs of mammograms for the medically underserved.

“I’m so thankful for the resources,” Dent said. michaela.morris@journalinc.com

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Nov. 13-14 Vendor’s Cottage will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Nov. 13 and 14 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Women First Resource Center, Tupelo. Vendors will have cosmetics, jewelry, food, clothing, bakeware for sale. Call (662) 842-5725.

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THE PINK PROJECT

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015

DAILY JOURNAL

The Sasa sisterhood

Race for the Cure is personal for trio of Tupelo women

BY RILEY MANNING DAILY JOURNAL

TUPELO – When Lisa Roberts – known as “Sasa” to her sisters – was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma in October 2011, the news came with a few bad omens.

Just a few days prior to her mammogram, Roberts and her sisters, Diana Hardin and Wendy Chisholm, had walked in the Komen North Mississippi Race for a Cure. They participated in support of a friend who died soon after from her sickness.

“That hit us hard,” Hardin said. “We were really upset when she passed away.”

In addition, Roberts has an aunt on each side of her family who had battled breast cancer.

When she went in for her checkup, that family history stuck in the back of her mind.

“I’d had cysts before,” Roberts said. “So at first, I didn’t think it was a big deal. But that led to an ultrasound. Then they wanted a biopsy. I just had this bad feeling the results were going to come back and say I had cancer.”

She turned out to be right. Invasive ductal carcinoma is the most common type of breast cancer. The disease infiltrates the milk ducts and spreads beyond the duct to the breast tissue.

“We love (Roberts) so much,” Hardin said. “We didn’t know what to do.”

Her husband, Michael Roberts, made the half-hour drive home in half the time, Roberts said, and he was her rock all the way through.

Roberts said they handled it

Obstetrics • Gynecology For an appointment call

(662) 844-8754 1041 S. Madison Street • Tupelo, MS

They haven’t seen me baldheaded in so long, I guess they forget,” Roberts said with a laugh.

Now she spreads the word and preaches the annual mammogram. Like all cancer, catching it early is the key.

“Mine was invasive and fastgrowing. You have to catch it early,” she said. “Some doctors don’t recommend getting a mammogram until you’re 50 and that’s crazy. I’d say 45 at the latest.”

For those who do receive bad news, the best things a breast cancer battler can have in her arsenal is a strong family – whether blood or not – and a good attitude “I had a great wig,” Roberts said. “I had a lot of fun with it, but I think I liked my scarves better.”

Her sisters marveled that Roberts never got down, at least not in their presence. Roberts admitted the occasional tear-up, usually in her car.

She also advised a support LAUREN WOOD | BUY AT PHOTOS.DJOURNAL.COM group like the breast cancer Members of Team Sasa, from left, Wendy Chisholm, Lisa Roberts and Diana Hardin, have participated group she attended through for several years in Race for the Cure.

Women First Resource Center in Tupelo. Women First also has the only way a person can – one ick, also a breast cancer survivor, Roberts’ co-workers particimonthly groups for women step at a time. She spoke with her children and grandchildren, pated in the team, and raised al- dealing with fibromyalgia and doctors about different treatand her in-laws inspired her to most $7,000. ovarian cancer. ment methods, and decided on “fight like a girl.” Especially gru“I was blown away,” Roberts “I met some awesome ladies a lumpectomy rather than a full eling were the third treatments said, “to see thousands of people at Women First,” Roberts said. mastectomy. The surgeons she of the month, in which she unshow up in support of the cause. “It was a different kind of supspoke with said one would be no derwent both treatments in one I kept taking pictures of people port because they’ve all been better or worse than the other, session. behind me. I was just amazed so there already. They had answers however the lumpectomy had a “But she went to work every many were touched.” to so many of my questions.” shorter recovery time. day except for chemo days,” Her son ran so hard in the But the biggest blessing is that The next step was to begin Chisholm said. race that he got sick. she and her many families grew four and a half months of weekly “I need to be doing some“After the race, he said at the closer than ever, Roberts said. chemotherapy and radiation thing, and I was glad I could still second mile he couldn’t run “Our song was Martina treatments, and her support sys- be effective at my job,” Roberts anymore,” Hardin said. “But he McBride’s ‘I’m Gonna Love You tem kicked in big time. said. “My co-workers were awe- said he ran that third mile for Through It,’” Roberts said.

“We had breakfast as a family some. They took care of me.”

Mama.”

“We’ve been close all our lives, at Cracker Barrel the morning Throughout her treatments, In January 2013, Roberts reespecially now. They just kept she started treatment,” her support system grew bigger ceived her last chemotherapy telling me that even if I’m not Chisholm said. “She’s a reader, and bigger. By the time the 2012 treatment and has been clear OK, it’s going to be OK. Family, so we got her a Nook for her reRace for the Cure rolled around, ever since. Of course, Team Sasa work, church and prayer will get covery time.”

Team Sasa was ready to go all is still going strong. you through anything.”

Roberts said in addition to her out, and have done so ever “I have to beat the bushes at sisters, her friend Anita Fredersince. The first year, 50 of work for donations sometimes. riley.manning@journalinc.com

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12A

New Albany Gazette

newalbanygazette.com

Wednesday, October 28, 2015 7A

J. Lynn West Editor

“No news is good news” may be a cliché, but it describes Donna Weeden’s situation accurately.

When Journal Publishing began The Pink Project, an extensive month-long focus each October on breast cancer survivors and victims five years ago, Weeden was one of the first to share her story.

She was a cancer survivor not once, but twice, having been diagnosed with two different types over the years.

And at the time she talked about her battle with the illness, she was just starting a long course of chemotherapy.

Now, five years later, the Gazette caught up with her to learn how she is doing.

When asked what has happened since then, Weeded replied “Nothing has happened since my 2nd diagnosis in 2010.”

Of course a lot has happened in her life otherwise, but in terms of her illness, “nothing” is the best answer there is.

She remains vigilant, continues her checkups, advocates prevention and screening and helps other people who have had cancer diagnoses, but her health is good.

“I do take a pill every day,” she said, because her second cancer, Hormone Receptor Positive or HER2, is a type that can recur.

There are still not enough long-term studies to provide a definitive answer about the treatment, she said.

Weeden is vice-president at BNA Bank and has worked in banking all her professional life.

She’s a Pinedale native, the daughter of Dorman and

Joyce Watson, who graduated from West Union. Her husband, Narshal, came from Ingomar, not too far across the Tallahatchie, and they have been married for 27 years. They have two daughters, Kelsey, 22, and Katie, 19.

Donna apparently knew banking is what she wanted to do when she still was in high school.

“I attended Ole Miss and got a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a specialty in Banking and Finance,” she said. “I actually started working in the summer of 1981 when I was still in school.”

One might argue that National Breast Cancer Awareness Month saved Weeden’s life.

It was 17 and a half years ago that her cancer was first diagnosed.

She had no symptoms or any reason to suspect she may have had cancer. She was comparatively young to start having periodic mammograms.

“Most doctors start mammograms at age 40; I was 35,” she said. “But my insurance covered a baseline mammogram and it was Breast Cancer Awareness Month and I think all the information that was out helped make me decide to go ahead and get a baseline mammogram.”

That decision proved crucial because the mammogram revealed a onecentimeter tumor.

At first, the process did not go smoothly for Weeden.

“I decided I needed to go back to Tupelo to my doctor, Dr Jack Kahlstorf, to get his opinion. Over the next few weeks there was so much confusion between lost files, misplaced films, and other problems that kept me going back a second and third time

J. Lynn West/Gazette Staff

Donna Weeden today, once again a survivor after five years. for additional tests before being referred to a surgeon,” she said. “I knew God was already starting to work in my life when the radiologist, Dr Keith Lawrence, a friend I had gone to school with, told me that finding my tumor at this early stage was like finding a needle in a haystack.”

“Dr Phil Mathis did a lumpectomy which was followed by radiation and chemotherapy over the next six months,” she said. I had two small children at 4 years old and 10 months old but was able to work every day except the day of my chemotherapy treatments. After finishing the chemotherapy, I went early in the mornings for radiation over a period of six weeks and was at work by 9:30 each day. It was God’s Grace that I was able to work and continue to care of my family and home during these months.”

Things looked good after the treatments and Weeden continued to go back for her annual checkups with no unusual results. “Dr Mathis moved to Corinth and after the tenth year, he turned me loose thinking I was cured,” she said.

Then, the next April, she went back for her annual mammogram in at The Breast Care Center in Tupelo and, like the first one, ran into complications. “They kept calling me back into another room to do more tests and finally did a biopsy,” she said.

“Two days later they called me back and confirmed it was cancer. It was in the same breast as before but much larger this time at two and one half centimeters,” she said.

Because she had already undergone a series of radiation treatments, that was not an option. “You can’t take

radiation again because of the effect it has on the breast tissue,” she said. “There was no choice; they would have to take the breast.”

This was a possibility Weeden had considered.

“I always said if it came back they would take both breasts so I wouldn’t have to deal with it again,” she said.

“I just couldn’t see taking the chance. All I could think about was getting rid of the cancer in my body and being able to live.”

“This time my surgeon was Dr. David Gilliland in Tupelo and my treatments were at BridgePoint. Dr. Julian Hill was my oncologist.”

Also this time Weeden had to have a different type of chemotherapy and said it varies greatly with tumor size and cancer receptor types.

Another thing that had changed since her first experience was the concern of side-effects. “Now they have wonderful anti-nausea drugs.

She listed some of the drugs used in the treatments: Cytoxan, Adriamycin (called “The Red Devil” because of the red coloring and capable of life-threatening heart damage), Taxol, and Herceptin. Zofran and Emend were used for nausea, and Benadryl and the more-familiar Decadron were also used for cancer pre-treatments, she said.

At first she had to undergo the harsh treatments four times every three weeks.

This caused her to be homebound for four months and the doctor wanted her to stay out longer but cabin fe-

ver grew too strong.

After that treatment was over, she had to go every Monday for a treatment of Herceptin for 40 weeks.

She finally finished with treatments about 15 months later. The last round of chemotherapy did not force her to stay at home from work but it did have some restrictions for her, “It sometimes causes a low white blood cell count, so I had to be really careful around people who were sick.”

“Going through this surgery and treatment keeps your family strong,” she said. “But the number-one solution is keeping God first in your life. I had great family and friends praying for me. I honestly feel like people praying for me made a difference. I also try to keep a positive attitude.”

She also worried about a sort of occasional mental fogginess known as “chemo brain.” “It’s a real thing; you can look it up,” she said.

“But it stands to reason that something strong enough to fight cancer could affect other parts of your body and memory as well.”

Her job has led to her being something of a public advocate against cancer and she has participated in the Union County Relay for Life since it began.

“I’ve always been on the bank team or church team and was Relay treasurer for Union County for three years or more,” she said.

“2010 was a special Relay for me,” she added. “My friends at the bank dedicated their camp site at the Relay See WEEDEN on 14A

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After five years, Weeden a cancer survivor

Wednesday, October 28, 2015 ◆ CHICKASAW JOURNAL ◆ 7A

Below are some facts about the American Cancer Society and breast cancer.We encourage you to send them to friends and family.These facts demonstrate the work the American Cancer Society has accomplished with other organizations and remind us that together we can create a world with less breast cancer and more birthdays! Learn more at cancer.org or call 1-800-227-2345.

AGE 40?

If you know a woman who is 40 or older and is not getting her yearly mammograms because she is afraid of the test, encourage her to visit cancer.org/mammovideo to watch a video of women talking about their experiences with mammograms.

REDUCE RISK Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women (excluding skin cancer). Learn how to stay well by taking steps to reduce your risk for cancer or detect it at its earliest, most treatable stage, at cancer.org/breastcancer.

EXERCISE To stay well and reduce your cancer risk, strive for at least 30 minutes of exercise in addition to your usual activities on 5 or more days each week.

YOUR DIET To stay well and reduce your cancer risk, maintain a healthy body weight by eating a well-balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Limit the amount of red meats you eat, especially high-fat and processed meats. Learn how delicious a healthy diet can be at eatrightgetactive.org.

SMOKING Get help quitting smoking for yourself or a loved one, or join the fight against tobacco as an advocate for smoke-free communities at cancer.org/GreatAmericans. In November, join the American Cancer Society for the Great American Smokeout.

EAT RIGHT You can take charge of your health! Evidence suggests that one-third of all cancer deaths could be prevented with proper diet and exercise.

Learn more at eatrightgetactive.org.

■ Regular checkups key to proper breast health.

Special to the Chickasaw Journal

A mammogram is an important step in taking care of yourself and your breasts. A mammogram is a low-dose x-ray that allows specialists to look for changes in breast tissue that aren’t normal.

The American Cancer Society recommends women age 40 and over get a mammogram every year, along with a breast exam by a doctor or nurse.

(Most women under 40 do not need a mammogram).

And all women, no matter their age, need to let their doctor know about any changes to their breasts.

Whether you’re a mammogram newbie or a veteran, knowing what to expect may help you navigate the process more smoothly.

Where to go

Find a center that specializes in mammograms.

The US Food and Drug Administration certifies mammogram facilities that meet high professional standards of quality and

safety. Ask to see the FDA certificate if one isn’t posted near the receptionist’s desk when you arrive. And when you find a facility you like, stick with it. Having all your mammograms at the same facility will make it easier for doctors to compare images from one year to the next.

What to wear

Wear a 2-piece outfit because you will need to remove your top and bra.

Do not apply deodorant, antiperspirant, powder, lotion, or ointment on or around your chest on the day of your mammogram.

These products can appear as white spots on the x-ray.

What to expect

The entire procedure takes about 20 minutes.

The breast is compressed for a few seconds while an x-ray picture is taken.

The breast is repositioned (and compressed again) to take another view. This is then done on the other breast. Flattening the breast tissue, while uncomfortable for some women, provides a clearer view of the breast and lessens the amount of radiation needed to take an x-ray picture.

Getting the results

You should get your results within 30 days. If you don’t, you should call to ask about them. If doc-

tors find something suspicious, you’ll likely be contacted within a week to take new pictures or get other tests. But that doesn’t mean you have cancer. A suspicious finding may be just dense breast tissue or a cyst.

Other times, the image just isn’t clear and needs to be retaken. If this is your first mammogram, your doctor may want to look at an area more closely simply because there is no previous mammogram for comparison.

What you pay

Under the Affordable Care Act, Medicare and almost all private insurance plans now cover annual mammograms, with no co-pay or other outof-pocket costs. Medicaid also covers mammograms. For uninsured or low-income women, free or low-cost programs are available. Some programs are held during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, while others are offered year-round.

Call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 to find a program near you.

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What to know about getting a mammogram

Breast Cancer Facts & Resources

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2015

itawambatimes.com

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14A THE ITAWAMBA COUNTY TIMES ■ FULTON, MISSISSIPPI

itawambatimes.com WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2015

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THE ITAWAMBA COUNTY TIMES ■ FULTON, MISSISSIPPI

15A

Monroe Journal

Page 6A, Wednesday, October 28, 2015

COURTESY PHOTO

RAY VAN DUSEN/BUY AT PHOTOS.MONROECOUNTYJOURNAL.COM

Linda Record holds up a pink bow, one of several colored ribbons and bows that have been tied to a windmill in her yard throughout September and October, to raise awareness for not only breast cancer but all kinds of cancers.

Ribbon display a tribute to those fighting cancer

BY RAY VAN DUSEN Monroe Journal

ABERDEEN – There are ribbons in not only pink, but printed in several colors representing several cancers tightly wound around sections of a windmill in the yard of Frank and Linda Record on the corner of Jefferson and James streets.

A subject close to her heart, she thought the token was a way to raise

awareness for not just breast cancer but all cancers.

“To me, all cancers are important in the world.

All the symptoms are the same. It creates the same pain and the same hurt,” said Linda, who was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2005 and with squamous cell carcinoma nine years and 363 days later.

She began her tribute in September and

intended for it to carry over through Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Through social media, she’s spread the word and has woken up to the sights of new ribbons tied to the windmill, maybe by acquaintances or maybe by complete strangers.

In her own personal struggles with cancer, she has learned to embrace

See RIBBON on Page 7A

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the ladies of Renasant Bank in downtown Amory served customers pink refreshments on Oct. 23. Pictured, from left, Brandi Cook, Abbie Stanford, Dawn Mitchell, Barbara Howell, Sonya Terry, Christi Alford, Raye Ann Stark, Ashley Adams and Deshanna Edwards.

ABERDEEN CANCER WALK

RAY VAN DUSEN/BUY AT PHOTOS.MONROECOUNTYJOURNAL.COM

Members of Daniel Baptist Church empowered the community to take to the streets of Aberdeen Oct. 24 for a cancer walk to raise awareness for not only breast cancer but all cancers.

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Monroe Journal

Wednesday, October 28, 2015, Page 7A

Continued from Page 6A acquaintances and complete strangers going through the same journey.

“People haven’t failed me. I’ve had people come to me asking for advice, and an old fashioned hug and saying, ‘I love you,’ goes a long way. Cancer is a world of its own, and your life becomes doctors' appointments, chemo appointments and radiation appointments, and those doctors and nurses become your friends,” Linda said.

She can reflect on so many of her family members who have suffered from some form of cancer through the years. Frank’s grandmother suffered from breast cancer.

“With my last visit with her, I held her hand, and

she was calling out to her husband and other lost loved ones, and I remember humming a hymn to comfort her,” Linda said.

Linda’s sister tied one of the pink ribbons on the windmill in honor of one of her friends.

“Most of the people on my prayer list are people I know with breast cancer or some type of cancer.

The automatic thing is when you see somebody out, you give them a hug and tell them, ‘I love you.’

It’s an automatic bond of understanding,” Linda said.

She plans on continuing the tradition of displaying ribbons on her windmill every year in September and October.

“I guess I’m just trying to pull them together on this little corner of Aberdeen to show them we love them. Cancer is big but with God, we’re bigger,” Linda said.

ABERDEEN FUNDRAISER FOR ST. JUDE

RAY VAN DUSEN/BUY AT PHOTOS.MONROECOUNTYJOURNAL.COM

Aberdeen Elementary School third-graders wear pink Oct. 23 as part of a fundraiser the school hosted for St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

The fundraiser, also sponsored by the school’s parent teacher organization, also raised awareness for breast cancer awareness month.

Students paid money to wear pink for the day. Overall, the school and PTO made a $500 donation.

East Amory students’ walk honors two survivors at the school

BY ALICE ORTIZ

Monroe Journal

AMORY – East Amory Elementary School fourthgraders held a Breast Cancer Awareness Walk Oct. 8 to honor those who have fought and beat breast cancer and those who continue the fight to beat it. The walk also paid tribute to those who fought valiantly against the disease and lost.

Students dressed in as much pink as they could for the walk. Each student carried pink pieces of paper with names of people who they consider heroes for their courageous battle. Banners with words of encouragement that were made by the teachers and students led the way for each homeroom class. The grand marshall of the parade was EAES' own Angela Hampton, a breast cancer survivor.

The walk was held after the students concluded their study on “Ida B” by Katherine Hannigan. In the book, Ida B's mom "had a lump."

The students learned that the lump was actually breast

cancer. Throughout the book, Mama must take radiation and chemotherapy for her lump. The students learned about the side effects of these treatment options while reading the book. It was an informative learning session for the students. The teachers expressed how much interest this book generated independent reading as well. The fourth grade ELA team felt like a walk was a perfect ending to the book.

Hampton was diagnosed in August 2012 with Stage 2 invasive ductal carcinoma.

“I felt a lump in my left breast and it just stayed there, so I decided to go have it checked out,” said Hampton. “After seeing doctors and having a biopsy, it came back cancer. I had several options of having radiation and part of my breast removed or a mastectomy followed with chemo.That is what I decided to do. I also had some lymph nodes removed."

Hampton had several weeks and rounds of chemo at Bridgepoint in Tupelo. She has regular checkups and now is cancer-free.

ALICE ORTIZ/BUY AT PHOTOS.MONROECOUNTYJOURNAL.COM

East Amory Elementary School employees, Angela Hampton, left, and Earlene Esters, are breast cancer survivors who were honored with a walk through the school.

ALICE ORTIZ/BUY AT PHOTOS.MONROECOUNTYJOURNAL.COM

East Amory Elementary School students line up before the school's walk.

“It is good I went when I did, as the cancer was fast growing,” Hampton said.

“It's important to stay positive and not let it get you down.”

EAES lunchroom employee Earlene Esters was diagnosed in October 2014. A nipple was bleeding, and she called and the gynecologist sent her to Dr. Hoat Hoang. He did a biopsy and it came back cancer.

“No lymph nodes were involved, but I had my breast removed,” said Esters. “I didn't have to take chemo or radiation, but have to take medicine for five years.”

Esters is doing well. She has to see the cancer doctor every six months and Dr. Hoang every three months.

ALICE ORTIZ/BUY AT PHOTOS.MONROECOUNTYJOURNAL.COM She has tests done every East Amory Elementary School students display signs of those they know affected by breast cancer. three months.

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Ribbon

OXFORD CITIZEN

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015

October 13 an important date for Mae Stone

BY JEFF ROBERSON OXFORD CITIZEN

Mae Stone will always remember October 13. Every year of her life it will now mean something different.

Last year it was the day she had surgery for breast cancer. This month it was the one-year anniversary of her being cancer free.

Three months prior to that date last year, her life changed completely.

“August 4, 2014, I got out of the shower and felt a knot under my arm,” said Stone, whose family moved to Oxford in 1964. “I was like ‘What’s that?’ I knew I needed to check it out.”

One reason was her sister, Sue, had breast cancer 12 years earlier. Sue has survived it and continues to live a full life. So Mae went to see a doctor about the situation.

“Maybe it was a tick bite,” she said they told her. “Let’s wait two or three weeks. It was still there. An ultrasound showed nothing.”

Another ultrasound at another office showed something. The next step was a biopsy.

“I went to the surgery center the next day,” Mae said. She got the procedure done and left.

“I was on the way to Kroger to get some pain medicine that was called in.

A friend was driving me in a new vehicle that had a blue tooth. She answers and (the doctor) said ‘We got the result and it’s metastatic.’ I still had enough drug in me (from the biopsy) that I was just like, ‘Oh, OK.’ If they had called me later or the next day, I probably would have had a lot more of a reaction.”

But her course was now set. She had to prepare for whatever was next in her upcoming surgery and recovery. Her father is longtime Oxford physician, Dr. Carroll Stone.

“My friend called my dad and my sister. We all met at dad’s house,” Mae said. “We got through that on that day. The support from family and friends has just been fantastic.”

There was testing to find the tumors and there were ultimately two. The knot under her arm was where cancer had already spread

to the lymph nodes.

“One tumor was contained in the duct. The other was invasive and had spread out to the lymph nodes.” Mae said. “On October 13 they did surgery.

They took out the two tumors and ten nodes; five of those nodes were positive for cancer.”

She went through four rounds of chemotherapy three weeks apart; then 33 radiation treatments.

“There were 28 treatments to the whole area,” Mae said. “Then there were five directly to the tumor area.”

Her family and friends had a “no mo chemo” party for her after the four rounds. That was in February. Her last radiation treatment was on May 15.

There was no party then but a real relief that it was behind her.

Mae said there was some re-evaluation of her life and her work prior to the treatments.

“I did medical transcription for years. I managed dad’s office for years. I continued to work for other offices after he retired,” Mae

Mae Stone said. “(The doctor) said there was no way I could sit at a computer and do that during treatment (for 8-10 hours a day). But instead, I just retired. My younger sister, Melanie, had been trying to get me to retire for some time. She said, ‘Well,

PETRE THOMAS | BUY AT PHOTO.DJOURNAL.COM

it took cancer to finally get you to retire.’ But it was time.”

Mae said she feels good now and certainly her reports have contributed to how she feels. But it has been quite a year and a few months for her since

discovering the knot under her arm.

“I’d never had surgery before. I’d never had any real illness before,” she said.

“From being in the medical field all these years, it was TURN TO MAE PAGE 11

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PAGE 10

OXFORD CITIZEN

PAGE 11

Mistilis knows the meaning of taking care of one's own health

BY JEFF ROBERSON OXFORD CITIZEN

Maggie Mistilis knew her life was changing in December, 2008, when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“Everything changes when you hear you have cancer,” said Maggie, the wife of John Mistilis. “I just went into overdrive with all these emotions. Thank goodness John went with me to all my appointments.

You need someone with a different set of ears than yours. Your mind is going in so many different directions.”

There is one recurring theme we seem to always hear when a breast cancer patient has a lot of distance between the present and when they were first diagnosed.

“We caught it early,” Maggie said.

But there was a lot to go through in the months after her diagnosis.

“It was micro invasive ductal carcinoma. My doctors were wonderful. I had two lumpectomies within a ten-day period. Then I had 36 radiation treatments at the diagnostic center here.

My care was excellent. I could not have gotten better care.”

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Maggie Mistilis Maggie had seen the affects of what cancer can do on loved ones and also the positive side of recovery.

Many in her immediate family have dealt with cancer personally, “My mother had breast cancer and colon cancer when she was in her late 60s or early 70s. She’s 93 years old now,” Maggie said. “My younger sister was diagnosed with breast cancer about 13 or 14 years ago.

She’s still here. So I come

Mae FROM PAGE 10

‘OK, this is what I’ve got.’ I did fine.

“I was covered in prayer from people here in Oxford to Cape Cod where my sister lives to a friend in Australia. My sisters had t-shirts made with ‘Team Mae’ on them. It says ‘Love Mae’ on there. Dad even has one. My friend in Australia has one. I have had so much support and prayers.”

from good, strong stock.

“We had not had a history in my family of breast cancer. My mother’s, as I understand, was estrogen based.

Mine nor my sister’s was estrogen based. It was sort of bad luck, we were told.”

But those aren’t the only ones in her family who have dealt with cancer.

“Out of seven children, six of us have had cancer,” she said. “I lost my oldest brother in 1989. I lost my second brother this Febru-

She attributes how her body reacted to the treatments to those people and their prayers.

“You hear so many horror stories with cancer,” she said. “The nausea, the vomiting, the mouth sores. I didn’t have any of it. I lost my hair and I’ve got it back now.

There were two times I broke down and cried.”

One was when the doctor told her she could not do as much as she had in the past with mission work called “Operation Christmas Child.” And then when her hair was cut.

ary. Somewhere in there there’s something that has made us susceptible to getting it.”

But there’s a lot of unknown as to why. They simply have dealt with it and continued to move on. Her family has always been strong.

“We grew up on a farm in Kansas and Oklahoma. My family moved here. My dad was in the cattle business, and that’s what brought us here. I’m from Columbus,

“I had taken a shower and it started coming out. My sister, Melanie, was home in early December. I had all my support team right here – my two sisters and my dad. I said, ‘Y’all need to cut my hair tonight.’ It was a real emotional time. But after that, it was no big deal.”

Operation Christmas Child is a big part of her life. Already there are shoe boxes sitting in her home awaiting the time they will be sent overseas to children who don’t have anything at Christmas.

That is but one reason why

went to the W and graduated in education. I taught school for 34 years; 26 of those in Oxford.

“I’ve been retired for three years, but that didn’t last long for me. I got my real estate license and was offered this job part-time. I’m a leasing agent property manager at Solo. I make sure things are taken care of, the physical property and make sure the tenants have what they need.”

She likes her job. It’s four hours a day and she knows there will be some routine in it.

“It’s perfect,” Maggie said.

“It keeps me current with the college students and gives me a routine and schedule. Teachers like a routine and schedule.”

Being a teacher in the Oxford School District had also been a positive when it came to knowing her doctors.

“I had taught all my doctors’ children, so I had a personal relationship with them as well as a professional relationship,” Maggie said. “They took excellent care of me. They were quick to act and also encouraging about my diagnosis. The type of cancer I had has like a 95 percent success rate of survival. I was very fortunate

Christmas will be special this year.

“I feel good physically,” she said. “Everything keeps coming back fine. I’ve got a good outlook.”

She encourages women, and men, to keep their health a priority as well as take precautions.

“My life is in God’s hands. He’s brought me through this,” Mae said, a relay center coordinator for Operation Christmas Child at the Wesley Foundation. “I’m very thankful, very grateful, and I’m looking forward to many more years of Operation Christmas Child.”

in that.”

There is always that distance from time of diagnosis and surgery as well as treatments that makes a patient feel better. The farther from the beginning of the problem, the better.

“Five years seems to be the gold standard, and maybe you can take a little bit of a deep breath,” she said. “I remember getting to that five-year mark and just thinking how fortunate I was.

“We all know people who have been affected by breast cancer, and you want to believe everyone is going to have a happy ending. But the reality is that some don’t.”

Support is extremely important, according to Maggie.

“As teachers you become a part of a real tight community. My teacher friends were wonderful. And the people at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church were wonderful.”

Her advice to others?Take care of those you love and all those around you. But never forget about yourself when it comes to your own wellbeing.

“When it comes to taking care of your health,” she said,“you’ve got to put yourself first.”

One thing that gave her assurance of her recovery was the day she drove home from her last radiation treatment.

“I usually don’t listen to much in the car,” Mae said. “ But I had the radio on AFR and there was a song that came on. ‘I am not alone. You will go before me. You will never leave me.’ The very last day of radiation.

“I thought, ‘I wish I had heard that at the beginning (of her journey with breast cancer). But He was there all along from day one.

And I knew it.”

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015

Wednesday, October 28, 2015 • Pontotoc Progress • pontotoc360.com

Page 7B

Tough Men Wear Pink: Facts about male breast cancer.

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1. It is estimated that 2,350 men in the US will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015.

2. There are new cases of invasive breast cancer (includes new cases of primary breast cancer among survivors, but not recurrence of original breast cancer survivors) 3. Survival rates for men are about the same for women with the same stage of cancer at the time of diagnosis.

4. The most common sign of breast cancer in men is a painless lump or thickening of the breast and chest area.

5. In men, most breast cancers begin in the milk ducts. (facts from ww5.komen.org)

Wednesday, October 28, 2015 • Pontotoc Progress • pontotoc-progress.com

Page 6B

REGINA BUTLER Progress Staff Writer

After finding a knot in her breast last October, Ecru resident Ramona Hood made an appointment at the Ecru Medical Clinic.

“At the clinic they told me it was indeed a knot and sent me to the breast care center in Tupelo.”

A mammogram, ultrasound and four biopsies later, the doctor confirmed what Ramona already knew in her heart. “I had cancer.”

However, what surprised her was “she told me one of the knots was cancer but it wasn’t the one I felt. It was another one.”

Her news came after 10 days of uncertainty. “The waiting was the worst part. She called me on the phone at 3 in the afternoon. I was in shock.

“Nobody ever wants to hear that and you really have no control over it.” She stopped and grew somber.

“You hear all of your life that God is in control and you believe it, but there are times when you have to surrender to it and know that He is in control and that includes during breast cancer.”

Ramona had the knot removed from her right breast on November 10, and the doctor assured her that he got everything.

In her mind, that was it, surgery and she was done.

Two weeks later at the followup visit with her pathologist she was given some more new that knocked her to her knees.

“He said that the type of cancer I had was called Her 2 positive which is estrogen fed. It is also extremely aggressive.

“I had no history of cancer in my family. Her 2 is not hereditary.”

That meant she would have to endure six chemotherapy treatments as well as 30 radiation treatments.

“I told my doctor I was going to get a second opinion. I went to the Jones clinic and they confirmed the diagnoses.”

Her chemotherapy treatments went through March, “I had to delay the last one because my immune system was down.”

The radiation treatments started in April, five days a week, “I had to

take a week off in April then start again in May,” she said.

And even though she is through with all the treatments, life still reminds her that she has cancer.

“I'm taking a special drug until December. It is like an antibiotic against Her 2 and I’m taking a hormone pill for five years.”

In spite of it all she said she still believes “I am blessed. You feel like it is a death sentence, but it is not.

“Had it not been for my family and friends I don’t believe I would have gone back for the second treatment.

“I was in denial. I was angry and depressed. Was I being punished?

Why was this happening to me?”

But soon she would learn what submitting to God in spite of the pain would mean.

“Anything in this life you go through, whether it is cancer, finances, a wayward child, we can’t do it by ourselves.

“I finally had to come to terms to dying to myself.”

Her moment of truth came the third day after one of her chemo treatments.

“I was in bed for three days.

There was no amount of medicine that could kill the pain. There is no sleep. I’m lying on the couch crying out to God asking why.

“And it was like a whisper, ‘So you can help others.’”

It gave her a whole new meaning for life in spite of the pain.

“It’s hard. It’s rough and it’s not over,” she consented. “It takes everything out of you.”

Her strongest support through it all was her son, Ty. “He was there with me. He took care of me. He cooked and cleaned and washed clothes. He was between college and a job. God sent him home just for these moments and we drew incredibly close together through all of this.”

And Ramona said her “church family was also there. They came with tons of food. If I needed anything it would be there.”

Now that she is beginning to go “through the valley of the shadow of death” Ramona is coming out of it “better and wiser. I am more aware

“I had no history of cancer in my family.

Her 2 is not hereditary.”

of my health and take care of myself.” And she had some sage advice for other women.

“Whether you have a family or not, slow down and take care of yourself. All these people you are taking care of need you.”

She herself had a hard time accepting the care of others. “After the third treatment I couldn’t even sweep the floor. There were a lot of dark nights and long days.”

Her experiences has brought her across the path of many people.

“Strangers become friends and friends become family.

“I’ve learned a lot about medicines and how caring the doctors and nurses are. They are awesome sweet people.”

And through those long dark nights and days God brought His sweet assurance to her through His word. “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

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Romans 8:18” One of the darkest things for her to go through was losing her hair.

“My best friend Tabitha Homan cut it for me the day after Christmas. I’d put it off and put it off because I couldn’t believe I was loosing my hair. She didn’t want to do it, but that’s what best friends do.” Ramona grew somber.

“I didn’t look at myself for three days.”

After that she began to wear scarves and hats. Today her hair is beginning to grow out.

“Tim [her husband] was my strong tower. My heart goes out to people who have cancer. Until you go through it you don’t know how to respond.

“It slows you down. It teaches you not to take things for granted. I was led down that path of growth.

He was all I had. Nothing except God can get you through cancer.”

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Ramona Hood