a b o dy & m o r e p u b l i c at i o n
Breast Cancer AWARENESS
Sunday, OctOber 19, 2014
G2 • The Sentinel
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Cancer care as personalized as it is advanced.
You can take comfort in knowing you’ll receive quality care at Carlisle Regional Cancer Center. Our multidisciplinary approach means more minds are helping you fight cancer. You’ll receive a personalized treatment plan that utilizes advanced methods and technology such as RapidArc® radiotherapy, which can dramatically shorten treatment sessions. And on-site services, including chemotherapy, fluid hydration and labs, offer special convenience. We’re also affiliated with Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, providing you with greater access to recent medical advancements. At Carlisle Regional Cancer Center, you can count on experienced, compassionate physicians who will stand by your side during your journey through treatment. For more information, call 717-960-3750 or visit CarlisleRMC.com.
Sunday, October 19, 2014
The Sentinel • G3
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS | RECOVERY
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After the Treatment
earing the words “you’re CANCER FREEv CAN BE A LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE for people who have just struggled through strenuous rounds of treatment. They can also be the beginning of a new chapter full of challenges in its own right. FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENTS
9OUR PHYSICIANS WILL WANT TO WATCH YOU CLOSELY FOLLOWING YOUR SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT $URING YOUR FOLLOW UP APPOINTMENTS YOU WILL BE ASKED ABOUT any problems or sicknesses you may be experiencing. It is crucial to answer all questions as truthfully and detailed as possible. This will help your PHYSICIANS STAY ON TOP OF YOUR STILL SENSITIVE MEDICAL SITUATION 9OUR VISITS WILL ALSO INCLUDE EXAMS 8 RAYS OR SCANS TO UNCOVER ANY SIGNS OF TREATMENT SIDE EFFECTS &OLLOW UP APPOINTMENTS ARE GENERALLY SCHEDULED every three to six months, and will decrease in frequency the longer you are CANCER FREE 9OUR CANCER CHECK MAY BE MOVED TO ONCE A YEAR AFTER FIVE YEARS
DEALING WITH THE FEAR
Fear of recurrence is a common emotion for people who have had cancer. Though the anxiety may lessen over the months and years after a successful round of treatments, it is important to learn how to deal with these feelings instead of simply ignoring them. -ANY CANCER SURVIVOR SUPPORT GROUPS ARE AVAILABLE TO HELP YOU REALIZE THE MAGNITUDE OF YOUR ACHIEVEMENT IN NOT ONLY ATTAINING A CANCER FREE DIAGNOSIS but also for persevering through the difficult treatments. Talking to others about the positives you have gained through your experience can be the UPLIFTING EXPERIENCE YOU NEED TO HELP YOU REACH YOUR POST TREATMENT GOALS
HEALTH INSURANCE
It is absolutely crucial to maintain quality health insurance, even after A SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT EXPERIENCE 4HE COSTS OF FOLLOW UP APPOINTMENTS additional testing and further treatment from unforeseen recurrence can add up in a hurry. Ensuring that your health insurance will help incur some of these charges can help you stay focused on staying healthy instead of worrying about substantial medical bills.
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G4 • The Sentinel
Sunday, October 19, 2014
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS | FACTS AND FIGURES
Breast Cancer: By the Numbers
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esearchers may not be satisfied until the numbers ARE ZERO BUT BREAST CANCER related death and incidence rates are on the decline. 4HE NON PROFIT "REASTCANCER ORG RECENTLY RELEASED THE FOLLOWING ARRAY OF STATISTICS RELATED TO BREAST CANCER 6ISIT THE ORGANIZATION S WEBSITE FOR A FULL list of the statistics, as well as helpful resources and information on emerging research related to breast cancer. s !BOUT PERCENT OF !MERICAN WOMEN ONE IN EIGHT WILL DEVELOP invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. s "REAST CANCER INCIDENCE RATES HAVE STEADILY DECREASED IN THE 5 3 SINCE 2000. Researchers credit the drop to the reduced use of hormone replace ment therapy by women after the results of the revolutionary Women’s (EALTH )NITIATIVE THAT SUGGESTED A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE THERAPY and breast cancer risk. s "ESIDES SKIN CANCER BREAST CANCER IS THE MOST COMMONLY DIAGNOSED CANCER AMONG !MERICAN WOMEN *UST LESS THAN PERCENT OF CANCERS IN women are breast cancers. s #AUCASIAN WOMEN ARE SLIGHTLY MORE LIKELY TO DEVELOP BREAST CANCER THAN !FRICAN !MERICAN WOMEN (OWEVER IN WOMEN UNDER BREAST CANCER IS MORE COMMON IN !FRICAN !MERICAN WOMEN THAN #AUCASIAN WOMEN s -ORE THAN MILLION WOMEN IN THE 5 3 HAD A HISTORY OF BREAST cancer in 2013. s !BOUT PERCENT OF BREAST CANCER CAN BE LINKED TO GENE MUTATIONS inherited from one’s mother or father. s !BOUT PERCENT OF BREAST CANCER OCCURS IN WOMEN WHO HAVE NO family history of the disease. These occur due to genetic mutations that happen as a result of the aging process and life in general, rather than inherited mutations.
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The Sentinel • G5
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G6 • The Sentinel
Sunday, October 19, 2014
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS | WHAT TO EAT
Diet Linked to Cancer
E
at well and exercise. How often are we advised by medical professionals that these two simple lifestyle choices can help us live longer, healthier lives?
Well, recent international research on the link between high-fat diets and breast cancer only strengthens the validity of the guidance. The Epic Breast Cancer Study researched more than 300,000 women in 10 European countries, and its results were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. The study found that a high-fat diet increases the risk of the most common form of breast cancer by one-fifth. A 28-percent rise in risk is attached to heavy consumption of saturated fat, which is what comes from butter, lard, cuts of meat and some dairy products. The study amplified the call for women to eat healthier to improve their odds of avoiding breast cancer. More research is being done in the area through another study called Women’s Healthy Eating and Living (WHEL), which is looking into how diets rich in fruits and vegetables and low in fat can help reduce breast cancer recurrence.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
If you or someone you know struggles to maintain a healthy diet, you can take these steps: • Lower Your Fat Intake: Sounds simple, but what does it mean? Fruits and vegetables have less fat and more fiber than animal products. Most are packed with helpful nutrients, so be sure to mix them in throughout the day. If you’re not likely to sit down and eat an entire carrot for a snack, chop one up and add it to your salad or spaghetti sauce. • Variety is Key: Research has shown that the healthiest way to make sure your body is nutrient-rich is to consume a wide variety of foods. Fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains are all great diet options on their own, but even more effective when working together to fuel your body.
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The Sentinel • G7
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Patrick races against cancer By Mike Brudenell The Sidney (Ohio) Daily News Danica Patrick will wear and drive pink at Charlotte Motor Speedway on tonight for a worthy cause. She’ll be at the wheel of the No. 10 GoDaddy Breast Cancer Awareness Chevrolet in the Bank of America 500. The car will be in full pink trim, and her primary sponsor, GoDaddy.com, will donate $50,000 to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Patrick, who runs for Stewart-Haas Racing, recently had a friend test positive for the breast cancer gene, so Saturday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race means a lot to her. “My friend had a double
mastectomy as a preemptive strike because she actually tested positive,” Patrick said in a team release this week. “She went through everything and hopefully (has) avoided it, but it hit close to home. I think far too many people know someone affected by this disease. We wanted to do something a little different this year and honor people who have fought this disease.” Patrick often cops flak over her driving skills, although she has finished in the top 20 in six of her last eight races, including a Sprint Cup career-best sixth in August at Atlanta Motor Speedway. But for a high-profile competitor, who some suggest is pampered, I’ve found Patrick to be one of the easiest and best drivers to inter-
view, one who finds time to talk and has something interesting to say. And she regularly makes herself available not only for reporters but for fans, too, which can be tough on race weekends with practice, qualifying and the race. An example of this was her meeting at her motor coach with Jonathon Wilk, 12, of Clinton Township at Michigan International Speedway in August. Jonathon’s mother, Allison, died in 2012 in tragic circumstances. Patrick spent 15 minutes with Jonathon before racing her car, also arranging for pit passes and red-carpet treatment for him and family members. “Danica was very nice and gracious,” said Larry Wilk,
62, Jonathon’s grandfather. “It’s a memory I’m sure Jonathon will always remember. It brought great happiness into his life.” On Saturday, Patrick races against breast cancer. She’ll do the same at Talladega and Martinsville in October as part of GoDaddy’s “Put the Brakes on Cancer” campaign. “It is fun to race at Charlotte because lots of the (race) crews have young kids and it is fun to meet them and see them around the hauler,” said Patrick, who qualified fourth at Charlotte in May. Easy enough to say, but NASCAR is a family and Patrick backs up her words. Just ask Jonathon Wilk and his grandparents, Larry and Sue.
Pink shoes mark month The Sidney (Ohio) Daily News LOS ANGELES — Athletic Propulsion Labs has partnered with the Wome n ’s C a n ce r Re sea rc h Fund, a charitable program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation, by releasing two special shoes for Breast Cancer Awareness month. APL will donate 10 percent of the gross sales price for each pair of the APL men’s and women’s TechLoom Pro (pink/pink) and Vision Low men’s basketball shoe in Pink/Pink sold through December to the Women’s Cancer Research Fund, with a minimum guaranteed donation of $2,500 for the limited release. The TechLoom Pro utilizes the woven TechLoom technology. Bright pink
covers the majority of the upper, while the remainder is a melange of pinks and raspberries, making the shoe standout in a crowd. Additional details include a pink ribbon logo applied to each heel, and special sock liners stamped with “Hope” and “Cure.” The Propelium midsole adds comfort, and a clear rubber outsole rounds out the package. The Vision Low combines an upper of patented Load ‘N Launch technology. A vibrant pink and raspberry upper are accented by a touch of metallic silver, while the clear rubber outsole shows way to a collection of inspirational words including strength, beauty, family, and courage, to name a few. The same “Hope” and “Cure” sock liners are present here, as well as a pink ribbon logo on the tongue.
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G8 • The Sentinel
Sunday, October 19, 2014
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS | DETECTION
Mammography Programs
D
efined simply as an X-ray of the breast, a mammogram is recommended once per year by the American Cancer Society for women ages 40 and older.
The process can help find cancers that can’t be felt. And though it’s imperfect, the technology behind mammograms continues to improve – as does the research driving the importance of mammograms to critical early detection of breast cancer.
NATIONAL MAMMOGRAPHY PROGRAM
The National Breast Cancer Foundation is partnering with medical facilities across the country to provide free mammograms and diagnostic breast care services to underserved women. The group requires that participating medical facilities have the capability to continue treatment after an abnormal finding or diagnosis of breast cancer. Check out the foundation’s online program portal, which can help you find local facilities within the group’s network: http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/nationalmammography-program.
3-D MAMMOGRAPHY
A more modern type of mammography, known as 3-D mammography or tomosynthesis, is expected to be used
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by millions of women in an attempt to detect breast cancer this year. Some experts say this new mammogram can increase the detection of cancer while simultaneously reducing the numer of false positives. Because the technology is so new, though, the long-term
verdict about its effectiveness is still not conclusive. More and more clinics are moving toward 3-D mammography as an option. If they’re available in your area, ask your doctor about the benefits and drawbacks — including cost — of this type of mammogram.
MAMMOGRAPHY COMPLIANCE
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration requires certification for any facility offering mammography. This is done to ensure adherence with high standards of safety and quality.
If the FDA certificate is not posted in plain view at your doctor’s office, ask the receptionist to let you see it before undergoing your mammogram. It is a simple request that will give you peace of mind during what can already be an emotionally challenging process for many women.
The Sentinel • G9
Sunday, October 19, 2014
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS | COMMUNICATION
Talking with Your Doctor
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ou are obviously your own best resource for detecting and reporting breast abnormalities that can lead to the diagnosis of breast cancer. The next strongest partner can be your physician, who is equipped with the tools and knowledge to confirm, deny or treat the onset of the disease. It is important to keep an open dialogue with your physician on any issues you may be having. Remember, your doctor is here to help, which cannot be done without your full disclosure.
BE HONEST, BE OPEN
We live in a society of oversharing. Facebook, Twitter and other social media provoke people to indulge details better left out of the public spotlight. So why are we still afraid to talk to our physicians about truly important information? When it comes to finding a lump or noticing that you’re feeling a bit “off,” you should be comfortable and confident in reporting to your doctor. Doing so quickly can make all the difference.
QUESTIONS TO ASK
So how do you proceed if you are diagnosed with breast cancer? The following questions can help get you started. s 7HAT TYPE OF CANCER DO ) HAVE AND HOW WILL WE treat it? s 7HAT RISKS AND SIDE EFFECTS ARE POSSIBLE WITH TREATMENT s (OW CAN ) PREPARE PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY FOR treatment? s 3HOULD ) CONSIDER TAKING PART IN GENETIC TESTING OR A CLINICAL trial? s 7HAT ARE THE CHANCES MY CANCER WILL RECUR AFTER THE treatment programs we have discussed? s 3HOULD ) ALTER MY DIET OR LIFESTYLE NOW AND AFTER treatment?
OTHER TIPS
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Be sure to write down your own questions that may not be on the above list. And once you wrap up your discussion, remember to request any medical records, pathology reports or radiology reports from your physician. This information will be critical in ensuring a smooth process should you request a second opinion from another doctor or medial facility.
G10 • The Sentinel
Sunday, October 19, 2014
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS | AGE FACTORS
Breast Cancer in Younger Women
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ost breast cancer is found in women ages 50 years and older, but this doesn’t mean that younger women are immune from the disease. About 11 percent of all new breast cancer cases in the United States are found in women younger than 45, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And unless they have witnessed a relative or friend go through the diagnosis and treatment process, young women can find it overwhelming to find out they have breast cancer.
WHO IS AT RISK?
The CDC identifies certain segments of the population to be at an increased risk of getting breast cancer at an early age, compared with other women their age. Here are some factors to consider: s 9OU HAVE CLOSE RELATIVES PARENTS SIBLINGS OR CHILDREN WHO WERE diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer when they were younger than 45. This is especially true if more than one relative was diagnosed or if a male relative had breast cancer. s 9OU HAVE AN !SHKENAZI *EWISH HERITAGE s 9OU WERE TREATED WITH RADIATION THERAPY TO THE BREAST OR CHEST during childhood or early adulthood.
WHAT TO DO
The most crucial action you can take as a young woman with an INCREASED RISK FOR BREAST CANCER IS TALKING TO YOUR DOCTOR 9OUR physician may suggest you consider genetic counseling and be tested for mutations in your gene structure. Another recommendation may be to receive mammograms earlier and more often than other women, or if other screening tests may be right for your particular situation.
RESEARCH
)N THE #$# AWARDED FUNDING TO SEVEN ORGANIZATIONS FOR A nationwide collaboration focusing on education and support for young breast cancer survivors. Among the group are outreach ORGANIZATIONS AND TOP TIER UNIVERSITIES WITH GOALS TO SHED LIGHT ON the reasons behind breast cancer occurring at a young age, and what women can do to bounce back after a cancer diagnosis.
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The Sentinel • G11
Sunday, October 19, 2014
880 Century Drive, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 (717) 691-3235
H S H .O R G
G12 • The Sentinel
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Firefighters raise cancer awareness By Jennifer R. Vertullo The (Greensburg) Tribune-Review McKeesport firefighters are putting an artistic spin on their annual effort to raise funds and awareness for a local breast cancer foundation. International Association of Fire Fighters Local 10’s fourth annual T-shirt sale to benefit the Kristy Lasch Miracle Foundation is happening in conjunction with another project that focuses on overcoming breast cancer. “In the fire service, the word ‘hero’ gets thrown around a lot, and we don’t take that lightly,” firefighter Matt Holtzman said. “People come into the station all the time just to visit us, learn something or see the trucks. When people come to the station, we want them to see who our heroes are.” At the city’s No. 2 fire station along Eden Park Boulevard in Renziehausen Park, the union will permanently display an old fire hydrant that was refurbished and painted pink in honor of
those battling breast cancer. Throughout October, which is national Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the hydrant will sit in the station’s vestibule awaiting the signatures of those who have survived or are battling breast cancer. Those who want to sign the hydrant are asked to stop by between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. any day. Dave Gillie of the Municipal Authority of the City of McKeesport volunteered his time and artistic talent to what he feels is a worthy cause. “ I g r i n d e d a n d w i re brushed the old hydrant for a smooth surface before spraying it with powder and baking it at 400 degrees,” Gillie said. “There’s about 24 hours’ worth of work in it.” In more than 10 years of doing that type of work, Gillie said the hydrant is his favorite project. “This is the coolest thing I’ve done,” he said. “It’s the best because it’s for charity.” The hydrant will help Local 10 promote its 2014 Tshirt design, which features a pink hydrant. Shirts are available in adult
sizes S-2XL for $15, 3XL and 4XL for $17 and youth S-L for $10. Orders can be placed online at mckeesportfirefighters.org. “As a fire department, we like to make our impact reach beyond our everyday service to the citizens of McKeesport,” Local 10 president Jeff Tomovcsik said. “We’re not just the guys on the fire trucks. We’re out in the community raising funds for local charities.” The union has been supporting the Kristy Lasch Miracle Foundation with Tshirt sales for four years. Tom and Lynn Lasch of McKeesport started the foundation in memory of their daughter, who died on Oct. 3, 2004, at 26. Kristy Lasch had a vision to help young breast cancer patients manage their medical bills. To date, the foundation has given more than $165,000 to 92 patients younger than 30. Jennifer R. Vertullo is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 412-664-9161 ext. 1956, or jvertullo@tribweb.com
PLAN AHEAD!
Survivor sells jewelry to aid cancer patients in need The Paducah (Ky.) Sun For her 50th birthday Icy Gardner implored her friends not to give her any presents, and they didn’t. They gave her a “moneytree” instead. Gardner used some of the money to take a trip, and the rest to buy some beautiful beads. She started making jewelry, and she’s been making jewelry ever since. “I do it for the joy of creating,” Gardner said. “I do it to help fight cancer.” Your Fight helps local cancer patients in need with necessities such as transportation to treatments. Gardner, a breast cancer survivor, has donated proceeds from her jewelry sales to Relay For Life in the
past and is excited to partner with Your Fight, another worthy, cancer-fighting cause. “I was fortunate when I had my cancer,” Gardner said. “I had a job. I had insurance. I had coverage and friends to help me, but if you don’t have all of the above it makes it that much harder.” Your Fight got its start about a year and a half ago during a Baptist Health radiation department brainstorming session. “A bunch of us back here in the radiation department and cancer program were trying to think of ways we could help our patients,” said Baptist Health radiation therapy technician Jason Heilig. “Some of our
patients weren’t able to get rides to their treatments, or some just weren’t able to make ends meet. That’s how it all got started.” With a substantial donation from Texas Roadhouse last year and several smaller fundraisers since, Your Fight has already raised more than $20,000 to help Baptist Health cancer patients. Gardner’s “Frostings by Icy” jewelry collection features gemstones, Swarovski crystal, glass, pearls, and ceramic beads, and a percentage of the proceeds from today’s sale will go directly to Your Fight. Contact Genevieve Postlethwait, a Paducah Sun staff writer, at 270-575-8651 or at gpostlethwait@paducahsun.com.
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The Sentinel • G13
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Woman passionate about the Pin-A-Sister Program and about sharing her sisters’ stories By Chanda Green The (Carbondale, Ill.) Southern Illinoisan Rosi Ervin is a retired nurse. She has a health ministry as and a parish nurse at Rock Hill Baptist Church in Carbondale, where she serves as an educator, advisor and advocate. She works with the Jackson County Health Department and Southern Illinois Healthcare in promoting many different health programs, and for the last four years, she’s served as the Pin-A-Sister coordinator in Carbondale. Pin-A-Sister is a faithbased, breast cancer awareness program that was launched in 2007 in Chicago and has spread throughout the US and to Mexico, South America and Africa. The program provides education, information and support to African-American and Hispanic women, symbolized by pink ribbons that the women pin on each other at their gatherings while making commitments to have regular breast exams and mammograms. Millions have been screened for breast cancer because of the Pin-A-Sister program. Rosi is passionate about Pin-A-Sister and about her mission, to get the word out. She’s a tiny thing, short and thin, with a close crop of gray hair that she almost always covers with a fashionable hat, but get her started talking about her sisters, the cancer survivors she regularly recruits to spread her message of prevention, and she takes on a larger-thanlife persona. “I cut my hair short to get people talking,” she said.
“I take off my hat and they ask if I have cancer. I haven’t ever had that burden, but it gets women talking and that’s what’s important.” Rosi gathers her sisters together every chance she gets. Yes, she’s probably the loudest, most outgoing and most obvious person in any room, but just let her sisters start talking and Rosi gladly takes a back seat. “When the survivors start talking, you can watch the stories start to touch the women who are listening,” she said. “Each story will resonate with different women and motivate them. I just get them together, get them talking, then pass out my materials, so that they know where to go or what number to call to get the information or service they need.” Melissa Johnson of Carbondale is one of Rosi’s sisters. She was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 30. She had her lumpectomy in 1996, followed by weeks of radiation and chemotherapy. She refused any additional treatment, even though some were advocating more. “I knew my body and I had done my homework,” she said. “The American Cancer Society’s Reach for Recovery Program helped me to educate myself and allowed me to be an advocate for myself, to ask all my questions and keep asking until I got answers, to challenge what I was being told or not being told, so I could make the best decision for me.” Melissa doesn’t like to be called a cancer survivor. “That sounds like someone who’s been through
a disaster like a tornado, something that is probably never going to happen again. That’s not what happened to me. I had cancer and I lived through it. I’m living proof that you can have cancer and recover, and that you can be your own advocate.” Sister Jackie Weston of Carbondale was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004. What followed was a biopsy, a lumpectomy, and numerous appointments with her oncologist and radiation oncologist. “What I learned is that your spiritual life plays a big part in your recovery. “My co-workers put me on their prayer lists,” Jackie said. “You have to stay positive and to do that you need a good support system. If it’s not your family, then it can be your friends or your church or work family or other women who know, first hand, what you’re going through. That’s why this program of Rosi’s is so important. That’s why I come when she calls.” Sister Linda Roberson of Marion was 45 when she had her first mammogram, and she was 45 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She knew she had a lump, but she had had ignored it. “A month later, the lump was still there, so I knew I had to go see about it,” she said. “It was a mass that needed further examination, the doctors told me. I went in for a biopsy, then prayed about it and was blessed with other spiritual women who were praying for me.” Linda’s mass was malignant and she underwent a lumpectomy, but tests showed that it had not
spread to her lymph nodes. After that, she was told that she needed chemotherapy and radiation, but she took some time and gathered her family around her to talk about her condition before she made the decision. “ I m a d e i n fo r m a t i o n packets for each of my five siblings, all they needed to know about breast cancer, and invited each of them to offer their opinion and asked each of them for their support,” she said. “I had a great support system along with my God, the supreme physician.” After much prayer, Linda decided to have the chemotherapy, two rounds, fol-
lowed by radiation treatment and five years of follow-up exams and medication. Fifteen years later, Linda is very much cancer free and very thankful. “I was in God’s hands. That’s how I looked at it and how I still see it,” she said. “I rest in God’s hands today. I may not know the future, but I know who holds the future.” The other women nod their heads and offer up a chorus of “Amen.” While her sisters were telling their stories, Rosi sat back, smiling and nodding, offering a wink or a pat on the arm when she thought they were needed. And af-
ter all of the stories had been told, she had the last word. “You can see why this work is so important to me,” she said. “It’s about empowerment. It’s about gathering with other women who know what you’re talking about because they’ve been through it.” Rosi’s latest project is starting a support group in the area, women who have some experience with breast cancer, who can meet at least once a month to share their stories and their support. She’s laying the groundwork and getting the word out. So, if you’re interested, call Rosi at (618) 5030268.
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G14 • The Sentinel
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Cancer survivor builds awareness with new program By Paul Swiech The (Bloomington, Il.) Pantagraph BLOOMINGTON — Katie Bertsche was 28 when she was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer. Her two-year odyssey included chemotherapy, removal of both breasts, breast reconstruction, radiation, the unrelated and unexpected death of her husband and a second reconstruction of her right breast. But Bertsche’s painful journey has prompted her to look outward rather than inward. She is among 10 Central Illinois breast cancer survivors who have agreed to serve as BRA (breast reconstruction awareness) ambassadors in a new program offered by Dr. Paige Holt of Twin City Plastic Surgery in conjunction with OSF St. Joseph Medical Center. “I like to help people. That’s who I am,” said Bertsche, now 31, of Bloomington. “I met a lot of people who helped me. Why wouldn’t I do the same for someone else?” “Our BRA ambassadors are amazing, brave and strong women in the community who were diagnosed with breast cancer, were treated, chose breast reconstruction and are willing to talk with other women about their life experiences,” Holt said. What questions can women facing breast cancer ask Bertsche during upcoming BRA ambassador events? “I’m an open book,” she said. Three years ago, Bertsche was doing a breast self exam when she detected a lump in her right breast. Subsequent testing confirmed stage 3 breast cancer, meaning the cancer had expanded be-
yond the breast. “I didn’t think, at 28, that’s what it would be,” she told The Pantagraph. “My reaction was not something that you could print in the newspaper.” Over about six months at the Community Cancer Center in Normal, Bertsche had four rounds of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, meaning chemo before surgery to shrink the tumor. Fo l l o w i n g c h e m o , Bertsche chose to have both breasts removed rather than just the right breast. She wanted to reduce the odds of facing breast cancer again. She had a double mastectomy in February 2012 and had immediate breast reconstruction using silicone implants. “I thought, if they could get it done all at one time, I would love that,” Bertsche recalled. While the surgeries were a success, subsequent radiation therapy to reduce the risk of recurrence ruined her right breast implant. “At that time, I thought I would get a break,” she said. “It didn’t happen.” She began to cry. It was at that time, she explained, that her husband, Ryan, died unexpectedly of heart disease. When she was ready several months later, in May 2013, she had a second reconstruction of her right breast. This time, tissue for the implant was removed from her back. “You spend a lot of time with your reconstructive surgeon,” Bertsche said. But she liked the environment so much that she changed careers. Since April, she has been spa manager for Twin City Plastic Surgery and Oasis Medical Spa & Wellness in Bloomington. Meanwhile, Holt was
aware that only 23 percent of women know about their post-surgery breast reconstruction options, including immediate or delayed reconstruction and using your own tissue or an implant. Reconstruction can happen over a series of appointments, but some women may be eligible for directto-implant reconstruction, Holt said. Available options depend on the type of cancer, its location, the woman’s anatomy and patient preference. “I have a one-hour-long consultation with each patient as we formulate a plan based on the patient’s desires and her pathology,” Holt said. In addition to not knowing that they may have reconstruction options, many women don’t know that health insurance, including Medicare, are mandated to cover the cost of post-surgery breast reconstruction because it is considered part of the treatment, not cosmetic, Holt said. Holt knew the American Society for Plastic Surgery in conjunction with the Plastic Surgery Foundation offered breast reconstruction awareness grants. She brought it to the attention of the OSF St. Joseph Foundation, which applied for a grant on behalf of OSF St. Joseph Medical Center, in collaboration with Holt’s practice, said Jennifer Sedbrook, foundation executive director. A grant of nearly $10,000 was awarded, said Amanda Pope, women’s service line leader for OSF’s Eastern Region. The money will cover costs associated with a public program, Innovations in Breast Care, that will be from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Nov. 13 at St. Joseph’s Center for Healthy Lifestyles, and for the BRA
ambassador program. “ We wa n t wo m e n to know, not only their breast reconstruction options, but that breast reconstruction should be a part of the conversation before breast treatment, not after it,” Pope said. BRA ambassadors will be available to speak with service clubs and church groups, at health fairs and during work site lunchand-learn programs, Holt said. “We’ve been through it,” Bertsche said of herself and fellow BRA ambassadors. “One positive thing about my cancer journey is that I’ve met a lot of awesome people,” she said. “I am the best that I can be of the new me. “Now, I want to help in any way I can.”
The Associated Press
Katie Bertsche, center, poses for a portrait during the Race for the Cure in Bloomington in 2011 with her husband, Ryan, and sister-in-law, Sarah Bertsche. Katie had been diagnosed with breast cancer earlier that year. Ryan died unexpectedly in 2012.
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Sunday, October 19, 2014
The Sentinel • G15
G16 • The Sentinel
Sunday, October 19, 2014
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