Think
Pink
What to watch for Possible early warning signs for breast cancer and screening suggestions
Moving foward
stories of courage and survival
FIGHT. SURVIVE. WIN.
Dinah Weable Foundation’s Inaugural “Night of Courage and Hope”
have to invent some Ra revolutionary new ya treatment, we don’t nd even have to solve On Thursday, Oct. 15, eighty breast cancer Di the entire problem, survivors and breast cancer awareness supna and that’s the beauty porters met at The Dove’s Nest in downtown h W Waxahachie for A Night of Courage and Hope, of this Foundation,” ea Wilson said. “We just the Dinah Weable Foundation’s Inaugural bl e have to make sure that Dinner. the next woman who The Dinah Weable Foundation, founded needs a mammogram by Ray and Dinah Weable in 2006, exists late.” can get one... We live to fund mammograms at Baylor Scott and A deep silence followed Kevin’s words in a world where that tool is available, and White - Waxahachie for uninsured and underas the entire room paused on the memories insured individuals in Ellis County referred by some people can’t take advantage of that tool of names and faces whose story he just debecause they can’t afford it.” Hope Health. Since 2003, the Dinah Weable scribed. “The only thing my wife hates more than Foundation has made it possible for more “The purpose and the mission of the Dinah going to the doctor is paying the medical bill,” than 2,000 patients to receive mammograms. Weable Foundation is that there should be no joked Kevin Chester, whose wife and sisterIn 2026 alone, the Foundation had provided reason for anyone here in Ellis County to ever in-law are both breast cancer survivors. Both mammograms for 148 referrals by May and women had insurance that covered the cost of be unable to get a mammogram,” Kevin conanticipates reaching 250 by the end of the tinued. Every woman in the county could have mammograms; both women were treated and year. the 99% survival rate Wilson mentioned. “But Patrick Wilson, whose mother Diann Wilson cured. “But,” Chester asked, “What would it takes money. It takes people like you who have happened if they had not been insured? If survived breast cancer four times before passing away in August of this year, stated that one we could not pay? More likely, they wouldn’t are willing to donate to this cause.” Through an auction, donations, and a genhave gotten mammograms. More likely, they in eight American women will be diagnosed erous gift from Patrick and Robert Wilson with breast cancer in their lifetime—but when wouldn’t have gotten treatment. It’s possible in loving memory of their mother, attendees she would never even know about it until it breast cancer is detected before it spreads beraised the funds needed to provide life-saving was too late. And every one of us here knows yond the breast, 99% of the diagnosed women mammograms for men and women in Ellis someone, whether they had breast cancer or survive. County. “We don’t have to discover a cure, we don’t some other kind of cancer, who found out too By AMELIA PRICE Community Reporter
See HOPE, Page 8
FIGHT. SURVIVE. WIN.
Sydney Rust (second from left) with husband Lance and daughters Maci and Ava.
By AMELIA PRICE Community Reporter As the daughter and niece of breast cancer survivors, Sydney Rust and her doctor agreed that she needed to start getting mammograms at age 30. “I had my first one; it was fine. No big deal. I had two more after that,” Rust recalled. “And then when I was 33, they found something they wanted to check out again in six months, just to see if it had grown.” “Unfortunately, it’s not common for a 33-year-old to have mammograms,” Rust said. When she returned for her ultrasound six months later, the ultrasound tech laughed at her while she was lying down for the examination. “What are you doing here?” The tech asked. “They said it was inconclusive, so they needed to take another look,” Rust explained. “You’re just being paranoid,” the tech responded.
Sydney Rust: The power of early detection and an answered prayer
Rust was not “just being paranoid.” In January 2014, a biopsy revealed that the mass was Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS): cancer. The first doctor Rust saw recommended radiation and a lumpectomy, but as a young mom, Rust was concerned about the divot the surgery would leave behind as well as the possibility that the cancer would return. The other option, a DIEP flap procedure, was an extensive surgery Rust wasn’t interested in either. “It was just very overwhelming,” Rust said. “I left the office that day with my husband and mother-in-law and it was like I couldn’t breathe.” She was leaning towards a mastectomy, but she felt that she just needed guidance to be at peace with the decision. Rust’s mother-in-law found an article in Good Housekeeping about Dr. Sally Knox, a world-renowned surgeon at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. Rust called Dr. Knox’s office, but it was going to be
weeks until she could have an appointment. “I was bummed,” she said. She knew she couldn’t wait weeks to seek treatment but scheduled an appointment anyway. In the meantime, Rust sought a second opinion from a doctor at UT Southwestern who came highly recommended. “She was knowledgeable, but she was all business,” Rust said. “I have nothing against that, but she was just very matter-of-fact.” Rust knew she would be in great hands, but she needed a doctor who balanced medical expertise with compassion and a comforting embrace. “I went home that night and just prayed that God would put someone in my path who could help me be at peace,” she said. The next day, Dr. Knox’s office called Rust and let her know that they had an opening that week. See PRAYER, Page 14
Breast Cancer Awareness
EVERY RIBB N y r Te lls a Sto TIRE TOWN TIRE TOWN •• 300 300 WATER WATER ST, ST, WAXAHACHIE, WAXAHACHIE, TX TX 75165 75165 •• (972) (972) 937-1100 937-1100
Breast Cancer Awareness One Life, One Screening, One Chance at a Time. Sponsored by Kevin D. Chester and Darla Chester, breast cancer survivor.
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Did You Know? Preventive health care emphasizes healthy lifestyle choices like eating a nutritious, well-balanced diet and avoiding a sedentary lifestyle. Screening for various diseases, including cancer, is another important component of preventive health care that encourages individuals to be proactive in relation to their overall health. Women may hear about breast cancer screening as early as adolescence. Despite that, it’s not uncommon for women of all ages to have questions about breast cancer screening.
It’s not uncommon for women of all ages to have questions about breast cancer screening.
When should breast cancer screening begin? This is not a one-size-fits-all answer. The American Cancer Society advises women at average breast cancer risk to begin screening between the ages of 40 and 44. Women are considered at average risk if they have no personal history or strong family history of breast cancer. Women also are considered at average risk if they do not have gene mutations linked to breast cancer or a history of chest radiation therapy prior to age 30. While the ACS notes women at average risk have the option to begin screening prior to age 44, the organization advises women
to schedule annual mammograms beginning at age 45 and to continue getting them through age 54. If screenings do not show anything by age 54, women can then choose to get a mammogram every other year beginning at age 55. What if I am at elevated risk for breast cancer? Women who do not meet the criteria for average risk due to personal or family history will need to begin screening much earlier. The ACS recommends women at high risk for breast cancer get a breast MRI and a mammogram every year beginning at age 30. But the ACS also advises women to make this decision after careful discussion with their health care team. It’s also notable that the ACS indicates an MRI should never be substituted for a mammogram, as it’s possible an MRI will miss cancers a mammogram will find. What is a 3D mammogram? 3D mammography is a relatively new screening option that has piqued many women’s curiosity in recent years. Brown University Health See KNOW, Page 14
Don’t let a positive diagnosis become a negative feeling
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Can adolescents reduce lifetime breast cancer risk? With much of their lives ahead of them, young adults likely are not spending too much time thinking about their vulnerability to disease. However, adopting an “it can’t happen to me” mentality may cause individuals to engage in habits that can increase their risk for certain illnesses, including breast cancer. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, affecting around one in eight women, reports the American Cancer Society. The National Breast Cancer Foundation advises that only 5 to 10 percent of breast cancer cases are linked to inherited mutations in genes like BRCA1 and BRCA2. That means the majority of breast cancer cases are a byproduct of something other than genetics. Some may be the result of lifestyle choices. Dense breasts, high hormone exposure, and obesity are each risk factors for breast cancer. Adolescents may not be thinking about preventive health care, but that should not stop them from
educating themselves about how they can lower their overall lifetime risk of developing breast cancer. • Exercise regularly. Routine exercise and aiming for at least two hours of recreational physical activity or sports each week can help lower stress and reduce future breast density. Moderate to vigorous movement each day is good for overall health. • Eat a balanced diet. Susan G. Komen® advises that focusing on whole foods and a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, fiber, and whole grains is important. Also, one should reduce intake of inflammatory foods, such as sugary drinks, processed snack foods, and red meat. • Avoid alcohol. Skipping alcoholic beverages during adolescence and into early adult years can protect developing breast tissue. The National Cancer Institute says some studies found that women who drank alcohol in their teen years may have an
increased risk of breast cancer in adulthood. • Skip cigarettes. Avoiding tobacco use or quitting early can help lower breast cancer risk. Smoking at a young age significantly increases long-term cancer risk, reports the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. While not every case of breast cancer can be avoided, adolescents can employ strategies to protect themselves against breast cancer.
More than 4 million breast cancer survivors live the U.S.
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Until 2018, the Dinah Weable Foundation hosted an annual luncheon which supporters and survivors remember fondly as an opportunity to bond with each other and support an important cause. The luncheons eventually garnered 250 attendees, outgrowing their venue options, and the COVID-19 pandemic solidified the committee’s decision to pause the beloved event and re-imagine it. About four weeks ago Charlotte McKibbin with Boze-Mitchell-McKibbin Funeral Home and Melissa Ballard, marketing director at Town Square Title, came up with the idea of a dinner and presented it to the board. On the morning of the event, Ballard recalled her motivations for proposing it: “I want this
evening to be a tribute to all survivors, especially Dinah Weable. We want to raise some money, and we want everybody to be aware that this cause will never stop. If we can reach one person and convince them to get a mammogram, we can save a life.” Ballard named the event “A Night of Courage and Hope” to honor the courage of the survivors, and to offer hope to future survivors who are (or someday will be) fighting cancer. In less than a month, the women at the helm of the Dinah Weable Foundation pulled together an event with beautiful pink florals, sincere and moving speakers, delicious food, and the unforgettable Dallas sportscaster Dale Hansen auctioning off prizes. The Dove’s Nest was filled with a bouquet of pink dresses, show-stopping earrings, and glittery boots and the dining room echoed with laughter as old friends recon-
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nected and new friends got to know each other. Stephanie Ashmore, who co-owns the Dove’s Nest with her husband Mark, described the intimate space as “perfect for an inaugural event.” Since her mother, Cindy Smith, is a breast cancer survivor and treasurer of the Dinah Weable Foundation, Ashmore was excited to be involved—but she hopes that the event outgrows her cozy dining room, and that The Dove’s Nest will someday cate a larger event that raises even more support and awareness. In his speech, Patrick Wilson remembered his mother’s 43 years of passionate breast cancer advocacy as she herself fought and survived breast cancer four times. “[The Dinah Weable Foundation] started as just a casual luncheon at a church gymnasium to honor women who
FIGHT. SURVIVE. WIN. had survived breast cancer,” he recalled. “That’s all it was.” Although he was sure his parents would have been proud to see what the organization had become, he emphasized that “mom and dad would be very adamant to remind us that tonight is not about looking backwards: it’s about looking forward to the women who will need this Foundation tomorrow, next month, next year. Somewhere in Ellis County tonight there’s a woman who needs a mammogram and can’t afford one. Because of what we do here tonight, she may get that mammogram, and that may make all the difference in the world. And maybe because of that mammogram,” Wilson said, choking back tears, “another 12-year-old boy will get to spend 43 more See HOPE, Page 9
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years with his mama, as I did.” If a woman seen at Hope Health gets her mammogram at Baylor Scott and White - Waxahachie through the Dinah Weable Foundation and receives a positive mammogram result, Hope Health directs her to one of their partners in Ellis County where she can receive timely treatment without incurring unbearable fees. “Our care coordination team helps with referrals, coverage questions, and eligibility programs, so a diagnosis never waits on paperwork,” Roxana Valeton, current interim CEO at Hope Health, wrote in an email. Hope Health collaborates with programs that connect cancer
vide rides to treatment and operate 24-hour real person support lines. Patients have access to payment plans, a food
pantry, and an on-site pharmacy with savings through the federal 340B discount medication program. “No woman in our community should face this diagnosis without a team behind her,” Valeton wrote.
Breast cancer survivors present at the Night of Courage and Hope.
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“To our neighbors reading this: if you need a screening, information, or care of any kind, call our clinic and ask for our resource specialist. We will meet you where you are.”
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By AMELIA PRICE Community Reporter Darla Chester was involved in walks, dinners, and other breast cancer awareness events in support of her
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Darla Chester: Joining the Sisterhood
sister, who lived in Midlothian, for seven years before receiving her own diagnosis in November 2015. “Mine was caught early,” Chester said. Because women with siblings diagnosed with breast cancer are eligible for annual mammograms, her cancer was detected while it was still stage 1. Chester went through surgery and 35 rounds of radiation, but chemo wasn’t necessary. Eleven years into survivorship, the fight against breast cancer is still “near and dear” to Chester’s heart. She acknowledged that both men and women face breast
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cancer, and male survivors are part of the community too—but “once you go through it,” she said, “it’s like a sisterhood.” Chester said that when a survivor meets someone else who has been diagnosed with Breast Cancer, “you know how they felt. You know what they went through. You know how it affected you, how scared you were. You just feel for them, you just know what they’re going through, and you want to encourage them that everything will be okay. And most of them are.” “Everybody’s different,” Chester clarified; she has friends and family members battling much more aggressive forms of cancer. But, she said, “we’ve come a long way.” With early detection and modern treatments,
See SISTERHOOD, Page 14
awareness starts with a
conversation October is breast cancer awareness month
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BREAST CANCER Awareness Month
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What to know about breast lumps
One of the more notable symptoms of breast cancer is the presence of a lump in the breast.
Breast cancer is a cause for concern for millions of women. Each year about 264,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in women in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Canadian Cancer Society indicates around 28,600 Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. Globally, data from the World Health Organization indicates roughly 2.3 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020. One of the more notable symptoms of breast cancer is the presence of a lump in the breast. Though not all lumps are malignant, it’s important that women learn about breast anatomy and lumps as part of their preventive health care routines. Mount Sinai says that breast lumps can occur at any age in both men and women. Hormonal changes can cause breast enlargement and lumps during puberty, and boys and girls may even be born with lumps from the estrogen received from their mothers. It is important to note that the vast majority of breast lumps are benign. The National Institutes of Health says 60 to 80 percent of all breast lumps are non-cancerous. The most common causes of breast lumps are fibroadenomas and fibrocystic changes. Fibroademomas are small, smooth, moveable, painless round lumps that usually affect women who are at an age to have children, indi-
See LUMPS, Page 14
OCTOBER
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
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When Cindy Smith found a lump during a self-examination thirty years ago, she wasn’t shocked. “My mom
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‘I need to talk to the lady who wears pink, the lady who survived’
was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was 18 and she passed away when I was 20,” Cindy explained. “It was always kind of in the back of my mind, ‘okay, when are you gonna get it?’ We didn’t talk about it a lot because I was so young, but we were aware, so I immediately went to the doctor.” Cindy and her husband, Blaine, are high school
sweethearts who have been together since Cindy was fifteeen years old. They had both seen the rapid progression of her mother’s cancer, and agreed on the most aggressive treatment plan for Cindy: a lumpectomy followed by chemo and radiation. “I had an amazing support system with my husband, my family, and my coworkers,” Cindy said. “And I know
See SURVIVED, Page 13
FIGHT. SURVIVE. WIN. SURVIVED Continued from Page 12
this story isn’t about the bank, but they were so supportive of what I was going through and ensuring that I had whatever I needed to get to appointments, and that does make a difference in how you can overcome it.” Cindy is currently the Executive Vice President and Branch Administrator at Citizens National Bank, where she’s worked for the last forty-five years. “I absolutely love what I do,” she says. “My goal is to make it to fifty years, but my family says I will never retire.” But thirty years ago, she was prepared to leave it all behind. When she was diagnosed with breast cancer, she was the mom of three kids: Stephanie, Stephen, and Carly, who is technically Cindy’s little
sister but was raised by Cindy because she was only five years old when their mother died. “After I finished going through treatments, I automatically thought that because my mom died in just two years, I was going to do the same,” Cindy said. “And so I had done things at work, I was preparing things at home, in my own little secret world I was preparing my family for life without a wife and mom.” But then Cindy made it to two years. And then she made it to five years, and the doctors told her she was in true remission. “I was like, wow, okay, God let me live for a reason,” Cindy said. “That’s when I decided that Breast Cancer Awareness was going to be one of my platforms, because I need to let other women know that you can beat this. You can survive.” Cindy is currently treasurer of the Dinah Weable Foundation, a Waxahachie-based organization that raises funds so uninsured
and underinsured individuals can receive life-saving mammograms. She attended a luncheon about 20 years ago, loved it, asked to be involved, and eventually joined the board. When her mom was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 1980, “you didn’t talk about it,” Cindy recalled. “I didn’t even know what she was going through until I went to the hospital with my dad. And then once she came home, it was kind of silent. We don’t discuss it.” But Cindy is committed to raising awareness so Breast Cancer patients know they can survive, and so their family, friends and work can be a support system. She wears pink every day throughout the month of October, and frequently throughout the rest of the year, too. Her office at Citizens National Bank is decorated in shades of rose, blush, and fuchsia. Her magenta license plate says “PINK
PWR.” When she gets her nails done, the nail salon doesn’t even have to ask what color she wants. They already know: pink. “One of the most heartfelt, meaningful things is when a community member calls the bank and says they need to talk. Sometimes they even forget my name; they just say, ‘I need to talk to the lady who wears pink, the lady who survived.’” Cindy said. The person on the other end is “somebody who’s just been diagnosed and needs to talk to someone who’s been through it. And that’s part of my story. What I’m here to do is share that you can survive this.” “I just encourage them and let them know it’s a roller coaster. You’re gonna have good days and bad days, and your support system is gonna have good days and bad days, but you just go through it and ride it together.”
Breast Cancer Awareness Month Support, Awareness, and Community A month to share kindness, encourage support, and stand together for a more caring community.
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PRAYER Continued from Page 4
“As soon as I went back into the room, she just hugged me,” Rust said. “It was just what I needed.” Dr. Knox strongly recommended a double mastectomy: an aggressive course of action, but the one Rust already felt her heart was leading her towards. The two agreed on a treatment plan, and surgery was scheduled for a week later. “It was a blessing we were on the same page,” Rust
KNOW
Continued from Page 5 reports that a 3D mammogram rotates in an arc and takes X-rays of the breast at different angles, ultimately producing a more detailed view of the breast for radiologists to examine. By contrast, a 2D mammogram
SISTERHOOD Continued from Page 10
the vast majority of men and women diagnosed do survive breast cancer. Chester sees herself as having a “pretty easy” breast cancer experience compared to some of her friends, “but if I hadn’t had that mammogram, if I had waited another year, it could have been very different,” she said. Chester emphasized that early detection makes a huge difference—which is why she’s so excited about the Dinah Weable Foundation, an organization that partners
LUMPS
Continued from Page 11 cates the Merck Manual. They are non-cancerous and feel rubbery. Fibrocystic changes are painful, lumpy breasts. This benign condition does not increase a woman’s risk for breast cancer. Symptoms often are worse right before one’s menstrual period, and then improve after the period begins. Additional factors can contribute to
FIGHT. SURVIVE. WIN.
said. Rust described the following months as a long process and a team effort. Despite a weak stomach, her husband, Lance, emptied her surgical drains and cared for her during recovery. “He was wonderful,” she said. Her daughters, Maci and Ava, were seven and four years old at the time. Little eyes were watching her battle with cancer. “It’s okay to let them see you cry. I never wanted to put on a happy face and just deal with it. There were challenges, and they saw those. I thought that it was important to show your kids that you can
do hard things.” Now an 11-year survivor, Rust is a member of WISD district committees and a board member on the WISD Education Foundation. She loves being outside. She loves redecorating her home. She loves working out and enjoys Pilates and running. She loves spending time with her family and friends and watching her daughter play volleyball. In 2014, an ultrasound tech laughed at the test that caught her cancer early, the test that allowed Rust to live this beautiful
takes single X-rays at two different angles. But the ACS notes many breast imaging centers do not have 3D mammography. If given the choice between a 2D mammogram or none at all, women should always get the 2D mammogram. If 3D imaging is available, then that might be the way to go, as Brown University Health notes 3D mammography tends to detect more can-
cers and produce fewer false positives.
with Hope Health to cover mammograms at Baylor Scott and White - Waxahachie for uninsured and underinsured individuals. “What we’re really passionate about is that whatever funds are raised through the Dinah Weeble Foundation stay in Ellis County,” she explained. “These funds are available for anybody who lives in Ellis County and can’t afford a mammogram.” Reflecting on her experience fighting and surviving breast cancer, Chester said that “it never leaves you, really. It’s not over with when it’s over with.” She knows women who have struggled with lymphedema and chemo brain. Her gratitude for life on the other side of cancer far
outweighs the adverse effects of radiation therapy, but she knows firsthand that the side effects of radiation linger long after the cancer is gone. “Even though it’s been ten years, the heat bothers me,” Chester said. “I can’t do summer outside. I just can’t. I couldn’t when I was doing my treatments, either.” Side effects may never leave, but Chester’s life is proof that the sisterhood never ends. Chester and her husband, Kevin, bought a table at the Dinah Weable Foundation luncheon for years. She speaks passionately about volunteering at the Boze-Mitchell McKibbin Funeral Home parking lot, raising money while selling parking
the formation of lumps. Breast cysts are fluid-filled sacs that likely go away on their own or may be aspirated to relieve pain. Complex cysts may need to be removed surgically. Sometimes cysts also may form in milk ducts throughout the breasts. Lumps also may be the result of injury. Blood can collect under the skin and form a type of lump called a hematoma. Other lumps may be traced to lipomas, which is a collection of fatty tissue or breast abscesses, which typically occur if a person
Are mammograms foolproof? While mammograms are highly effective at detecting breast cancer, they are not perfect. The O’Neal Cancer Center notes that dense breast tissue can make breast cancer detection more difficult. Because no screening is perfect, it’s imperative that
is breastfeeding or has recently given birth. Additional causes of lumps can be discussed with a doctor. Though the majority of lumps are not a cause for concern, it is important for people to regularly feel their breasts to check for abnormalities. Doctors may recommend annual mammograms to women age 40 and older. In its earliest stages, breast cancer may produce little to no visible symptoms, but a mammogram may be able to catch something early on.
life. “I can’t preach enough that you need to get checked, especially if you have a history, because that’s ultimately what caught mine so early,” Rust said. Dr. Knox praised Baylor Scott & White - Waxahachie imaging department for detecting Rust’s cancer, saying it was the earliest detection she had ever seen.
women adhere to screening guidelines even if results are consistently negative and they do not feel anything unusual during self-examinations. Screening for cancer is an integral component of preventive health care. Women are urged to make breast cancer screening part of their preventive health care routine.
spaces for the annual Crossroads of Texas Festival. At the Night of Courage and Hope dinner on Thursday night, Chester was sitting with her sister, bidding in the charity auction, and never without a friend. Her husband, Kevin, was a wonderful partner who lovingly cared for her during cancer treatments. Over a decade later, he and his law firm still support the Dinah Weable Foundation. Chester understands what it’s like to be diagnosed with breast cancer and what it takes to be a survivor, and she and her husband are committed to partnering with women taking the first steps on that journey.
Early detection saves lives. If you think something is wrong, be sure to get it checked out. The life you safe could be your own!
O U R F I R S T G AT H E R I N G
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Still Standing Any cancer. Any stage. Any path. All welcome.
I am a wife, a mother, and the founder of EverStar Academy of Discovery right here in Waxahachie. I am also currently in the middle of my own cancer journey. When I was faced with my diagnosis, I felt a deep inner calling to walk an integrative path - one that combines medical treatment with nourishing my body, mind, and spirit from the inside out. That is my path. I believe with everything in me that every person deserves to walk their own path, whatever that looks like, with full support and zero judgment.What I didn't expect was how isolating this journey could feel - even surrounded by people who love you. No one should walk this alone. That's why I'm starting Still Standing — a local community for anyone living with cancer, who has survived it, or who loves someone fighting it. No agenda. No pressure. Just real people, real stories, and a table where everyone belongs.
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