October is Breast Cancer Awareness month
Managing editor
It was a difficult time in Jean Case’s life.
She had watched her husband suffer — albeit quietly — from pancreatic cancer; he died a mere 15 months after his initial diagnosis.
And then there she was, six months later, diagnosed with breast cancer.
When Jean’s two best friends — one was her maid of honor at her wedding — died from breast cancer at the age of 40, she knew she had to be diligent with her checkups.
“I have always had mammograms and physicals,” she said.
On that September day more than eight years ago, the Marion woman thought it would be just another routine redo, as she called it. After all, it was typical for Jean to have abnormal results from mammograms and returning to have a second test wasn’t that unusual for her.
This time, it was different.
“It came as a shock to me,” Jean said, of the moment when she was told there was a mass in one of her breasts.
A biopsy revealed it was malignant.
After witnessing her husband suffering through countless rounds of chemotherapy, she knew then and there that she was not going to have chemotherapy.
“I waited to tell the kids until after the biopsy because I didn’t want to worry them,” Jean said, especially if the tumor was benign.
Fortunately, when the oncologist talked with her about her treatment options, he told her radiation would be necessary and she didn’t have to have chemotherapy.
She also decided to have a lumpectomy instead of a mastectomy.
Remaining upbeat, she considered this a breeze compared to what others had gone through, Jean said.
She planned her radiation treatments during the lunch hour, so family and friends could take her. After the daily treatment, Jean and her companion would go out for lunch.
This went on five days a week for a total of 40 days. There were times when the radiation burned her skin and she had to wait a day or two before the next round.
“It really wasn’t that bad,” Jean said, “because I had wonderful support from my family and friends.”
Typically, breast cancer is hereditary, but Jean said she didn’t have any knowledge of breast cancer in her family.
“I believe it was true stress,” she said.
Jean had celebrated her 71st birthday around the time of her diagnosis and her grandchildren had challenged her to do 71 new things that year.
“It was a challenge for me to try new activities but I did it,” she said, and she has encouraged her friends to do the same.
A positive attitude saw Jean through those bleak days and expressing her feeling in writing also helped.
She kept a three-year journal, writing in it daily, after Alex died. When Jean goes back and reads the passages, it reminds her of the struggles, but it also proves that perseverance can see a person through almost anything.
“I saw this as another adventure,” Jean said.
When her treatments were completed, she was told the cancer was gone. She has been cancer-free since.
“It’s not always easy to keep a positive attitude,” Jean said, but she knew if she gave up, she would end up incapacitated, needing nursing home care, or worse.
An important milestone recently passed when Jean celebrated her 80th birthday and her eighth year since conquering cancer. She is the picture of health. She remains active in her community, church, and with her family. She doesn’t look or act her age.
Jean has always been a supporter of the annual Marion County Relay for Life. Her daughter, Diana Costello, was diagnosed with thyroid cancer about 15 years ago and has since recovered.
“I have always walked for Diana,” Jean said, “and then Alex, and now for myself.”
Jean’s advice to other women is to stay current with mammograms and physicals — especially younger women.
“So many times, doctors don’t encourage annual mammograms for women until they’re older and they really should be getting them younger,” she said. “It seems when women have breast cancer at a younger age, it advances so much faster.”
It’s been an adventurous life for Jean — teaching children for many years at Marion Elementary School, traveling all around the world with her husband, and enjoying friends and family — and she knows it takes more than positive thinking.
“Faith goes a long way,” she said.
Breast cancer awareness
In recognition of October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month and in an effort to raise money for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation, St. Luke Hospital is holding a public drawing. Patrons will have a chance to win prizes Oct. 26.
Prizes have been donated by local businesses for the event.
Tickets are on sale for $2 each at the front desk of St. Luke Hospital. Supporters need not be present to win during the Oct. 26 drawing.
Brochures and information packets about breast cancer also are available at the hospital.
Did you know?
- More than 200,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year.
- One person is diagnosed with breast cancer every three minutes.
- One person dies of breast cancer every 14 minutes.
- People over the age of 50 account for 76 percent of breast cancer cases.
- Cancer patients have more than a 97 percent chance of living five years after being diagnosed when breast cancer is caught before it spreads to other parts of the body.
- Early detection is key to diagnosing and treating breast cancer. One of the most common forms of detection, besides self-examination, is a mammogram.
- It is recommended that women in their 20s and 30s have clinical breast exams at least every three years. Clinical breast exams for women 40 and older are recommended every year.