Think Pink

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2011 DECATUR, ILLINOIS

thinkp nk

During National Breast Cancer Awareness Month,the world becomes just a little more pink. Storeshelves, television shows, T-shirts, front yards andeven newspaper pages take on the rosy hue. Forsome, the color carries an added emotional signifi-cance. Five local women, all breast cancer sur-vivors, shared their stories and talked about whythey wear pink.

Kathy Grant, 48, received her breast cancer diag-nosis in March 2004.

“I was just a month shy of my 41st birthday,” shesaid. “It came on very sudden. I found a lump.”

Grant had no family history of the disease andhad just started a health kick, making some dietand exercise changes. Along with the lump camediscomfort she had never felt before. Grant thoughtshe might have pulled a muscle, but saw her physi-cian to be sure.

A mammogram confirmed that the pain and lumpwere not due to a muscle injury.

“They knew from the mammogram what it was,”she said. “I didn’t even have to wait. They told methat day.”

Within a matter of weeks, Grant had a mastecto-my, which was followed with chemotherapy and

radiation. She opted not to have her breast recon-structed.

“There are times when I regret not doing it,” shesaid.

The physical scars and emotional reminders of theexperience will remain with Grant forever, but shealso makes sure to help raise awareness in othersand sustain the cause.

“I wear (pink) to show my support for otherwomen that have gone through this,” she said. “Attimes, I like it when someone asks me if I’ve knownsomebody because then I can tell my story.”

Grant has received a few special gifts, includingpins from friends and family and a necklace fromher daughter-in-law.

“Believe it or not, I look really good in pink, but Ifind myself not having a lot of pink,” she said.

This month, she’s sporting her awareness with abright pink streak in her brown hair, which is nowthe longest it has been since high school.

Awareness must start somewhere, Grant said,adding that she makes it a point to tell other womento get checked. “In my case, it started with me.”

The support she experienced from family andfriends during her breast cancer journey was a giftshe will never forget, she said, citing the compan-ionship of her aunt and sister-in-law as specialexamples.

Samantha Turner, 33, is the mother of two chil-dren, 7 and 13. She is also a breast cancer survivor.

Turner was diagnosed at age 30 after finding atender lump during a self-examination. She said shealways remembered to do the exams each month.

“It felt like a bruise, a really bad bruise,” shesaid.

Turner sought medical attention, but she said herprovider was reluctant to evaluate the lump furtherto see if it might be cancerous.

“I found it six months before they would do any-thing about it,” she said. “They kept telling me Iwas too young. Don’t worry about it. Cancer doesn’thurt. You know, all that stuff.”

Finally, she said, her family doctor started thediagnostic process. The following week, her biopsycame back positive.

“I had a week to decide if I wanted the mastecto-my or the lumpectomy,” she said. “I chose the

Women sharetheir journey

of cancer survival

By ANNIE GETSINGER | H&R Staff Writer

JOURNEY/PAGE 2

Melissa Koehler with daughter Shelby Dixon Joyce Mazzotti Samantha Turner

Kathy Grant Heidi Rea

Here is my personal storyof my ordeal with breastcancer.

I had cancer one year ago.I got my strength from theLord. I was prayer-coveredby my family and friendsthroughout the whole ordeal,which gave me peace aboutwhatever the future wouldhold. My husband went toevery doctor’s visit and treat-ment with me. I feel very for-tunate to have found a newfriend shortly after I wasdiagnosed with breast cancerwho was going through thesame procedures I was eachweek. We had different doc-tors and were treated at dif-ferent hospitals, but we werealways within two days ofeach other for our weeklyappointments. We werealways hoping to hear goodnews from each other afterour doctor visits, secretly Iknow, worrying the other per-son’s report might not be asgood as the one we hadreceived. We both did wellphysically and emotionally,but it was such a support tobe able to talk to someonewho was experiencing thesame thing at the same time.My advice to anyone goingthrough breast cancer wouldbe to find someone else goingthrough it as well so you canshare your concerns andencourage each other. Mygrandchildren think theyprayed me well. I know theydid.

— Dona Bailey

n n n

I thought if I never wrotethe words, I have breast can-cer; if I never said themaloud, and if I didn’t tell any-one, it would just go away. Ihad lost my Grandma Kaye,one of my best friends losther mother Nancy, and wehad just lost a friend of ourfamily who we affectionatelycalled “Aunt Carol” all due tobreast cancer. My husband(Sammy) and I felt that any-one I told would immediatelythink the worst. I would becompared to these incrediblewomen that we had lost andthe drama would be over-whelming. I feared no onewould understand that thanksto the wonders of mammog-raphy and my commitment toregular screening, my cancerhad been found very earlyand I would likely have a pos-itive outcome.

Throughout the month ofOctober 2010, we stayedquiet as I underwent fourbiopsies and everywhere Iturned there was a pinksomething or other forbreast cancer awareness. Iremember I cried for thewomen we had lost, andnow for myself, as I painteda pink ribbon on Sammy’sbald head for the “pink”football game at MillikinUniversity. As it becameinevitable that I would havesurgery, we knew we had tostart telling folks. I devel-oped a strategy to prefaceevery conversation with, “Iask that you stay positiveabout what I have to tellyou and that you please notcompare me to anyoneelse.” The hardest thing wastelling my sons, yet I pref-aced the conversation in thesame manner and theyturned out to be a tremen-dous source of strength forme this past year. I also toldmy family and friends that Imight need some help.Those of you who know myindependent, stoic naturerealize this was very diffi-cult for me. I recall mycousin Heather, who is morelike a sister to me, saying,“You need to let us help youand you’re going to have toslow down a little”. Ithought I could handle thegazillion appointmentsmyself; bravely driving to 33radiation appointments dur-ing the worst Central Illi-nois winter of 2010-2011. Isoon learned with some gen-tle coaxing from the stupen-dous staff of Mills BreastCancer Institute, that it’sOK to ask someone toattend appointments withyou. I now do this regularly,and when I’m tired; I rest.

On Oct. 6, 2011, I was toldthat my mammogram wasnormal, my blood work wasnormal, and all indicationswere that the cancer wasgone. Sammy, as well asnumerous family membersand friends, loved me through

it; just like the MartinaMcBride song depicts. I con-tinue to participate in a clini-cal trial of preventative med-ications, and this October, I’menjoying everything aroundme that is “pink”. From thelessons I’ve learned thus farin this journey, I offer thesewords of encouragement toothers:

n Tell people when you’reready the way you feel isbest

n Don’t compare yourselfto anyone

n Ask for and accept helpn Rest and heal your body

and mind. Put some limitson the demands other’splace on you.

Breast cancer is breastcancer. It doesn’t matterwhat type, or what stage, orhow it’s treated. You arenone the less affected, andyou may need to tenderlyremind others of this.

— Kathy Trusner, Decatur

n n n

I was diagnosed withbreast cancer in November2007. After I finished mysixth chemo treatment, Iwanted to have a celebra-tion, so I had a small gather-ing. The theme was “cele-brating my faith, family andfriends.”

Manyevenings asI lay on thecouch, thesewere thethings Ifocused on— not my disease.

God had given me familyand friends to help methrough this period of mylife.

Some days I was evenhappy about putting on mywig and not worrying aboutmy “hair.”

— Ann Glasser, Decatur

n n n

I would like to tell mystory as a cancer survivor.

I am currently in my 18thyear as a breast cancer sur-vivor. In February 1994, as ithad been five years since Ihad my last mammogram, Iwent to St. Mary’s Hospitalfor my test. My test showed anodule in my right breast.The doctor told me I shouldsee a surgeon, as it should beremoved. Upon recommenda-tion of a good friend, I con-tacted Dr. Gale Zacheis (avery good and caring doctor).He then made arrangementsfor a wire biopsy and surgeryto remove the nodule. As wefeared, it was malignant. Thenodule was one centimeter, soI was one of the lucky ones incatching it early. It was hardto realize this was happeningto me at the age of 65 (I amnow 82), but I feel God wasleading me for this test, andwith the help of my husband,my children and grandchil-dren, I survived through 35radiation treatments.

I feel I have the St. Mary’sCancer Care Center, as wellas Dr. Zacheis and his staff,to thank for my recovery. Iurge all young people to takemammograms or tests annu-ally as these tests help catchcancer in the early stages.

As October is Breast Can-cer Awareness Month,please donate your moneyand time to the AmericanCancer Society. I trulybelieve that someday therewill be a cure for cancer.Thank you Herald & Reviewfor this publication.

— Joan Herron, Findlayn n n

My experience with breastcancer started in March 2011.

The cancer was in my leftbreast and in one out of 10lymph nodes removed, whichmeant it was stage II. Idecided to have both breastsremoved. The chemo wasn’tfun, but with the surgery andchemo, there was a happyending for me.

I am now cancer-free. Andyes, my hair has fallen outbut is growing back now.

I really want to thank God,Dr. Ben at CCSCI, a specialnurse at DMH, Brenda, andof course, my three kids andeight grandkids. They makelife worth living.

For myself, my faith inGod, keep living life to thefullest and laugh a lot eventhough it’s not always easy.

— Vickie Richardson, Decatur

2 THINK PINK SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2011 DECATUR, ILLINOIS www.herald-review.com

MORE STORIES:

www.herald-review.com

mastectomy because Ithought it would be easier.”

Choosing the mastectomyoption meant that if herlymph nodes came backclear, she wouldn’t need radi-ation, and she didn’t. Turnerthen had reconstruction onboth sides, three monthsapart, to ensure that herbreasts were even.

She said she wears pink toraise awareness amongwomen and medical profes-sionals because it’s importantfor people to know that thereare young women affected bybreast cancer.

Turner has two bracelets,a necklace and several pinkshirts that she likes to wear.She, too, is wearing a pinkstreak in her hair thismonth. She also participatesin local events that raiseawareness for cancer causessuch as the American Can-cer Society’s Relay for Life.

“I hated the word ‘survivor’in the beginning,” she said. “Iam just now getting used toit. There’s more that goes onafter surgery than peoplewant to be aware of. Theythink once you gothrough surgery youshould be done. I’mtwo years out, and Istill emotionally amdealing with it.”

She said sheoften waits untilshe becomes closewith a new friend todiscuss the fact thatshe is a cancer sur-vivor.

“I didn’t even tellvery many peoplewhen I found out,”she said.

The experi-ence haschanged her lifein ways shecould not haveanticipated.Turner quit herfull-time job of 13years to go back to school tobecome a counselor. Hersearch to find an area coun-selor who specializes in can-cer came up empty, inspir-ing her to join the field tohelp others.

Turner’s good friend diedfrom breast cancer two yearsbefore she was diagnosed.Although she supported herthrough her battle, she saidshe now understands theexperience from a differentperspective.

“Even though you try tosympathize with them, youdon’t get it,” she said.

Melissa Koehler, 40, wasdiagnosed with breast cancerin June 2005.

“It was a self-exam,” shesaid. “My grandma was los-ing her battle with breastcancer at that time, so Imade sure that I did self-exams.”

Her grandmother diedthree weeks after she wasdiagnosed.

Initially, Koehler’s surgeontook out the suspicious lump,thinking it wasn’t cancer. Acall at work later revealedthat he had been wrong, andKoehler was soon on a jour-ney that included more sur-gery, chemotherapy and radi-ation.

She now proudly wears apink streak in her hair for themonth of October, but it tooktime for her to grow into thesurvivor identity sheembraces now.

“When I first was diag-nosed and I was goingthrough treatments, I didn’twant anything to do with anyof it,” she said.

The support of her familyand friends, including herhusband, daughter and twostepchildren provided animportant way for Koehler tocope throughout and beyond

her treatments.She said shewears pink to help

raise awarenessof the diseaseand the impor-tance of regu-lar screenings.One of her

favorite symbolsis the logo of

Fight Like a Girl —a pink ribbon with

a pair of pinkboxing gloves.

Koehlerplans to go

to the tat-too parlorwith herhusband,stepdaugh-ter and somefriends. Sheand her hus-

band will get a similardesign with a ribbon andgloves. She already has onetattoo that commemoratesher journey. Three butter-flies on her lower back sym-bolize her three surgeries,and the pink roses on eitherside stand for Koehler andher grandma.

Joyce Mazzotti, 54, found alump in her breast in Decem-ber 1997. She had just turned40 and was performing a self-examination, which sheadmits she didn’t always doregularly.

“That little voice inside me

just said, ‘Just do it,’” shesaid. “ … (The lump) felt likenothing I had ever feltbefore.”

Mazzotti went through sur-gery and chemotherapy in1998 and took tamoxifen forfive years. In the fall of 2006,she had her other breastremoved prophylactically.

Mazzotti’s 94-year-oldmother is also a breast can-cer survivor.

“I think the pink to me issilent support to other peopleout there that are goingthrough it,” said Mazzotti.“And for me, when I wearpink, it’s my little silent victo-ry to say, ‘I made it.’ ”

Her husband, Larry, who isbattling chronic lymphocyticleukemia, wears pink, too,and they support one another.

Mazzotti has “pink every-thing.” She wears a widerange of rosy-colored clothingand accessories, but she alsomakes rhinestone-studdeditems for new and old friendswho are breast cancer sur-vivors.

“It’s a very difficult thingfor a woman to go through,very difficult, and anythingthat I can do to supportsomebody, I will do,” shesaid.

She has crafted teddybears, stocking caps, bagsand other special items.

“You name it,” she said. “Itry to find unique things.”

Mazzotti feels that she hasbeen called to help people.She has mentored womenthrough the Helping EachOther Recover supportgroup, which provides breast

cancer survivors with one-on-one guidance and support.

Heidi Rea, 45, received herbreast cancer diagnosis thisMay after a routine mammo-gram discovered a lump toosmall to feel.

“The day after Mother’sDay is when I found out,” shesaid. “The doctor did notwant to call me on Mother’sDay, so he waited until theday after.”

In June, Rea had a bilater-al mastectomy and began herjourney toward reconstruc-tion, which was recently com-pleted.

Along with friends and herdaughter, Hannah, Rea alsois wearing a pink streak inher dark hair this month.

“If it makes one personremember to go get a check-up or get a mammogram ormake their appointment …If it reminds them to go getchecked, it’s important,” shesaid, fighting back tears

Rea said she sees the colorpink differently these days.

“I notice it now, which Iprobably didn’t before,” shesaid.

Hannah recently made ashirt for her mom with a pinkghost on it reminding womento get their “booo-bies”checked. The young girl hasprovided a sense of comicrelief and a profound comfortto her mom.

Their experiences togetherafter Rea’s surgery deepenedand strengthened their bond.

“For maybe two weeks, itwas kind of like I was thechild and she was the mom,”Rea said. “She took care ofme.”

Hannah, then 9, helpeddrain her mom’s tubes,assisted her to the bathroomand brought her anything sheneeded.

“It was hard to let her dothat,” Rea said.

Connecting with Koehlerand hearing about her experi-ences was another importantstep.

“The thing that eased mymind most when I first foundout was Melissa telling me, ‘Iknow how you feel,’” Reasaid, again fighting backtears. “And she did.”

Rea said she now feelsequipped and ready to helpother survivors, should theycome to her with questionsor simply in need of support.

Faith also provided a senseof comfort to her. Rea hasworn a bracelet with a Bibleverse since the day she foundout she had cancer.

“When I felt like I couldn’tget up, I’d just look at it,” shesaid.

[email protected]|421-6968

JOURNEYContinued from A1

Herald & Review/Mark Roberts

Samantha Turner, from left, Kathy Grant, Heidi Rea and Melissa Koehler

Survivor Stories

‘I hated the word‘survivor’ in the

beginning. I am justnow getting used to

it. There’s morethat goes on after

surgery than peoplewant to be aware

of. They think onceyou go through sur-gery you should be

done. I’m twoyears out, and I still

emotionally amdealing with it.’

Samantha Turner

Herald&ReviewWe offer our readers the latest in local,

national and international health news

every Wednesday in our Life section.

SCIONsupports

www.herald-review.com SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2011 DECATUR, ILLINOIS THINK PINK 3

Disease tends to developin men later in their life

By ANNIE GETSINGERH&R Staff Writer

DECATUR — Although breast cancerprimarily affects women, it is possiblefor men to get the disease, too. The list ofnotable men who have had breast cancerincludes former KISS drummer PeterCriss, “The Price Is Right” announcerRod Roddy and Richard Roundtree, origi-nal star of the “Shaft”movies.

Despite the rarity withwhich the disease affectsmen, Dr. James L.Wade, medicaloncologist andfounder of CancerCare Specialists ofCentral Illinois,said he continuesto see a smallnumber of malebreast cancerpatients.

“For every manwith breast cancer,there are 100 womenwith breast cancer,”Wade said, adding thatthere are fewer than2,000 new cases of malebreast cancer in theUnited States eachyear.

There are some sig-nificant differencesbetween female andmale breast cancers.

On average, com-pared to women, mentend to get the diseasefive to 10 years later in life, Wade said.

“Family history is important becausemen in a family of women with breastcancer do have a slightly higherchance,” he said.

Mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2genes, which can increase women’s riskof breast and other cancers, also aresignificant to male breast and prostatecancers, he said, adding that any manfound to have breast cancer is checkedfor these mutations.

Other factors also contribute to a man’slikelihood of developing the disease.

“There’s no absolute, but one of therisk factors is that it seems to occur inmen that have more breast tissue,”Wade said.

The condition of enlarged malebreasts, called gynecomastia, can occurfor a variety of reasons such as age,being overweight, alcohol use or certainmedications, he explained.

Increased risk for breast cancer alsois associated with several rare geneticconditions, Wade said, citing Klinefelterand Cowden syndromes as examples.

The disease is often discovered whena man notices a lump, Wade said. “Usu-ally it’s just by chance.”

The course of action for diagnosing aman with breast cancer is similar towhat a woman would go through,including a mammogram and a biopsyto identify the disease.

Male breast cancer is often discov-ered when the lumps are smaller thanthey might be in women, as men gener-ally have less breast tissue, said Wade.But he also has seen men in his office inwhom the tumors have grown throughthe skin, creating visible ulcers.

Wade said it has been found thatblack men with breast cancer are morelikely to have larger tumors and lymphnode involvement when the disease isdiscovered.

“That’s a similar story to what we seewith African-American women and theirbreast cancer,” he said.

The exact causes for these differencesare not known, but health access dispar-ities or distinctions in the biology of thedisease or the patients could contribute,Wade said. Vitamin D is thought to be“an important part of the breast cancerstory,” he added, explaining that defi-ciency, which is more common amongAfrican-American people, might beassociated with a higher risk for thedisease or for more aggressive formswhen it develops.

Doctors work to evaluate malebreast cancer similarly to how theylook at the female form of the dis-ease. Tests for a trait that marksaggressiveness and for sensitivity tohormones are important parts of outlin-ing a man’s treatment plan, Wade said.

About two-thirds of female breastcancers are hormone-sensitive, com-pared with about 90 percent of malebreast cancers, he said, adding thatalmost all men with breast cancer are

prescribed tamoxifen, a drug that worksby interfering with the activity of thefemale hormone estrogen, according tothe National Cancer Institute.

In men, doctors also recommend sur-gery to remove all breast tissue andcheck lymph nodes. With women, onetreatment focus is sparing breast tissuewhen possible, but for men this is gener-ally not a consideration, Wade added.

Based on the size of the cancer andlymph node involvement, chemotherapyand radiation also are considered formen, Wade said.

Val Jordan, director of oncology serv-ices at St. Mary’s Cancer Care Center,said she has personally treated twomale breast cancer patients in 17 years.Some of the emotional issues faced bymen with the disease are different, shesaid.

“I think that’s a whole different set ofissues and stigmas,” Jordansaid. “It goes into the wholemanhood thing … I thinkbreast cancer in a manaffects their ‘manhood’ a

little differently than itdoes a woman becauseit is so rare andbecause it is sounheard of. You don’thear a lot about malebreast cancer.”

It’s difficult to con-duct research on male

breast cancer, Wadesaid. “There just aren’t

enough men out thereacross the country tohave a clinical trial set upfor just them to reallystudy the disease.”

Instead, doctors and sci-entists learn about the dis-ease by pulling togetherinformation that has beengleaned from treating malebreast cancer patients andthrough research conductedon female breast cancer and

other cancers.Wade recommended that all men and

their loved ones develop awarenessabout the disease and its risk factors.

“Be aware of your own body, and ifyou feel a lump taking a shower, don’tbrush it off,” he said. “Have your doctorcheck it out.”


Male breast cancer uncommon but possible

By JAMIE LOBERFor the Herald & Review

Breast health should not betaken lightly.

According to the IllinoisDepartment of Public Health,one out of eight Americanwomen will develop breastcancer sometime in their lifeand it is the leadingcause of cancerdeaths in Illinoiswomen.

At this time, onlyabout 9 percent ofbreast cancers inIllinois are detectedat the earliest andmost curable stage.

The good news isthat through amonthly self breastexam, clinicalbreast exam andhealthy lifestylechoices, you canhave the best out-comes.

While the num-bers may soundintimidating, mostof the time breastchanges are notcancer.

Listen up. “Makesure you know yourbody and yourbreasts and thatyou are familiar soif something is dif-ferent or if there isa change you willrecognize it,” saidShayne Squires,regional communi-cations manager atthe American CancerSociety in Spring-field.

You should get inthe habit of lookingand feeling monthlythe week after yourperiod when yourbreasts are not ten-der or swollen.

“Sometimes whathappens is that it isnot done consistentlyso women are not rec-ognizing if there is achange,” Squires said.

The self exam is easier thanyou may think. “You shouldcheck each breast all over andinclude your armpit by usingyour finger pads and movingthem in a small, circularmotion using differentamounts of pressure like light,medium and deep to feel theentire breast,” Squires said.You should also look at yourbreasts in the mirror.

You can start doing the selfbreast exam in your early 20sand make it part of yourlifestyle. “If there is any dim-pling, discharge or somethingdifferent, do not put it off andreport the changes to yourhealth care provider,” Squiressaid. Swelling, skin irritation,breast pain or thickening ofthe skin are other red flags.

Make the right choices.“Eat healthy and be physical-

ly active because many of therisk factors for chronic dis-eases all walk hand in hand,”said Brandi Binkley, directorof health promotion at theMacon County Health Depart-ment. You will want to checkwith your doctor before start-ing a new exercise program

but remember thatevery action counts.

“Breastfeedingreduces the risk ofbreast cancer,” saidBinkley. Not usinghormone therapyafter menopausecan decrease yourrisk. Maintaining ahealthy weight, not

smoking and limitingalcohol intake also

can be helpful.The American

Cancer Societyrecommends theclinical breastexam about everythree years forwomen in their 20sand 30s and everyyear for women 40and older. This

involves the doctorlooking at yourbreasts forchanges in sizeand shape fol-lowed by feelingfor lumps andchecking underboth arms as well.

The mammo-gram is a greattool as well.“Mammograms

use less radiationthan a dentist’s X-ray and your doc-tor may not feel alump until it is thesize of a pea but themammogram canfind it several yearsbefore the changecan be felt,” Squiressaid. An evaluationincludes reviewing

personal health histo-ry and family history,discussing any prob-

lems and then examining thebreast tissue.

According to the IllinoisDepartment of Public Health,all individual and grouphealth insurance and HMOpolicies must provide cover-age for complete and thor-ough clinical examination atleast once every two to threeyears for women 20 to 39 andannually for women 40 andolder. They cover the baselinemammogram for womenbetween 35 and 39 and annual-ly for those 40 and older.

While you should focus onmodifiable risk factors andget the appropriate screen-ings, people can still getbreast cancer even if they donot have a family history.

“The top two factors forbreast cancer are being awoman and growing older,”Squires said.

Smart to start breastexam habits early in life

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Tracy ~ Mom, Over a year and a half has

passed, and we find you more

radiant and a great source of

inspiration now more than ever.

We wanted you to know how

much richer our lives are for

having you in them. You were

the best mother, wife and friend

we could ever ask for. We love

you and miss you so much!

Love, Mark, Matthew,

Josh, Calli, Hannah,

Charlie & Dallas

Sally LaffertyCancer Survivor

for 11 years.

Love you,Judy

Love,

Carley & Carson

Missing YouAunt Janny

2-4-62 ~ 5-25-11

I Am With You StillI give you this one thought to keepI am with you still - do not weep.I am a thousand winds that blow.I am the diamond glints on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.I am the gentle autumn’s rain.

When you awaken in the morning’s hush,I am the swift uplifting rush

Of quiet birds in circled flight.I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not think of me as gone –I am with you still - in each new dawn.

Love and Miss You,Your Family

In Loving Memory ofGail and Kathryn

To My Beautiful, Loving Wife of

25 YearsDonnia

Congrats 3 Year Survivor!Love your hubby,Kevin

Love you,

Vickie & Mark

In Memory of“Big Sis”

Jan Podgorski-Sanders2-4-62 ~ 5-25-11

Christy Jo Braden

It’s been 5 years since you leftWe’re missing you like “crazie”

Love, Mom & Dad

Joyce Mazzotti14 Year Survivor

Love you bunches!The King Girls

Wendy, Jordan, Shelby & Celina

In Loving Memory ofJaneann M. SandersFebruary 4, 1962 - May 25, 2011

We Love You, We Miss YouYour, Family

In Loving MemoryJudy Krutsinger

Mommy, I miss you more

than words can ever say.

I love you 3

Scott, Rhonda, Lora

and Families

In Honor of Patty Hanly

Love, Your Husbandand Family

June GulickGone for 25 years!We still miss you every day.

Love, Dawn, John & Family

Tribute Messages

1531 N. Springfield Rd. | Taylorville, Illinois 62568 (across from the Super Wal-Mart )

CHEVY • BUICK • CADILLAC 217-824-2255 WWW.LANDMARKAUTO.COM

Dedicated to those who’ve

lost the fight and those

who won’t quit the fight.

supports Breast Cancer Awareness

of Taylorville


Local agencies ready to offer help for cancer patientsProgramsprovideresources for thosefacing tough journey


DECATUR — Only thosethat have been faced with theuncertainty of a cancer diag-nosis can fully understand thephysical, emotional, familyand financial difficulties thatoften go along with it. Butthose who work for local can-cer centers and programssaid that despite the nature ofone’s struggles, there is helpout there. The first importantstep is seeking it out.

Leigh Ann Hale, patient serv-ices coordinator at CancerCare Specialists of Central Illi-nois, considers herself a sort of“GPS” for people going throughtheir own cancer journeys.

“I can help them navigatewhich turns to take in regardto some of the tougher thingsthey’re going to face,” she said.

Those who seek her out aremet with a friendly face anda wisdom that has come fromfilling out hundreds of formsand making even more phonecalls to help area residentswith cancer.

Hale said she regularlyworks with resources at avariety of agencies and foun-dations to help people withand without insurance accessneeded treatments, medica-tions and services.

She listed both Decatur hos-pitals, the Macon CountyHealth Department, AmericanCancer Society, Illinois Breastand Cervical Cancer Program,Community Health Improve-ment Center and IllinoisWINGS as just a few of thelocal resources available. Butthe list of services out therecan be quite daunting forsomeone unfamiliar with howto navigate them, Hale said.

Finding the right person toask for help is important.Patient advocates and socialworkers at health facilitiesand social service agenciesoften have valuable experi-ence in helping people accessproper preventive care andtreatment. Primary careproviders also are valuableresources, Hale said, addingthat it’s important to seeone’s physician regularly.

She has helped people witheverything from coordinatingrides to and from treatmentto contacting pharmaceuticalcompanies on the behalf ofpatients in need of potentiallylifesaving drugs.

Hale said she sees many peo-ple who are fighting cancerwithout health insurance. Some

patients qualify for assistancethrough Medicaid or other pro-grams, and others do not.

“There is help out there forpeople,” she said. “Not every-body is going to be able to getit, but it’s certainly worth ashot.”

Many of those who do havehealth insurance face financialhardship as they go throughtheir cancer journeys, Halesaid. Having to pay for even 20percent of treatments that cost$20,000 each time, expensivetests and other medical costscan quickly take its toll.

“It’s a whirlwind when thisstarts,” she said.

It’s OK for patients to askfor help and to share thatthey need financial assis-tance, Hale said.

“They are not alone,” shesaid. “There are resources outthere to help them. They justneed to make a call.”

Providing treatment tothose in need is important,and so is ensuring that all in

the community have access toregular screenings, said JennyBrandenburg, director ofwomen and children’s servicesat Decatur Memorial Hospital.

The DMH Women’s Health& Breast Center’s Mammog-raphy Initiative provides no-cost screening mammogramsto area women based on fami-ly income guidelines. If moretesting is needed, patients arereferred to additionalresources at the hospital andthe Illinois Breast and Cervi-cal Cancer Program.

Brandenburg estimatedthat the local initiative helpsfund about 500 mammogramsper year.

The center also helpswomen undergoing treat-ments access a local prosthe-sis and bra bank, wig bankand support groups, whichprovide opportunities to net-work with other survivors.

Women need to take anactive role in their health,Brandenburg said, emphasiz-ing the importance of per-forming monthly self-examsand scheduling annual clini-cal exams and mammograms.

The hospital works to getthe word out about itsresources for underservedwomen through local physi-cian offices, organizations,churches and events.

“I think the Decatur/Macon County communityhas gone a long way to reachout to the underserved,” saidDr. James L. Wade, medicaloncologist and founder ofCancer Care Specialists ofCentral Illinois.

The Cancer Care Center ofDecatur recently held freeprostate cancer screeningsand has worked to offer freecolon cancer screenings inthe past, he said.

For those with money trou-bles and family strife, it canbe hard for people to thinkabout screening for a diseasethey probably don’t have butmight get, Wade said. “Formaybe one out of 100 of thosepeople, screening could savetheir life. They just don’trealize it.”

He advised people to calllocal hospitals, clinics andsocial service agencies to getplugged in to a network thatcan help.

“It’s scary for people whodon’t have the resources andthey don’t know what they’regoing to do,” said Val Jordan,director of oncology servicesat St. Mary’s Hospital Cancer

Care Center.Both local hospitals have

programs in place to helpthose without insurance orthe ability to pay.

“My message would bedon’t ever, ever delay anytreatment because youbelieve you can’t afford it,”Jordan said.

Barbara Brilley, a Decaturnative, was facing that verydecision 18 years ago. Shedidn’t have health insuranceand was settling into a newjob when she received newsshe had breast cancer.

“You don’t know whatyou’re going to do,” she said.“You don’t know if people aregoing to treat you or howthey’re going to treat you.”

Brilley’s family and thelocal community helped payfor her treatments — aneffort that likely saved herlife. Years later, she saw TerriJones, the founder of a breastcancer treatment nonprofitorganization called WINGS,on Oprah Winfrey’s talk show.

The organization works tohelp uninsured and underin-sured women and men accesstreatment.

“I wanted to give back tomy community,” Brilley said,so she contacted Jones aboutstarting Illinois’ own chapterof the organization.

This month, Illinois WINGScelebrates its 10th anniver-sary. Brilley serves as execu-tive director at its Springfieldheadquarters. The organiza-tion works with county healthdepartments, hospitals,providers and the IllinoisBreast and Cervical CancerProgram.

In the past 10 years, theorganization has helped morethan 200 women and men inCentral and Southwestern Illi-

nois, Brilley said. “All thosepatients might not have beenhelped if we hadn’t been here.”

Doctors and hospitals signcontracts with the organiza-tion to be reimbursed at Med-icaid rates in exchange forhelping clients.

“I have never had any doc-tor’s office tell me they don’twant to be a part of this pro-gram,” said Brilley.

She urged women with con-cerns about affording breastcancer screening and treat-ment to contact the local andstate resources dedicated tohelping them.

“The most important thingis that they get help,” shesaid.


Personal Medical Supply373 W 1st Dr. • South Shores • Decatur • 422-1271

Solid Pink Scrubs$10.00 - Pink Tops$10.00 - Pink Pants

For BreastCancer

AwarenessMonth

License # 203.000093 • Ends 10/31/2011

Herald & Review photos/Lisa Morrison

Crystal Sakautsky and Kelly Wheeler are two of the people who will make your visit to Cancer Care

Specialists of Central Illinois a pleasant one.

Dr. Mario Velasco looks over X-rays while working at the Cancer

Care Specialists of Central Illinois.

Cadillac Buick GMC

Real Men Wear Pink

Supports

MORE INFO

n The American Cancer Soci-

ety: www.illinoiscancerhelp.

org/

n Illinois WINGS: http://

illinoiswings.com/

n The Illinois Breast and Cer-

vical Program: http://cancer

screening.illinois.gov/

n DMH Women’s Health &

Breast Center: www.dmh

cares.org/services/womens

health/

n The Cancer Care Center

at St. Mary’s Hospital:

www.stmarysdecatur.com/

Services/CancerCare/

Default.aspx

n Cancer Care Specialists of

Central Illinois: www.cancer

carespecialists.org/

Survivor Stories

People are rather shockedwhen I state that breast can-cer has been a real blessing tome. Of course, I didn’t alwaysfeel that way, especially at thetime of my diagnosis. Compli-cating the issue was the factthat two of my sisters werealso diagnosed — all three ofus within a two month period.

A very supportive husband,children, pastor, friends andchurch family were extremelyhelpful in aiding my recovery,physically and emotionally. Iwas also involved in the estab-lishment of a breast cancersupport group at our localhealth department. This groupof ladies offers each othermuch needed support by shar-ing our unique experience.

The most important pieceof my recovery, though, wasmy relationship with God.Throughout this journey, Ilearned to rely on Him andput things in His hands ratherthan try to take control ofeverything myself. God’sstrength was the key to acomplete recovery.

Helping others has alsobeen a positive thing andhelps me shift focus awayfrom my problems. My experi-ences through multiple surger-ies and treatments have mademe realize how fragile life is

and how important each andevery day is in the scheme ofthings. At the end of my days,I want to look back and knowthat I tried to make a differ-ence in others’ lives.

— Gina Fox, Newtonn n n

When a biopsy showed thatI had breast cancer, I don’tknow who was more surprised… me, the radiologist, or thesurgeon. Oddly enough, I wasnever scared. I just made upmy mind right then that I’d dowhatever I had to do to beat it.

There were actually manybright spots during my treat-ment and recovery. The staffat Cancer Care Specialists isamazing! They are the mostcaring people. And talking toother cancer patients in thewaiting room was alwayssomething I looked forwardto. I learned a lot that way.

My aunt, my best friendand the great girls I workwith were unbelievably sup-portive. They were reallythere for me.

If I met other women whohave to deal with breast can-cer, I’d tell them to read asmuch as they can about can-cer and cancer treatment.The more you know aboutwhat’s going on in your body,the less overwhelming and

insurmountable it seems. Andreading the stories of othersurvivors is a tremendoussource of encouragement andinspiration, too. But for me,the ultimate sources ofstrength were faith andhumor. Never forget how tolaugh!

— Jill Andrews, Decatur

www.herald-review.com SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2011 DECATUR, ILLINOIS THINK PINK 5

DMH competes for best pink glove videoHospitalhopes toease patients’mindsduring treatments


DECATUR — DecaturMemorial Hospital has con-tributed its fair share to thepotpourri of pink items thatappear every October inrecognition of NationalBreast Cancer AwarenessMonth.

Flamingos adorning areayards and a lively onlinevideo featuring hospitalemployees and supporters inpink exam gloves were justtwo of this year’s contribu-tions.

According to MedlineIndustries Inc., a medicalsupply company, the originalPink Glove Dance video wasfilmed at Providence St.Vincent Medical Center inPortland, Ore., and debutedin November 2009. Thevideo, which featured 200hospital workers, has sincegained more than 13 millionviews on YouTube. A sequelvideo produced last Octoberfeatured 4,000 health work-ers and breast cancer sur-vivors.

DMH got in on the funlast year, creating its ownvideo in a similar style. Thisyear, the hospital is one ofmany businesses and groupsparticipating in a contestsponsored by Medline. First,second and third place willearn $10,000, $5,000 and$2,000 for breast cancercharities of their choice.

“So many people liked thevideo, Medline decided theywere going to do a little com-petition with it,” Jenny Bran-denburg, director of womenand children’s services atDMH, said of the pink glovephenomenon.

DMH’s submission to thecontest is one of morethan 130 from hospitalsand groups all over thecountry. The hospitalis hoping to winmoney to support itsbreast cancer servicesat the DMH Cancer CareInstitute.

Approximately 250DMH employees andsupporters partici-pated in this year’svideo, said Branden-burg.

The video focuseson some of the experiencesthose diagnosed with breastcancer would have in thehospital and introducesviewers to many of the peo-ple they might meet alongthe way.

Joyce Mazzotti, a 14-yearbreast cancer survivor,agreed to take on thepatient role in the video.She first appears in one ofthe hospital’s mammogra-phy facilities, and the cam-era follows her interactionswith doctors, nurses andstaff members in depart-ments along the way — allwhile Katy Perry’s “Fire-work” plays.

“For breast cancer patientsand survivors, a lot of peoplewho would be watching thevideo, it’s people they knowand they’ve seen,” said Bran-denburg.

She said she hopes thevideo helps generate aware-ness and provides a littleinspiration and a “sense ofhope” for those who are expe-riencing their own journeyswith breast cancer.

Brandenburg recalled onepatient bumping into her andtelling her that on days shewasn’t feeling well duringher treatments, she would goto the website and watch thevideo to bring her a little bitof joy.

“I’m hoping it relievestheir mind a little bit to knowthat we’re with them all theway through the process,”said Brandenburg.

The video entries can beseen at http://pinkglovedance.com, and the winnerswill be announced via thesite Oct. 28.

In addition to funding thecontest, Medline is donatinga portion of each sale of its

pink gloves to theNational Breast Cancer

Foundation. To date,the company hasgiven more than$800,000 to the founda-

tion to help fund mam-mograms for the under-

served.DMH’s video was

screened at thehospital’s Eveningin Pink event heldOct. 7 at TheDecatur Club. Inaddition to the danc-

ing and pink decor anddrinks, DMH also offeredseveral health screeningsand some educational mate-rials about breast cancerand women’s health in gen-eral.

Karen Oesch, mammogra-phy coordinator at the DMHBreast Center, sent atten-dees home with cards to useto schedule their mammo-grams.

“I think people sometimesforget that they’re due tohave screening tests, andthey try to avoid them unlesstheir doctors hound them,”

she said, adding that it helpsto remind people in a casualatmosphere.

Margie Monson, a 10-yearemployee of the cateringdepartment at DMH said sheenjoyed attending the specialevent, as she usually has towork most of them. Monsonsaid breast cancer hasn’ttouched her life, but workingin the health care settingmakes her much more likelyto take care of herself andget checked.

Josephine Bisch attendedthe event wearing a pink out-fit and accessories in memo-ry of her two sisters who diedfrom breast cancer. She saidit’s important to raise aware-ness of the disease.

“I tell them all the time atthe church I go to,” she said.“I tell them to please getchecked.”

DMH also continued itsBreast Cancer is for theBirds campaign this year,selling plastic yard flamingosthroughout the month to sup-port breast cancer servicesat DMH.

Flamingos are availablefor purchase at the SouthShores Imaging Center,Forsyth Imaging Center,DMH Gift Shop and the Can-cer Care Center of Decatur.Flamingos purchased inhonor and memory of afriend or family member willbe listed in an ad in the Her-ald & Review.


Herald & Review photos/Jim Bowling

Jill Williams passes out a bag containing a bagel and breast cancer awareness materials during the

Early Detection Connection event at the Cancer Care Specialists of Decatur.

Tricia Henning sells a charity pink flamingo with the proceeds

going toward breast cancer awareness.

Five years since I heard thewords “its cancer” yet I havecome out on the other side.Hearing those words puts youin a dark, long tunnel, and

you wonder ifyou will eversee the lightat the end.

You worryevery timeyou go forchemo, “Will

I have a reaction? Will myblood be good enough? I canhave it, is it working?” Thenyou have the radiation, andyou hope that they made themold accurate so the spot isbeing treated. You wonderabout how long it will be untilyou get your strength back. Itis a journey like none youhave ever taken, but it is cer-tainly life changing.

The things I used to worryabout, I don’t now. I stop andsavor the small things andremember that when I amweary, it is not the boneweary body aching tirednessbrought on by chemo.

How do you get through it?One day at time with support.You need friends calling,sending cards and prayers,and you need an “I can” atti-tude. My words of advicewould be: “Keep the faithbaby. Hang strong andremember cancer can not robyou of your personality,unless you let it. Do notbecome a ‘woe-is-me’ person;be firm and strong and deter-mined to see it through.”

I looked forward to my five-year checkup thinking, “oh Iwill get rid of the anticancerdrug.” However, at thatcheckup my doctors encour-aged me to continue on withthe pill because my cancerhad been so aggressive andbecause of my family history.So now I take that little pilland think, “Do your stuff pill.I want to see more sunrises,more grandkids and fill mydays with great memories.”

My new motto is: “Do itnow.”

— Marilyn J. Donahoo, Shelbyville

245 W. First Dr. • Decatur, IL

Ph. 217-429-5165

Fax 217-429-5172

www.dalessouthlakepharmacy.com

Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30-6 • Sat 8:30-3

“Friends HelpingFriends”

Dale

Says… Help Us BeatBreast Cancer!

Dale's carries many gift items that donate a portion to Breast Cancer Research, including:

• Special Pink Ribbon Jewelry• Caren Bath & Body Products• "Why We Walk" Picture Frames• Many Other Unique Gift Items!

Survivor Stories

MORE STORIES:


Recognizing the early warning signs of

melanoma is important.

Check yourself regularlyRemember the

ABCDEof melanoma

when examining your moles.

Asymmetry Border Color Diameter Evolving

606 W. Pershing Rd., Decatur217-877-7171

www.leeskincare.com

Ph: 1-866-215-2838Decatur

FAMILY OF DEALERSHIPS

Ph: 1-866-981-4338Sullivan

Proud supporter of

Breast Cancer Awareness!

www.jacksoncars.comYour local

Internet Dealer


Shops, communitytake action forcancer awareness


DECATUR — In the fiveyears since the St. Mary’sHospital Real Men Wear Pinkcampaign began, pink dressshirts, ties and cufflinks havebecome a ubiquitous sight onFridays in October and atmany other times of the year.

The campaign originated in2006 as a joint effort betweenSt. John’s Hospital, a sisterhospital of St. Mary’s, and theAmerican Cancer Society. St.Mary’s and Neuhoff MediaDecatur brought it to town,said Brian Byers, vice presi-dent of development forNeuhoff Media and host ofthe morning show on WSOY.

“We’ve been involved fromthe very beginning,” he said.

With the help of Lori Ker-ans, a member of an advisorycouncil for oncology servicesat St. Mary’s and head coachof the Millikin Universitywomen’s basketball team, theevent has grown to encom-pass a series of pink-themedhigh school football gamesand other sporting eventsmeant to raise awareness andfunds for local breast cancereducation programs.

“It’s fun to watch the highschool kids embrace a causeand get involved with some-thing bigger than them-selves,” Byers said.

The young men don’t thinkit’s a big deal to be seen sport-ing pink polos, socks, T-shirts,jerseys and other items, hesaid. But Byers said aware-ness has come a long way. Heremembers a time when peo-ple were reluctant to say theword “cancer” out loud.

Men need to talk to thewomen in their lives andencourage them to bescreened for breast cancer, hesaid. “The most important

thing that we do in this is getthe message out.”

So far, more than 100 notablecommunity men have beeninvolved with the campaign.This year’s men in pinkinclude local physicians, healthworkers and businessmen.

Ryan Spurlock and GeorgeStreckfuss, owners of TheBrass Horn, a men’s clothingstore downtown, have support-ed the campaign from the

beginning, offering an assort-ment of pink clothing andaccessories throughout Octoberand donating some of the pro-ceeds back to the campaign.

“Every year it has sur-prised me the involvementthat people have put towardit,” Streckfuss said at a kick-off reception at The BrassHorn.

He estimated that the shophas donated more than $5,000to the campaign. This year,the store sold close to $2,000worth of pink merchandise inits first week, he said.

The Brass Horn also creat-ed special pink-ribbon cuf-flinks in the third year of thecampaign. This year, all pro-ceeds from the $75 items willbe donated to Real Men WearPink, Streckfuss said.

Val Jordan, director ofoncology services at St.Mary’s Cancer Care Center,attended the pink-themedMaroa-Forsyth football gamein September.

“The cheerleaders were alldecked out in pink,” she said.

Jordan said her daughtercollected more than $250 forthe cause at the gate.

“It says to me that the wordis out,” she said. “We’re get-ting the word out. We’re get-ting the awareness out. Ithink we’re tapping into awhole generation of people, ofkids, really, that we’re raisingthe awareness of.”

The hospital’s cancer cen-ter also is honoring its breastcancer patients this month.

“Internally at the cancercenter, we just have give-aways for our breast cancerpatients and raise aware-ness,” Jordan said, addingthat employees are distribut-ing educational materials,small gifts and things tomake them feel special.

Money raised through theReal Men Wear Pink Cam-paign goes to fund the hospi-tal’s breast cancer educationand awareness programs inthe community.

Byers urged area men andwomen to show their supportfor the cause.

“Have these conversationswith your loved ones,” hesaid. “Wear pink on Friday.It’s just an easy, symbolicway to show support and tocause and create conversa-tion with the people you runinto.”


Men in pink campaign reaching local level


DECATUR — If the shoefits, bid on it.

Organizers of In Her Shoes& His Too hoped area resi-dents would take that adviceto heart as they approachedthe special online auction tobenefit Come Together — Let’sWalk, a summertime run andwalk with its proceeds goingto local breast, ovarian andcervical cancer programs.

A cocktail hour and recep-tion was scheduled for Oct. 13at The Decatur Club, butorganizers decided to movethe event to an online format,with bidding conducted viaemail. The auction packagescould be viewed on the walk’sFacebook page.

The auction featured 16packages centered on a shoetheme — some with decoratedshoes and others with assort-ed items and creations.

“So many of our peoplehere locally have walked inthe shoes of somebody whohas been diagnosed with can-cer,” said walk coordinatorand local businesswomanCindy Deadrick-Wolfer.

Local businesses andorganizations worked to cre-ate the packages, whichranged in theme from golf tobeauty, Halloween and fit-ness, said Deadrick-Wolfer.Millikin University, JergerPediatric Dentistry, FringeSalon, The Little Theatre-Onthe Square and others con-tributed to the cause.

The event, which had been

conducted as a cocktail hourand silent auction in the past,usually generated between$10,000 and $12,000. The ideaoriginated out of the conceptof one’s journey with cancer,said Deadrick-Wolfer.

Tammy Griffin, co-owner ofEarthen Pottery, said hershop donated an auctionpackage this year.

“What we’re doing is kind ofdifferent,” she said, addingthat the item consisted of apair of pots shaped like feetand stuffed with Life is Goodproducts. “It’s just kind of afeel-good message and some-thing to make people smileand laugh at when they see it.”

Griffin said she wasimpressed by the inclusivenessof the Come Together eventand wanted to help promotelocal cancer awareness efforts.

“I think it’s important tohelp raise money for this kindof a program, just for peopleto be aware that it is goingon, and it is going on full-force,” she said.

Griffin said that althoughshe doesn’t have a personal orfamily connection to women’scancers, she’s happy to beable to support the cause.

“My heart goes out to allwho do,” she said.


Survivor Stories

In Her Shoes auction aids cancer programs

Herald & Review/Kelly J. Huff

Breast cancer survivor Jill Hartsock displays her 2010 entry into the

In Her Shoes auction event. Hartsock’s entry reminds her of a book

on fancy shoes that a friend gave her along with the tea set she

used during her recovery.

Pink bracelets are displayed for

the Real Men Wear Pink cam-

paign.

Herald & Review photos/Mark Roberts

A special cuff link, designed for St. Mary’s Hospital Real Men Wear

Pink campaign, is displayed at the kickoff reception at The Brass

Horn.

I was 53 years old and hadnever missed a mammogramsince I turned 40. I wasworking full time when Ifound the lump. It turned out

to be stage3b breastcancer with17 positivelymphnodes. Aftertwo opera-tions, chemo

and 33 radiation treatments,I am so thankful to say I ama five year and five monthssurvivor. I was blessed to be

able to work throughout mytreatments. My sources ofstrength were my faith inGod, my wonderful husbandwho went to every appoint-ment and treatment with me,my children and grandchil-dren wonderful friends andco-workers and two very gift-ed oncologists. I would tellothers to be very pro activeabout their health, to staypositive and most important-ly, ask God for strength andknow that he will get youthrough this journey.

— Linda Carter

MORE STORIES:


BY SHARON BARRICKLOWFor the Herald & Review

SHELBYVILLE — VickyWagner wears a T-shirt thattells her story. “No they’renot real,” reads the letteringacross her chest. “The realones tried to kill me.”

The Shelbyville woman wasone of the featured speakersat a recent “Girls Night Out”at the Lake Shelbyville Visi-tor’s Center. The monthlyevent sponsored by ShelbyMemorial Hospital, addresseswomen’s health issues. ForOctober, the focus was onbreast cancer awareness.

Wagner told with laughterhow soreness in her breastin October of 2009 led to thediscovery of a fast growingtumor that eventually senther to Mayo Clinic in Min-nesota for surgery and treat-ment. She urged the morethan 60 women in the audi-ence to be proactive in theirown health care and to get to

know their own bodies.“If there is something

wrong, tell your doctor rightaway,” she said.

Wagner’s good humor andgallantry during her treatmentled her friend and co-workerSteve Koontz to custom build apink “Fight like a Girl” motor-cycle that the hospital and theShelby County Soil and WaterConservation District are raf-fling off to raise money forcancer patient services.

“I wanted to do somethingto show her how much wesupported her,” Koontz said.“Vicky doesn’t do thingssmall, so a big motorcyclewas the right thing to do.”

Tickets for the custom bike,valued at $13,500 are availableat mysmh.org

Women attending the pres-entation took home a varietyof gifts provided by the hospi-tal, other businesses and theAmerican Cancer Society.

Shelby Memorial CEO Mar-

ilyn Sears said bringingwomen’s health informationto the public was an impor-tant mission for the hospital.

“We do this every monthexcept December,” she said.“Next month will be diabetesinformation and in Januarywe’ll be looking at stress.They’re fun events, and wehope women will take theinformation to be moreaware of their own health.”

For Koontz, the custommotorcycle for a friend hasturned into a business. HisFighting Chance Customs iscurrently building a new chop-per as a fundraiser for theChief Crazy Horse NationalMonument in South Dakota.

Wagner left her audiencewith a positive thoughtregardless of their health sta-tus.

“Make the best of everygood minute you have,” shesaid. “It’s a ride, but you canget through it.”

BOB RIDINGS in Pana BOB RIDINGS in Pana

(217) 562-3986 PRICING ONLINE 24/7 www.bobridingschrysler.com

88 N. Locust, Pana 217-562-3986N. Locust, Pana 217-562-3986 Buddy Daniels Laverne HolthausRick Callison

BOB RIDINGS in Panain Panain Panain Panain Panain Panain Panain Pana

We SupportBreast Cancer

Awareness

Nutritional Items

Health Food • Vitamins

Gourmet • Gift Items • Teas

Over 250 Herbs & Spices

LOCALLY OWNED FOR OVER 34 YEARS

BUY 1 - GET 1 50% OFF*

*Includes Sale, & Items!

*Supplements of equal or lesser value only. *Limit one coupon and one item per customer.*Not valid with any other offer or any prior purchases. *Must present original coupon. *Expires 11/20/11

OPEN EVERYDAY 9-5 SUN NOON-5

1405 MARI MANN LN DECATUR IL 62521 • RT 48 S OFF ROCK SPRINGS RD

(217) 429-1555 • www.marimann.com

Highest Quality & Lowest Cost on Alternatives that WorkSM

Since 1977

TM

Mari Mann Herbs, Your Supplement Store & MoreSM

1533 North Water St. Decatur, IL • 217-428-7762

Help regulate stress and keepyour spine and nervous systemhealthy by receiving regular

chiropractic care.

Chiropractic adjustments, therapiesand exercise recommendations canhelp attain optimum health and curbthe influence of stress on the body.

Chiropractic care can help break the cycle of increasing symptoms

by stopping the pain and improving the function of a person’s body.

Call for a

consultation

today!

w w w. d e c a t u r b a c k d o c . c o m | Appointments available Mon-Fri 8-6 and Sat. 8-12

In Support of Breast Cancer

Awareness Month

WE’RE THINKING PINK AT. . .

1550 W. Springfield Road, Taylorville • 1-866-641-0274 • Trinity DodgeOnline.com

IN SUPPORT OF

Survivor urges women to be proactive

Documents

Think Pink