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Life as a breast cancer survivor takes on a variety of possibilities. For each woman featured here, the experience is uniquely personal and has definitely been life-altering. For each of them, a change took place, not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually, as well.
This is the final edition of The Ardmoreite’s “Living Pink” series. Today, our four special ladies — Kim Turner, Barbara Thompson, Carolyn Owen and Becky Summers — tell us what their lives are like after having battled and beaten the deadly disease, and give advice to other women to make their own health a priority,
Becky Summers, cont.
By Marsha Miller
marsha.miller@ardmoreite.com
Becky Summers said “absolutely” her life after breast cancer is different than the one she lived before breast cancer.
“The eyes I saw through before are not the eyes I see with today. It is if God has let me see a glimpse of the secret. I would not wish breast cancer on anyone. I would wish the experience on everyone,” Becky said.
Before breast cancer Becky described herself as a “driven.” Her life was all about doing more, accomplishing more and striving to reach what she perceived as the next plateau in reaching the pinnacle of success.
Today, she focuses on the things she has found to outweigh her earlier goals. And surprisingly, some of the goals she previously struggled to attain she has reached without effort.
“All my life I struggled with my weight. But my size actually helped me while I was in treatment. At the same time while I was in radiation I started concentrating on eating healthy. I began to realize food is a fuel source rather than a pleasure source,” she said.
“I used to never eat breakfast, now I do. I drink more water and I walk every day. I give myself permission to get more rest and focus on time to be still — to listen to my body.”
Those lifestyle changes, another of the God-given gifts Becky said she received during her journey with breast cancer, has resulted in a slimmer trimmer woman, who radiates a natural energy and an overall glow of health. And the gift brought Becky even deeper realizations.
“I found that when you care for yourself, you also take better care of others. My old self was introduced to a new self,” she said.
And the realizations haven’t been just about Becky.
Life as a breast cancer survivor takes on a variety of possibilities. For each woman featured here, the experience is uniquely personal and has definitely been life-altering. For each of them, a change took place, not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually, as well.
This is the final edition of The Ardmoreite’s “Living Pink” series. Today, our four special ladies — Kim Turner, Barbara Thompson, Carolyn Owen and Becky Summers — tell us what their lives are like after having battled and beaten the deadly disease, and give advice to other women to make their own health a priority,
Becky Summers, cont.
By Marsha Miller
marsha.miller@ardmoreite.com
Becky Summers said “absolutely” her life after breast cancer is different than the one she lived before breast cancer.
“The eyes I saw through before are not the eyes I see with today. It is if God has let me see a glimpse of the secret. I would not wish breast cancer on anyone. I would wish the experience on everyone,” Becky said.
Before breast cancer Becky described herself as a “driven.” Her life was all about doing more, accomplishing more and striving to reach what she perceived as the next plateau in reaching the pinnacle of success.
Today, she focuses on the things she has found to outweigh her earlier goals. And surprisingly, some of the goals she previously struggled to attain she has reached without effort.
“All my life I struggled with my weight. But my size actually helped me while I was in treatment. At the same time while I was in radiation I started concentrating on eating healthy. I began to realize food is a fuel source rather than a pleasure source,” she said.
“I used to never eat breakfast, now I do. I drink more water and I walk every day. I give myself permission to get more rest and focus on time to be still — to listen to my body.”
Those lifestyle changes, another of the God-given gifts Becky said she received during her journey with breast cancer, has resulted in a slimmer trimmer woman, who radiates a natural energy and an overall glow of health. And the gift brought Becky even deeper realizations.
“I found that when you care for yourself, you also take better care of others. My old self was introduced to a new self,” she said.
And the realizations haven’t been just about Becky.
“I have also had the honor and the blessing of being able to share with so many other women. I have felt a power, love and energy that only comes from sharing. It’s a gift I want to give — (tell others) to open the door and let God in and people in. Part of what I’m sharing is that no one is alone.”
What tips does she offer those women who are on their own breast cancer journey?
“Prayer and focus on attitude —the glass isn’t half empty, it’s half full,” she said. “I didn’t do it alone and I encourage others to ask for prayers — ask people to pray for you and draw on the energy that comes from that. You don’t start alone and you don’t end alone. Our shoulders just aren’t big enough, but God’s shoulders are.”
Becky also offers some practical tips.
“They call chemo the ‘Red Dragon’ but if you keep ice chips in your mouth both before and during treatment it helps keep you from getting mouth sores. Overall, just keep yourself really hydrated and even though you get really fatigued, walking and moving will really lessen that fatigue,” she said.
Today Becky sees through new eyes and lives a new lifestyle, but she doesn’t call herself a survivor.
“The word survivor suggests I was a victim. I was redeemed. I’m alive and living not just surviving. There is no burden or load. Cancer was not a punishment or a burden,” she said.
“Each day I take the experience of breast cancer with me as a blessing and a reminder of the gift of my life and the incredible miracles that happen every day. At the beginning Dr. Harris told me, ‘Your life will never be the same.’ I don’t think he knew the extreme impact my journey would really have. God promised me metamorphosis and He delivered a true transformation.”
Carolyn Owen, cont.
By Jennifer Lindsey
jennifer.lindsey@ardmoreite.com
After she began taking Arimidex for her breast cancer, Carolyn Owen’s life returned to what it had been.
“It’s back to business as usual now, and I don’t think about it,” she said.
Carolyn returned to her job at Arbuckle Life Solutions, her water aerobics class and her church. Although many know about her journey with breast cancer, it is not often discussed.
“They wouldn’t have an occasion to mention it unless they were faced with the same thing,” Carolyn said.
While she has not known anyone else who has been diagnosed with the disease since her surgery, Carolyn has discussed things with her friends who also have had breast cancer.
For the most part, Carolyn, her family and her friends have been able to return to life as it was before she was diagnosed.
“I was hoping they’d be nicer to me, but they aren’t,” she joked.
Carolyn also lives with no regrets about her treatment decisions.
“Actually, I don’t think I’d do anything different than what I did,” she said.
She goes for checkups with her doctor, but does not worry about the chance of reoccurrence.
“I don’t worry about it. I would be shocked if they told me it came back, and I’m always glad when the doctor tells me it’s good,” Carolyn said.
The only change Carolyn recognizes is the prosthesis that she fits into her bra.
“Probably messing with that is the only thing I’d do differently,” Carolyn said.
Although there are special swimsuits available for breast cancer survivors, Carolyn sows her own pocket for the prosthesis into her swimsuit.
She doesn’t sew a lot — she did more when her children were little — but she has been able to do the alterations she needs.
Carolyn credits a lot of her success to her faith.
“I feel like prayer was very important in my case,” she said.
She was also on the prayer list at her church.
“They were very supportive of me. We shouldn’t forget the power of prayer,” she said.
Another inspiration for Carolyn was the book “Uplift” by Barbara Delinsky.
“I recommend it to anyone that has breast cancer. She goes into anything and everything — wigs, bras and a lot of spiritual stuff that was uplifting,” Carolyn said.
She is also supportive of breast cancer research, as it provided her with the pill she takes today.
“I don’t know if we’ll ever find a cause for breast cancer, but research is important,” she said.
Carolyn stresses the need for breast cancer patients to be positive and think of the future.
“Whatever they decide to do, they need to know they will get their life back and get back to normal,” she said.
She also recommends returning to regular activities as soon as possible.
“Everybody’s different, my scars aren’t limiting — I can wear the same necklines and all. I just think the main thing is that it is not the end of the world and you will get back to normal and you’ll be healthy again,” she said.
Kim Turner, cont.
By Leah J. Simmons
leah.simmons@ardmoreite.com
Kim Turner’s journey through cancer has been a life-altering, eye-opening experience. She credits God, her family and her friends for seeing her through what could have been a life-taking disease.
Even though she is cancer free after nearly four years, Kim is not without reminders of her ordeal.
“One of the side effects (of the radiation) was I have a metallic taste in my mouth. It’s not all the time, but every once in a while, I get that flashback,” she said.
“I still have pain in my ribs. It was constant for about two months after the radiation.”
Kim still has a mammogram every six months to make sure she is still free of the cancer and will continue taking medicine until she hits the five-year survivor mark.
She said she has had two “scares” since her surgery.
One was scar tissue and the other was a fluid-filled pocket that was aspirated. One of the benefits of being a cancer survivor is she doesn’t have to wait for the results of her mammograms.
“They tell me immediately,” she said. “But there’s always that fear that it could come back. There’s always that thought in the back of your mind, ‘Am I going to have to do this again?’”
Although the nagging anticipation of the cancer’s possible reoccurrence is constantly in the back of her mind, there have been some positive aspects to come out of her experience of having cancer.
“My relationship with God is as close as it could be. My spiritual relationship and my personal relationships with my family have changed, for the better. It has brought us closer,” Kim said. “It was very easy to prioritize everything.
“I know that there was a purpose for this. I know this if it was for no other reason than telling my story,” she said. “I am an advocate for mammograms and having women watch for unusual changes in their bodies.”
In a Citizen’s Viewpoint article Kim wrote in June 2006, she talked about her battle with cancer and urged other women to stop being afraid of what they “might” find, or any other reason that keeps them from having annual mammograms.
“I will never forget the day I learned I had breast cancer,: she wrote. “My life changed. Priorities changed. My relationship with my husband and my family changed. Friends became more precious.
“Phone calls more important. Quiet moments a necessity. Blessings and opportunities appreciated even more.”
To other women, she had this advice: “Don’t be stupid — yes stupid — when it comes to your health. Take care of yourself. You have a lot to lose if you don’t.
“Don’t be afraid to talk with your doctor about any concerns you may have regarding breast cancer,” she wrote.
“The old saying of ‘rather be safe than sorry’ should be posted over every mammogram machine in the world! Ask anyone who has had a scare or a confirmed diagnosis.”
Barbara Thompson, cont.
By Leah J. Simmons
leah.simmons@ardmoreite.com
As a 22-year cancer survivor, Barbara Thompson is not only a very blessed lady, she is also an inspiration to other women who also find themselves with the same diagnosis.
Knowing that survival is an actuality and not just a possibility gives them hope and comfort.
Barbara is a very private person most of the time, but where breast cancer is concerned, she comes out of the shadows to share her story in hopes that other women will not only be comforted, but those who do not have breast cancer will do the procedures that can ensure they can stay healthy and alive for as long as Barbara.
As are other women with the disease, Barbara is a big supporter of mammograms. Having one annually literally saved her life.
“Early detection is the key. The calicification wasn’t there (in the mammogram) the year before,” she said. “They have to have that base to compare it to and if they hadn’t had it, they might have missed it because it was so small.”
Because she has had breast cancer in her past, Barbara is at a higher risk of having it reoccur. But after 22 years, she breathes easily and does not dwell on it.
“I don’t even think about the cancer anymore,” Barbara said. “It’s been 22 years for me since the cancer, and that’s a lot of living. That means 22 years of holiday and birthdays. I’ve never been at any of these events that I have not been thankful.
“I always think about how blessed I am to be with my family,” she said. “When my families are here at special times I’m more grateful at those times than I am at other times of the year.”
Barbara has been able to watch her two sons grow from boys to men. Two grandchildren have been born since her cancer. Two granddaughters also have been married in that time.
“Twenty-two years is a lot of living,” she said. “When you truly took at life, it’s not the material things of life that matter, its always faith, family and friends that are important.”
Like most grandparents, Barbara said her grandchildren are “such a delight” and fill her life with joy. She said she just lives a simple life. Barbara loves her home and loves being a wife and is looking forward to setting the table for the family members that will share yet another Thanksgiving with her.
Although her life is fulfilling and complete, cancer is still a scare for other women and Barbara wants to do her part to help them.
“That’s why I tell this story. There will be some of them that hear it, some will take heed. And ignorance is just not bliss. Knowledge is what saves your life. I’m an advocate about that,” she said. “
I can sit down in a beauty shop chair and talk to someone about mammograms. I try to hit that when I can,” Barbara said. “ I think it’s important for women like me to share our knowledge. And you never know if it will save someone, but it’s worth trying.”
