Cancer Hits Close to Home
By Courtnie Beck, American Cancer Society intern
"I have always been concerned about the issue of cancer and wanted to help in any way I could. That's why when the opportunity for an internship at the American Cancer Society came up, I was thrilled and applied immediately.
The first day I learned so much about all the different kinds of cancer and how many people were affected by the disease. The statistics startled me. Then something unexpected happened.
A few days after I had started my internship I got a call from my mother telling me she just found out she had breast cancer. I was shocked. I knew the number of people affected by cancer was great and I had read about what cancer was, but nothing had prepared me for that. I always knew it existed, but never thought it would happen to me or my family. My Grandmother had breast cancer when I was very young, but it was a small lump and she did not have to have chemotherapy and only a little radiation.
As we found out more about my mother's condition, she had quit a large lump that was extremely invasive and developing rapidly. When they did the initial surgery to remove the cancer the doctor found another kind of cancer in her that they were not aware of. After further testing she decided to have a double mastectomy. All the cancer was removed successfully and she made it through the surgery with good spirits and high hopes. She is now in the process of chemotherapy, which is truly the worst part of the process. However, she only has a few more to go and she will be done with the therapy and able to recover on her own.
This had been hard on my family, but has also made us grow closer. We each have to step in and do our part because we know she is not able to do it. It also makes me value my health and my family's health a lot more. I am continually amazed by her high spirits and courage. She has not once complained and has such a positive outlook. I truly think it is her unwavering faith and optimistic attitude that has guided her through her journey to a joyful outcome. She has encouraged me to prioritize the important things in my life, such as my family, because you never know what tomorrow brings.
Now cancer is of even more concern to me. 3,900 people a year get some form of cancer in South Dakota, and the number is growing. People need to be aware that their lifestyle and habits affect their risk for getting cancer. 97% of breast cancers are curable if recognized and treated quickly. This is why it is important for individuals to be checked regularly and encourage their family members to be checked.
My mother never would have known she had cancer and it could have spread worse if she had not been checked. The American Cancer Society website is a great source of information for those going through cancer. There are also many programs that cancer patients and survivors can take part in, such as the American Cancer Society's Reach to Recovery program, which my mother plans on being involved with. Reach to Recovery is a one-on one support program that pairs a breast cancer survivor with a newly diagnosed woman. The idea is that no one understands it better than someone who has been through it. There is also the Cancer Survivors Network, an online resource where you can talk to others who are going through what your family is experiencing.
My wish for anyone going through cancer and their families is that they find reassurance and hope. The journey of cancer can be extremely scary and worrisome, but by surrounding yourself with uplifting people and getting the information and support you need, you can make it through this journey."
By Courtnie Beck, American Cancer Society intern
"I have always been concerned about the issue of cancer and wanted to help in any way I could. That's why when the opportunity for an internship at the American Cancer Society came up, I was thrilled and applied immediately.
The first day I learned so much about all the different kinds of cancer and how many people were affected by the disease. The statistics startled me. Then something unexpected happened.
A few days after I had started my internship I got a call from my mother telling me she just found out she had breast cancer. I was shocked. I knew the number of people affected by cancer was great and I had read about what cancer was, but nothing had prepared me for that. I always knew it existed, but never thought it would happen to me or my family. My Grandmother had breast cancer when I was very young, but it was a small lump and she did not have to have chemotherapy and only a little radiation.
As we found out more about my mother's condition, she had quit a large lump that was extremely invasive and developing rapidly. When they did the initial surgery to remove the cancer the doctor found another kind of cancer in her that they were not aware of. After further testing she decided to have a double mastectomy. All the cancer was removed successfully and she made it through the surgery with good spirits and high hopes. She is now in the process of chemotherapy, which is truly the worst part of the process. However, she only has a few more to go and she will be done with the therapy and able to recover on her own.
This had been hard on my family, but has also made us grow closer. We each have to step in and do our part because we know she is not able to do it. It also makes me value my health and my family's health a lot more. I am continually amazed by her high spirits and courage. She has not once complained and has such a positive outlook. I truly think it is her unwavering faith and optimistic attitude that has guided her through her journey to a joyful outcome. She has encouraged me to prioritize the important things in my life, such as my family, because you never know what tomorrow brings.
Now cancer is of even more concern to me. 3,900 people a year get some form of cancer in South Dakota, and the number is growing. People need to be aware that their lifestyle and habits affect their risk for getting cancer. 97% of breast cancers are curable if recognized and treated quickly. This is why it is important for individuals to be checked regularly and encourage their family members to be checked.
My mother never would have known she had cancer and it could have spread worse if she had not been checked. The American Cancer Society website is a great source of information for those going through cancer. There are also many programs that cancer patients and survivors can take part in, such as the American Cancer Society's Reach to Recovery program, which my mother plans on being involved with. Reach to Recovery is a one-on one support program that pairs a breast cancer survivor with a newly diagnosed woman. The idea is that no one understands it better than someone who has been through it. There is also the Cancer Survivors Network, an online resource where you can talk to others who are going through what your family is experiencing.
My wish for anyone going through cancer and their families is that they find reassurance and hope. The journey of cancer can be extremely scary and worrisome, but by surrounding yourself with uplifting people and getting the information and support you need, you can make it through this journey."
