An anchor's story: Why I had my first mammogram on television

Editor's note: This morning Harry Smith shared his colonoscopy with a live national television audience on CBS. I give him a lot of credit. However he's not the first news anchor to share a medical test on the air. Neile Jones of KNWA-TV in Fayetteville, Arkansas included her viewers in a very personal moment: her first mammogram. In this essay she writes about what the experience was like before, during, and after.

Suzanne

I went to my boss a few years ago and told him I wanted to get my mammogram on television. At the time, I'd never had a mammogram and, with my family history, I knew I needed to get one. I was so nervous I even asked my friend, and Komen Ozark Affiliate Director, Alison Levin, to come with me.

In my mind, all this time I'd been doing stories with men and women who were sharing personal experiences with cancer in order to help others. I figured the best way I could forward that effort would be to take KNWA viewers through the screening mammogram process. I thought if I could get a mammogram with a photographer in the room, then maybe someone else might be inspired to get the screening mammogram that just might help save his or her life.

I have to admit I had some concerns as I walked into The Breast Center of Northwest Arkansas. My grandmother had breast cancer at a young age, and I knew that I might not get good news as a result of the screening. She was the reason I first became involved with Susan G Komen. She didn't have the options we have now. As I thought about her and all my friends and family, I quickly decided that the alternative, not knowing if I had the disease, would be even worse.

So the station called our sister station in Little Rock, and a female photographer came to Northwest Arkansas and went with me for my appointment. You know, it's not the most comfortable way to meet someone, but she quickly became a friend. We filled out paperwork, then I changed into a drape-type garment that would allow the person taking my mammogram images to shift the cloth so my breast could be placed into the necessary positions. I was given a robe to walk from the changing room to the room where my mammogram images would be taken.

Soon I was being position by a person I'd just met. She was very kind and respectful, always telling me why and how she was doing things. She adjusted the paddles that would hold my breast in place, and I was told to hold still as a beeping sound came from behind me to tell me the images were being taken. I was positioned several different ways so my doctor could see what might be necessary to inform me about my breast health.

I can't say the paddles or even the slight squeeze hurt, but I can say having someone shoot video of all this was uncomfortable. I knew I was exposed, no pun intended, and I pretty much couldn't wait to get myself wrapped back up in my robe again. I moved so much we ended up shooting at least one of the images again. That was probably because I wouldn't stop talking because I was nervous.

The whole process happened so quickly. I mean, the screening itself only took 10 or 15 minutes. Because the Breast Center knew we were doing a story, the doctor met with me immediately and explained my results to me. On that day, I got a clean bill of health and walked away feeling better because I was now armed with information I didn't have before the screening.

As we came back to the station, I couldn't wait to see the video and start piecing this story together. The photographer had been so careful you really couldn't see anything inappropriate, so my editing didn't take long at all.

I know a lot of people who think I was crazy to share this experience, but for me it was a way to show people how easy getting a mammogram is and why this screening is so important. I guess I felt it was a small way to show support for those fighting breast cancer and their loved ones. I still get teased sometimes, I've even been called "Mammogram Jones" by a few coworkers, but it's all in fun.

We all know someone who has fought or is fighting cancer. Sure I was uncomfortable, but that's nothing compared to what so many people deal with day in and day out: chemo, radiation, mastectomy, lumpectomy... the list goes on and on. I guess I just wanted to help where I could by sharing information that might somehow help save a life.

Here is a link to Neile's original story, click and you can watch the video

Neile Jones is primary co-anchor of the evening newscasts at KNWA-TV in Arkansas. 

She works closely with the Ozark affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for The Cure Foundation. Neile received National recognition from the Susan G. Komen Foundation for her efforts and was awarded the 2005 Cameo award for her volunteerism. In 2008 Neile was named a Yoplait Champion for her efforts in the fight against breast cancer.
She continues her efforts with an annual live broadcast of her local Race for the Cure, to donate to her team click here.

Neile has a dual Master's degree in Human Resources and Development and Management from Webster University.

The Call

Editor's note: Any cancer survivor will tell you, you never forget the moment you get the call. I still remember seeing the doctor's caller ID on the handset and knowing my life was about to change. Jody Schoger experienced that call a decade ago. However, as she shares in this story, that experience allowed her to help a friend through her darkest moment.

Suzanne

Helping Anita 

Without a doubt a trip to the dentist last week now outranks my first wisdom tooth extraction as my “most incredible appointment ever.”

Not that I’m writing an epistle about incredible dental appointments, but there’s something about surviving cancer that incredible things happen in the places where you’d least expect it.

Serendipity, yes.   Uncanny coincidence? Perhaps.  The act of a mysterious and often unfathomable God?  I leave that for you.  I have my own thoughts, my own faith, there.

When I first saw Anita, my dental hygienist, she looked like she was an exceptional mood.  Since she’d soon have that handy-dandy scraping tool in the vicinity of my gums I was glad for this. Insanely grateful, in fact.  I was also glad because it had been a bad year for her….man trouble, then a divorce, followed by money issues.  So we talked for a little bit about that and how she actually and truly WASN’T fat.  I get that.

She turned around with her back to me, lifted the bottom hem of her top and pinched a tad of flesh over her hips. “See?” she said, “I’m getting fat.”  

She isn’t.

Girlfriends, Anita is drop dead gorgeous.  Tall.  Long dark hair and eyes, with lovely brows that move up naturally in a question.  She’s intense, driven, funny, and the first girl you’d be in a hair-pullin’ mud fight with.  She’s an ass kicker and is gifted with horses.  If you ever have a “my little pony” moment and end up buying a horse, call HER first.  If harnessed (forgive the pun) she would make an extraordinary advocate for any cause.   She’s also, not surprisingly, a perfectionist.

I donned the stylin’ paper bib with the clips, and she peered into the computer to pull up my records.  She got to work.  When she was still working on my lower teeth she mentioned something about expecting a phone call from a doctor.  She scraped on.  Then she dropped the word biopsy and headed toward a tooth that usually sends me into the stratosphere.

By then I turned into one large nerve.

“Wha eyopsee,” I mumbled.

There was something about a breast lump, then oh, there were actually two breast lumps, and a lymph node that looked funny to the doctor so they did one there too.  The next thing I know she leans in to work on the inside of my front teeth – you know that space in between the upper incisors – and starts talking about how she negotiated the price for all of this with the practice business manager.

“I got all of it for $550,” she said then. She sat up suddenly and the scraper made a gesture through the air, “For pete’s sake my deductible is $10,000 and you know whose fault that is. Did I make a deal about his $6,000 of plastic surgery when we split?  Hell no you know I didn’t.”

She zoomed back in to check another troubling space between my bicuspids.  A space she tapped the handy-dandy tool against. “What happened there? I don’t like the sound of that,” she said.   “Do you suck on hard candy?”

She was maybe an inch from my head, concentrating on my damn, stupid, stupid, tooth.  I felt her phone start to vibrate.  Then again.

I gently pushed her hand back. “Your phone,” I said.

“Oh forget it,” she said.

“Let’s answer it.”
 

I already knew.

### 

We sat together while the call came in from her gynecologist.  I held her hand.  She squeezed mine back, in fact, so I covered hers with my other hand.  She talked for a few moments and I knew what she knew.  She was calm, and then moved the phone toward me so I could listen. Our heads were touching.  At that moment the strength of every survivor I’ve ever spoken with – and the grace of God – informed me.  It has been ten plus years since my diagnosis and anything I suffered, and my family suffered with me, condensed into helping Anita.  All that energy collapsed into a 90-second pause.  I prayed this strength would help form the foundation for her upcoming battle.  I felt the strength of all of us, the strength of my sister and yours.  Those I’d met, and those I’ve yet to meet.

Eventually I ended up with the phone and took notes for her.  I asked her doctor to fax us her pathology report.  I listened to the doctor talk about how hard it was to get into MD Anderson and I said, ‘you can refer yourself now.’ To myself I said, “what kind of BS is that?”  Anita is 37.  She’ll needs every tool in the cancer arsenal plus some, to do battle with this.  I showed her how to refer herself to M.D. Anderson, an NCI designated facility before I left her office that day.

Because she’s pretty, and she likes her looks (why shouldn’t she?) the strength of this woman is underestimated.  But her strength comes through loud and clear.  She’ll kick that bastard cancer where it hurts.

That’s one gift of survivorship.  I’m here to tell you about Anita and urge you to support her fight, as I support yours.
 
Love to you.  Do what you can, as you can.  Together, let’s prevent cancer.
Helping Anita © by Jody Schoger  

Jody Schoger is based in the Woodlands, Texas where she is a communications consultant. She describes herself as an optimist and cancer advocate who is working for a better world,"One word at a time." You can read more of her writing at http://womenwcancer.blogspot.com/

Could liposuction be a remedy for lymphedema?

Very interesting story from reporter Libby Hendren at television station WTSP in Tampa. Apparently, a study is investigating the possibility liposuction can be helpful for some patients with lymphedema.
Link to story here

The report says that the procedure is not typically covered by insurance, so they are taking donations to help the patients in the study.
Link to make donation

Corey Haim's mother is battling breast cancer, says late son was her caregiver

 The late actor and former teen idol Corey Haim was living with his mom who has breast cancer at the time of his death. Here is an updated story from People.
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20350340,00.html

Conan's tweet produces sweet reward for breast cancer fundraiser

I love this story. It makes me believe that there is still a lot of good that can be accomplished through social networking, and that's kind of the reason we are here.

According to Global Shift reporter Gabrielle Moore, apparently Conan O'Brien decided to follow a random person on Twitter. It turned out to be Sarah Killen, who was trying to raise 2,300 dollars to participate in a Komen 3-day walk.

The story has a very happy ending!

Read more.

Suzanne

Oncotype test is a go in Ontario

Forgive the rhyming headline, but I think this is very good news. I was always troubled by the fact that Canadians could not get the Oncotype Dx test, unless they could afford to pay for it. Then today I read this!
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ontario-now-paying-for-breast-cancer-test/article1494422/

I hope soon the rest of the country will follow suit.

Suzanne
photo from zazzle.com

Doubling Down

One of my favorite things about meeting breast cancer survivors is how we are able to accept each others' choices. A fellow survivor has a special understanding of how complicated selecting a surgery or course of treatment is.

A gentleman friend of mine, who had a different cancer, mentioned to me that he was sometimes surprised at how open many breast cancer women are about their treatments. I thought this may very well stem from the fact that when we are choosing, we need all the help we can get.

In the past few weeks I have had several conversations about how many young women I meet who are having bilateral mastectomies. It's a different trend. In the 1980's, lumpectomies became more common after Nancy Regan's surgery.

I thought the article on the New York Times' website took an interesting look at the quandary women face.
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/08/after-cancer-women-remove-healthy-breast/
What do you think? Let us know in our comments section.

Suzanne

Some like it pink

Editor's Note: Everybody emerges from cancer in a different way. Some women change careers, and some find a calling to start a business. Cathy McEvoy of Virginia discovered a passion for coloring the world pink, one party at a time. 

Suzanne

I was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer in May 2005. At the time, I was a successful executive in corporate America who didn’t realize that I was letting life pass me by. I used my diagnosis as a wake-up call and promptly resigned from my job to focus on educating myself and determining what the best treatment plan would be for me. As I underwent treatment, I also started a spiritual journey and began to look at things very differently than I ever have. I realized that I was overlooking many of the everyday things that I dismissed or missed completely. Oddly enough, these are the very things that give me most pleasure today. I don’t take anything for granted and I give gratitude each and every day for my blessings.

 

As part of my recovery and journey, I participated in my first large breast cancer walk in Washington DC. Supported by family and friends we became Team “3 to Go” and would make this an annual tradition changing our team name by counting down each year to that fifth and momentous year. I am proud to say that this year we will be Team “We Won” and we have been top fundraisers for two out of the last three years.

When we did the walk that first year, I planned a luncheon after to continue the spirit of celebration with our friends and family. To make the occasion even more special, I wanted to have pink ribbon themed party ware as part of our celebration. Imagine my surprise when I couldn’t find it anywhere in the world. It was this very moment that I felt a calling to do something unlike I have ever felt before. I knew I wanted to design a beautiful collection of pink ribbon themed party ware that helps women undergoing breast cancer treatment. Anyone who has undergone any major medical treatment knows the financial strain that comes with it, even for those with insurance. Being a part of the breast cancer club, I know firsthand how expensive medical care and treatment is even with insurance.

    

So, Celebrate In Pink was born! It has been a long journey with many challenges but I am proud to say that the collection is now available. It includes dinner and dessert plates, lunch and beverage napkins, note cards, invitations and a chic t-shirt. Balloons will be introduced later this year. The party ware can be used for any special occasion and is the only party ware that promotes socially responsible partying. Our customers come up with many uses for the unique party ware from bridal and baby showers to tailgating and little girl’s birthday parties.

Our passion and heart is with the many women undergoing breast cancer treatment, they are the real heroes. We donate a portion of our profit to support them and their families, we are their voice.

Five years ago I would have never guessed I would be doing what I am doing right now and I wouldn’t trade my journey for anything in the world. I truly believe everyone has the power to write their own story and so far I am thrilled with how mine is unfolding. We invite you to help ‘our heroes’ by browsing our unique collection of party ware and gifts at CelebrateInPink.com 

Kathy is a four year breast cancer survivor who wants to make a difference for women and families undergoing breast cancer treatment in need of financial assistance. She has taken over 25 years of corporate experience and launched Celebrate In Pink, LLC in June 2008. Kathy and her business partner, Deb Pfiffner, are dedicated to this cause.