DFS team is 'Huntin'For A Cure'

By JESSICA CREPPS
Daily Journal Staff Writer

Published: Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Updated: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 11:00 AM CDT

This isn’t Mindy Weber’s first year participating in Relay For Life, but this year she has four women to Relay for, co-workers, Brenda, Sherry, Paulette and Stacie.

Weber, who works at Division of Family Services, Children’s Division in Park Hills helped form the team ‘Huntin’ For A Cure’ after another co-worker, Brenda was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Brenda wasn’t alone. There were already at least three other women who had fought the war against cancer.

Brenda

Brenda’s family doesn’t have a history of breast cancer. So when she put off her mammogram she didn’t think there was anything to worry about.

After a medical procedure, she felt pain. She didn’t think there should be any pain associated with it, so she went to the doctor, who confirmed it was breast cancer.

Brenda has two daughters and a granddaughter.

“I knew I had it. That was OK. My mind shifted to prevention for my girls and my granddaughter,” Brenda said. “It has to start somewhere.”

The doctors suggested that her daughters and granddaughter begin to have baseline mammograms at age 30.

“I opted for a double mastectomy as a preventative measure so I don’t have to go through this again in a few years,” Brenda said.

Brenda has completed her chemotherapy and will start a vigorous five and a half week radiation treatment soon.

“I am hoping to be able to complete radiation closer to home, but if I have to drive to the city every day, I will,” she said. “I am doing great. My girls have been my support.”

Brenda maintains a positive attitude about her experience. She said she feels fortunate it isn’t worse.

Brenda is part of the Huntin’ For A Cure team and looks forward to participating in her first Relay For Life in July.

“My passion has always been about kids, keeping them safe,” Brenda said. “Now, I feel like I have found another niche in life, awareness and prevention. It can be a positive experience as well.”

Stacie

Stacie has been with the agency for 16 years. She was diagnosed with cervical/uterine cancer in March of last year.

“Every pap smear I ever had came back good,” Stacie said.

When she went for a surgical procedure, she was told she had cancer.

Stacie is doing well now and there is no sign of cancer.

“Everyone (at DFS) has really been supportive. They pulled together. They came to see me while I was in the hospital,” Stacie said. “No matter what we do in life, support is always good.”

Paulette

Paulette was diagnosed with breast cancer in February 2007. She completed treatment at the Siteman Cancer Center. She also had some treatment at the Oncology Center in Parkland Health Center in Bonne Terre.

“Everything fell into place for me,” Paulette said. “God arranged everything right before I started treatment.”

She saw an article about ‘Can-do Camp’ and they happened to have a spot still open.

She went to Potosi YMCA the weekend before she started her chemotherapy.

“They had skits of the different ways husbands and wives view cancer,” Stacie said. “The Look Good. . . Feel Better program was there and they taught me and the other women how to wear a wig and take care of our hair.”

Paulette has been with the state for 25 years. When she returned to DFS after treatment, she wore lots of hats. Her co-workers had came together and all paid $1 to wear a hat. They held a barbecue and a washer tournament.

“When there is any type of need, the employees here really come together,” she said.

Sherry

Sherry has fought the battle against cancer too many times. She was diagnosed in March 2000.

“I was really tired when I went in for a pap,” she said. “I had 21 hours of credit that semester and just thought I was wore out.”

Tests diagnosed her with cancer.

She completed her treatments in April 2002. While undergoing treatment, she stayed at Hope Lodge.

Hope Lodge is a home away from home for more than 2,000 caregivers and patients receiving treatment in the Kansas City and St. Louis area each year.

“It was great. They allowed my mom to stay there during my surgery, and shuttled her back and forth,” Sherry said. “It was a great environment. It made me feel lucky. It was therapy, just talking with the other patients and hearing their stories.”

She also had treatment at Siteman Cancer Center.

Sherry has also battled skin cancer as recently as January of this year.

“It runs in the family,” she said.

Sherry’s grandchildren always have to wear sunscreen and she is careful about how much she is in the sun.

“I grew up in the days of lying out with baby oil,” she said.

The threat of skin cancer was never there years ago. May is National Skin Cancer Detection Month. Visit www.cancer.org for ways to prevent skin cancer and to catch it in the early stages.

Huntin’ For A Cure Relay For  Life team has several in-office fundraisers throughout the year. Weber helped organize a yard sale which brought in a few hundred dollars for the team and has a Father’s Day fundraiser planned as well.

The money raised goes to help cancer patients in St. Francois County. Money goes to things such as Hope Lodge where Sherry stayed and Look Good. . . Feel Better that Paulette attended.

Look Good . . . Feel Better will be offered to female patients from 1-3 p.m., May 18 at Mineral Area Regional Medical Center in Farmington. The program is designed to help women undergoing cancer treatment feel good about their appearance. For information or to register call Lynn Stephan at 314-286-8165 or 800-489-9730 or ACS’s Patient Education Resource Center in Farmington at 573-747-3197.

Jessica Crepps is a staff writer for the Daily Journal. You may call  her at 573-431-2010 ext. 143, e-mail jcrepps@dailyjournalonline.com or fax to 573-431-2908.

Archives Web Site Marketplace Obits Babies Jobs