By MICHELLE MILLER
Staff Writer
More than 300 people and 100
survivors participated in Cancer
Survivor’s Day at the Bassett Healthcare
Clinic on Sunday.
The event, held from noon to 2
p.m., included a family-style barbecue,
a Chinese auction, musical entertainment
by Skip West and balloon
extravaganzas for children.
The celebration of life among cancer
survivors, their families and
friends is very heartwarming, said
William Richtsmeier, director of the
Bassett Cancer Institute.
``The event is important because
it highlights that living a fulfilling
life after cancer is possible and also
supports and reinforces a positive
commitment to resolving issues of
cancer survivorship,’’ he said.
Among survivors joining the festivities
were sisters Amy (who requested
her last name not be put in
print) and Michelle Griffiths. Both
were diagnosed with breast cancer
in their 30’s.
The sisters have a family history
of breast cancer. They had two aunts
diagnosed with it, a great grandmother
on their father’s side and on
mother’s side, and a grandmother
who died of the illness.
Michelle, 41, is a six-year breast
cancer survivor. Her cancer was
found through a breast self-exam
and confirmed by a mammogram.
She was diagnosed at 35 with stage
2 A because no lymph nodes were involved.
Amy, 36, who is currently in treatment,
found her cancer through a
breast self-exam two Easter Sunday’s
ago. Her cancer was at stage 2
B because it spread under four lymph
nodes and mass was under 5 centimeters.
Michelle and Amy both underwent
bilateral mastectomies. Amy is
getting chemo now, which will be followed
by additional chemo and radiation.
Amy is taking Herceptin, a drug
not available to cancer patients years
ago. She said the drug was not available
when her sister was diagnosed
and without it, she would not have
the prognosis she now has. Amy said
she is thankful because she wants to
be around for her young boys of 5
years old and 8 years old.
Both Michelle and Amy have chosen
to get hysterectomies to reduce
the risk of ovarian cancer. According
to Bassett Healthcare spokeswoman
Karen Huxtable, women who have
breast cancer are at higher risk for
ovarian cancer. Michelle had her
hysterectomy and Amy plans to have
hers after she is done with her cancer
treatments.
The sisters said they feel lucky to
have a strong family support system,
especially their mother who has been
such a strong support system for the
both of them.
``She’s been there every step of
the way,’’ they said.
Amy said coincidently both she
and her sister have the same doctor,
Eric Bravin. She said she cannot say
enough about him.
``He is just amazing,’’ she said.
``Everyone in the cancer center
has just been so wonderful,’’ said the
sisters. ``They really are a cancer
treatment team. It takes that team
to get you through something like
this.’’
Both Michelle and Amy work at
New York Central Mutual Insurance
Co. in Edmeston— Michelle for 18
years and Amy for 17. They said the
company has been very supportive
with its good health and disability
benefits as well as emotionally. They
said the president of the company
sent both of them flowers and a message
of support.
If diagnosed with cancer, educate
yourself, advised Michelle.
``Early detection is key,’’ she continued.
``You have to be your own
best advocate; early detection is the
reason we’re both here. And remember,
there is always hope.
Amy said she firmly believes
strength is in one’s mind.
``Cancer has not been bad for me,’’
she said. ``I’ve learned so much about
myself and the goodness of others.
You have to have faith. It is a spiritual
journey.
Amy said her grandmother always
said to take time to smell the
roses.
``Of course no one does, you never
do until something like this
happens," she said. ``It forces you to
slow down and reflect. You grow
from every single battle you have
with cancer...like losing my hair.’’
Amy shaved Michelle’s hair when
she began using it and had her hair
shaved by her friend and hair dresser
Amy Dye of Burlington Flats.
According to Michelle, the hair
dresser then shaved her own hair so
her sister would know how much
support she has.
Trish Reynolds, breast cancer coordinator
at Bassett, said the national
estimate of deaths caused by
breast cancer in 2009 is 40,170 females
and 440 males. She said there
will be approximately 192,370 new
cases diagnosed in women and 1910
cases found in men.
Reynolds said the chances of
women getting breast cancer are 124
out of 100,000 and the incidence increases
with age.
The 5 year survival rate for early
localized disease is 98 percent compared
to 26.7 percent if there are distant
metastases, said Reynolds.
According to Reynolds, the Breast
Care Steering Committee at Bassett
has adopted screening guidelines,
based on National Comprehensive
Cancer Network Guidelines, for
women between the ages of 20 and
40.
She said clinical breast exams by
a health care provider are given every
1-3 years and periodic self-breast
exams are encouraged.
Annual clinical breast exams, annual
mammograms, periodic self
breast exams are given to women
over the age of 40, said Reynolds.
According to Reynolds, the risk of
developing breast cancer is higher
among women whose close blood relative
has the disease. Having one
first degree relative (mother, sister
or daughter) with breast cancer approximately
doubles a women’s risk,
said Reynolds.
``Having two first degree relatives
increases her risk about five fold,’’
she continued. `` This is regardless if
the relatives are on the woman’s
mother’s or father’s side of the family.’’
