Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Now that it has entered the month of October, it is time to start bringing to light awareness for breast cancer. 

More than 360,000 women a year get diagnosed with breast cancer, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.  

Courtney Carter, a mother of two beautiful daughters, was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was scared and nervous due to losing her mother to breast cancer 14 years before. Carter looked at her girls and realized she was going to fight this cancer no matter what. 

“Through it all, I reminded myself that this was just another chapter in my book, and I had no choice but to fight for my life,” Carter commented. 

Carter went through many treatments at doctor’s appointments to get her health back. She went through 16 rounds of chemotherapy for cancer, starting with four bi-weekly rounds of “Red Devil,” which caused hair loss, followed by 12 weekly rounds of Taxol to avoid neuropathy. After chemo, she had a double mastectomy with reconstruction, then daily radiation for seven and a half weeks. Radiation treatment involved using Mepatil to protect the skin, which prevented fatigue and damage. 

She is such a strong woman, who all women and girls should aspire to. 

Liz Sandvig, a former secretary at Waukee Elementary, was diagnosed with breast cancer.  

When she first got diagnosed, Sandvig realized how little she knew about cancer, let alone breast cancer. Sandvig is not a fan of surprises, so when she found out, feelings of uncertainty came over her. She was in the middle of planning her wedding and did not know what the future would hold. 

She got the call that she had cancer while working. Waukee Elementary was expecting over 100 visitors for the annual winter parties, but she persevered through the crazy thoughts of what if and what is to come. She followed her normal procedures with the help of her Waukee family. 

“I had the best work family that provided me with so much support in an area you could think of.  I was so lucky to have so many amazing cheerleaders in my corner.  I couldn’t have imagined going through all of it working with anyone else,” Sandvig said. 

Sandvig has beaten cancer! She still goes through immunotherapy to stay cancer-free. 

Debbie Erikson is a lactation consultant at MilkWorks and the Visiting Nurses Association. Erikson was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004.  

When Erikson was first diagnosed, she was scared. She had lost her dad to cancer, as well as her father-in-law to leukemia. 

As a lactation specialist, Erikson used her breasts daily, showing the mothers how to provide food for their children. She worked through this obstacle and felt grateful that she could still inform the population of new mothers!

Erikson did not want to worry her three children, so she and her husband did not speak to them about their mom having breast cancer. 

“Unfortunately, we did not talk to the children enough. I did not want them to worry. I tried to go on as if nothing was happening. I had my mastectomy and two days later went to Matthew’s concert at middle school!” Erikson exclaimed.

Erikson is still very sensitive to other women who get breast cancer. Her friend was diagnosed a year after Erikson, and her case was much worse than Erikson’s. Erikson’s mother was also diagnosed five years after her daughter. Erikson stood by both of their sides, helping them through the process and helping them not feel alone. 

Erikson has beaten breast cancer and proceeds to spread awareness for the cause.

October is time to recognize the brave women like Sandvig, Erikson and Carter who fought or continue to fight this disease. Remember, no woman is alone in this!