Today, ideastream continues its series – “Cleveland Tough: Tales of Survival and Perseverance.” This week, we look at breast cancer. The CDC says Ohio ranks in the top quarter of states for women’s deaths stemming from the disease, emphasizing the need for early detection and treatment. In part four of our month-long series, 66-year-old Solon resident Carole Churgovich discusses her brush with breast cancer, and how she keeps strong.
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My name is Carole Jean Churgovich, and I am a 7-year survivor of breast cancer.
I was diagnosed February the 14 th, 2008. On Valentine’s Day. So it was quite an evening for us.
I received the phone call after I got home from work, when the doctor told me I had “infiltrating ductal carcinoma”. Early stage breast cancer….caught through a mammogram.
My husband Bob reacted very shocked, and we both cried together.
On deciding which surgical path to take
There’s no history of breast cancer in my family at all.
I had to make a decision rather soon, like within 3 or 4 days when I had to go back to the surgeon and give her my decision, either a mastectomy versus a lumpectomy. So I immediately networked with women, I received referrals from other friends. They put me in contact with friends that had it. Made phone calls.
I decided to go with the mastectomy. I did not want any radiation.
There was a lot of worry before surgery. I was diagnosed on February the 14 th, and I did not have my surgery until March the 20 th. So you’re thinking all this time, “The tumor’s growing. It’s growing.” And the fear of that, you have it on your mind all the time, until the actual day of the surgery.
On getting good news and sharing it with her husband
But when I did receive the call from the surgeon after my surgery which I think was like a week later, the tumor was so small… it was like 3/8 of an inch. The only thing I really needed was post-menopausal hormone treatment.
I was in tears, I was so happy…I called my husband, he thought something was wrong. And I said, “Oh no, it’s just the fact this is great news and I don’t have to have chemo!"
I can’t say enough about my husband, he’s the best supporter I have.
My husband and I have been married…it will be 29 years in June.
When you’re down and out and sick, you really know when someone truly loves you.
When they do everything for you.
He was always there for me.
On what helps one cope with a life-threatening illness
I think the most important thing to survive cancer is to be very positive. And to talk to people. They might have the same problem as you. You can share your feelings with them.
Fair to say, I’m more conscientious. I do my yearly mammograms. Trying to eat the right foods. Being very active with exercising.
A lot of friends have come into my life through this journey that I didn’t have before….because they’ve gone through it, too. A lot of it was from the Gathering Place, a non-profit organization for those going through cancer and also for the cancer survivors.
On celebrating her recovery, while keeping things light
I had two “in appreciation” boob parties. Our appreciation for those that networked with me and also for the ladies that provide us with dinners.
The parties consisted of a “boob cake”. Basically the shape of two boobs, with the nipples on it and the whole bit. I also had a shirt, picked it up at the winery. It was a wine rack, and it said “nice rack”.
So you see, it was all in fun. You can’t be down and out all the time.
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The Gathering Place and special events for cancer survivors
The Gathering Place is a non-profit organization geared for those going thorugh cancer and also the cancer survivors. They provide free services. It's a good support group, and there are all types of cancer groups you can sit in on. This is a way to be with your support groups, and where you meet friends. And I volunteer there once in a while too, at the library.
I’ve done "Race for the Place", which is our annual fundraiser. I have a team, called "All In the Family and Friends". They’ve very supportive of me. When they walk for my team, everyone knows that it all goes back to the Gathering Place for their services. I also participate in the Dragon Boat Festival, I've done it twice, in 2011 and 2012. And that is very good camaraderie because everyone on that boat and their support person has had some form of cancer. So we all share something.
On humor and support
Our two appreciation parties....the first was with the women and their spouses that I networked with. Who talked to me about their cancer experiences. And the other (party) was with the Red Hat Ladies. Those who came and provided us dinners.
So what the party consisted of…you have to make fun of this....there was a boob cake. And when I went to slice the cake, it was definitely to be done on the left side. That was the first slice. There was a meaning behind all of this, more a less a nice personal memento to myself. We had "buttery nipples" for cocktails…and my husband called himself “kitchen bitch”. It was a name he acquired from someone at work. And I had my own shirt, it was from a winery and said "Nice rack" on it.
I like to be with people who are positive, not negative. Because that pulls you down in your thinking. It's not good to be like that the whole time. It’s not healthy.
On keeping up a healthy regimen
The SmartStart class at the local senior center is warming up, stretching, doing aerobics and balancing, all to do with the core. Also there are some exercises that has you on the floor, working with a mat. It's good support and we all love and support one another. I always feel good when I'm working out there.
It's fair to say that I’m more conscientious of my health. I do my yearly mammograms. And I’m very well aware, trying to stay healthy, trying to eat right foods, and being very active with exercising. And staying within the network of women. I’ve had a lot of friends, who have come into my life through this journey that I didn’t have before because they’ve gone through this, too. It means a lot to me.