Longview resident is a cancer “Pre-vivor” …. are you?

I’m called a previvor for a reason. Cancer has always surrounded me; my grandpa, aunts, cousins, my dad and so on. I don’t ever recall a time when I didn’t know about the dreaded disease. With my family history, I was bugging my doctors, even in my twenties and thirties.
“Shouldn’t I start having mammograms now?” I would ask.
I was always told that I was too young, and that I didn’t need to worry about it because it was on my “dad’s side”.
When I turned forty, it was time for my first mammogram.
I had a horrible feeling about the appointment. The technician asked if I would like to see what the images looked like. I immediately focused on the perfect white circle that stood out on my right breast.
My doctor contacted me right away and expressed that there were concerns I might have breast cancer.
Breast Cancer.
After five grueling weeks of mammograms, ultrasounds and a needle biopsy, I finally received word that the cyst was benign.
Benign!
I should have been thrilled. Instead, I felt as though I had received a warning sign.
Thankfully, my dad is a genealogy buff so we mapped out our family history of cancer.
It was shocking to see generations of family members who had been affected; breast cancer for the women and prostate cancer for the men. It started with my great, great grandmother and spread like wild fire through the family tree.
When I gave this information to my Ob/GYN, he strongly suggested that I consider genetic testing and he sent me a referral letter to get the ball rolling. In hindsight, he very well may have saved my life.
At first, I was in denial.
I was also angry.
I had heard a little bit about genetic cancer through the years; however I always felt the measures the women had taken seemed so extreme.
Why on earth would you have a mastectomy if you didn’t have cancer?
The thoughts kept nagging at me; yet I knew I had to face the inevitable.
After about a year of processing the information, I made my appointment to meet with a genetics counselor.
Ironically, around the same time my father received a letter from a distant cousin. She had written to inform us that she had gone through the genetic testing and the results were positive for BRCA2. She provided the lab results and encouraged family members to consider testing.
I felt it was another sign.
The day finally came to meet with the genetics counselor. My husband and I sat in her office, holding hands.
We discussed in detail my family history, and she went over the information for both of the gene mutations; BRCA1 and BRCA2. She also informed me that if I tested positive, I would never be able to take out a life insurance or long-term care insurance policy.
It was a simple blood test.
How odd it seemed to me that my life was potentially going to change just by filling a vial and sending it to a laboratory.
I also remember telling her that I wouldn’t be surprised at all if I tested positive.
After several weeks of anticipation, I received the phone call.
I had tested positive for the BRCA2 mutation. I was now placed into a pile of grim statistics; 85% risk for breast cancer, 30% risk for ovarian cancer, and an increased risk for melanoma and pancreatic cancer.
Becoming obsessed with my research, I spent countless hours reading books and researching information. I quickly realized I had multiple options and none of them was perfect.
I could do nothing.
I could just ignore it and go on living my life.
I could go with six month surveillance, alternating between mammograms, breast MRIs, ultrasounds and other tests.
That didn’t sound so bad, but then I read about people with BRCA mutations who had been diligent with their surveillance and were now dead because the cancer had taken over in between the six months.
Understanding dawned that I wasn’t your ‘average person’.
My 13th chromosome was altered and I didn’t have the ability to stop cancer from forming in my body.
Prevention was the key.
All I could think about were my family members who had died. They had lived during a time when they didn’t know that gene mutations existed and they had suffered.
I, on the other hand, was given the gift of knowledge and the ability to do something about it.
I now understood why those people, who I once considered crazy, had gone out and had mastectomies and hysterectomies.
They were previvors!
In honor of those who had suffered in my family, and in order to go on living my life, I decided to take charge and do everything humanly possible to fight it.
I was determined to get through it, and I was going to do it with a smile on my face.
I now had a surgical team; an entire team of doctors working together to get me through each step of the long process. I had to be patient.
It all started with the hysterectomy one and a half years ago, which dramatically reduced my chances for ovarian cancer and breast cancer risk. Six months later, I had a bi-lateral prophylactic mastectomy. I also figured that if I was going to go through this, I was going to come out looking better than ever; therefore I chose to go through breast reconstruction. This process involved painful chest expanders, breast implants, nipple reconstruction and even tattoos; all to simulate the look of natural breasts.
Years ago, women were basically mutilated when they had mastectomies. Today, there are so many great options for reconstruction. You can look amazing again if that’s the route you choose.
Today, I am thankful for my faith, my husband, family, friends, employer and co-workers. They supported me through the entire process. When I was angry and sad, they stood by my side and told me I was brave. While I could have remained very private about my experience, instead I have shared my story in order to help others.
I hope to save lives by encouraging those with a strong history of cancer in their family to be proactive and ask questions.
I am a previvor and I am proud.
*Please share this story with those around you, and help increase the awareness of the genetic gene mutations that contribute to cancer, and the genetic testing that is available today.
Together, we can create more previvors! To learn more about BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations, visit
http://www.facingourrisk.org/

Honoring R.A. (Pete) Clark Toutle Lake Class of 1933

On August 20, 2011 about 100 members of the Toutle Lake Senior Alumni gathered in the school multi-purpose room for the bi-annual reunion. A pot luck dinner was served, followed by recognition of the attending classes. The classes of 1970 and 1971 were welcomed to their first reunion. The class of 1961 celebrated their fifty year anniversary!
And pictured above is R.A. (Pete) Clark, honored as the oldest attendee. Pete graduated in 1933!
“Boy, I sure wish that I could be in the paper before I die!” exclaimed Pete Clark to columnist Paddy Burrow, of the Valley Bugler newspaper.
Taking that to heart for the 96 year old gentleman, Paddy has offered up this space in her monthly column as a tribute to Pete.
“I’d really like to have his picture printed and give him the joy of seeing himself in the local paper!” said Paddy.
We were only too happy to oblige. Pete – here’s to you, and many more happy Alumni Reunions in the future!
- The Valley Bugler

Steve & Kathy Gorforth

I get to meet many interesting individuals with my job. I love getting to know my clients on a personal basis.

This month in particular one of my clients really captivated my attention. If you haven’t heard this story about Steve Gorforth and his wife Kathy, then this will make you smile and acknowledge there is true love, hope and faith out there. First I would like to share a poem Steve wrote. It is beautiful and heart felt, it will give you an idea about who Steve is and where his heart is.
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Inspirational Locals – October 2009

What is an exceptional or inspirational person?

Have you thought about it? Are you exceptional or inspirational? Most of us don’t think that we are either one. It’s usually the people around us who think we’re exceptional or inspirational. I know I’ve put a lot of thought the last couple of weeks on what makes a person inspirational.
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Inspirational Locals

After writing, “Get Some Sand in Your Shorts” last month. I decided I was going to write an article each month on an exceptional person. A couple of weeks ago, in the middle of my 20 mile training run I was trying to decide who I was going to do my article on and where was I going to come up with an exceptional person? I run with a group of people from the Cowlitz Valley Runners Club. As I am running the loop at Willow Grove, I look over at my running partner and there I found this month’s story.
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