Date posted: 10-15-01

Editors: You are encouraged to use this story in your publication. Please credit the author and DeKalb News Service as shown. And, please send two tearsheets to: Jim Killam, Department of Communication, Watson Hall, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115.

Breast cancer: A survivor's story

By J.D. Piland

DeKalb News Service

DEKALB -- When Jodi Tyrrell was 34, she noticed a lump on her breast. After visiting oncologists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Hospital, Jodi was diagnosed with breast cancer. Like many women, her first thought was, "I am going to die."

Cancer in any part of the body can be traumatizing. Having it in the breasts can make a woman feel like less of a woman and fearful of everything, Jodi said.

Despite the fear, death is rarely the case. Normally, the cancer can be stopped by removing the tumor. Jodi had a total ratified mastectomy, the removal of all breast tissue, which was followed by six months of chemotherapy.

"The side effects of chemo, specifically losing your hair, are probably more difficult to deal with than the loss of a breast," she said.

But that wasn't her main concern. Jodi wanted to have children, but due to her chemotherapy, the possibility of pregnancy became a risk factor in her recovery.

Fortunately, she did not have to worry much about that. Because her cancer never made it to the lymph nodes, which are pathways to other parts of the body, she did not need extensive chemotherapy or radiation. Without the extensive treatment, Jodi's chances of having children rose exponentially.

"The best part of my story is that I do now have two children, and as a result of my chemotherapy that was always in the back of my mind," Jodi said of the possibility of pregnancy. "It was a very important focus in my life at the time."

Now, 10 years later, Jodi has two boys, T.J. and Kevin, and is cancer-free.
If Jodi had girls, they would be more susceptible to breast cancer because of family history.

"Of course you never want to say 'I don't want to have a girl,' but that definitely entered into my mind," she said about having a daughter.

Jodi works as the manager of operating staff services in Human Resources at NIU. She has worked there for 25 years, and has lived in DeKalb since grade school.

Despite all the treatments and her recovery, Jodi still goes to Madison every year for a small amount of chemotherapy, a mammogram and blood work to ensure she is still cancer-free.

What is breast cancer?

According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer attacks just like any other cancer. Cells in the breast begin growing uncontrollably. Because the breast is partially made up of lymphatic tissue, the cancer can be quite dangerous. If the cells reach the underarm lymph nodes, then the cancer can travel to other parts of the body.

While breast cancer may be a rapidly growing disease, many suspected lumps end up being benign, not cancerous.

Despite Tyrrell's young age when she was diagnosed, breast cancer typically affects women as they get older, usually around the mid-40s to 50s and older, according to the American Cancer Society.

"It usually occurs in women who are in their 50s, but I have heard of cases of women getting it younger than I was," Tyrrell said.

While a definite cause has not been identified, certain risk factors may lead to breast cancer. Gender is the biggest factor; just by being a woman, the chances are greatly increased. Age, family history and race are just a couple other examples of risk factors in determining the cause of breast cancer.

In order to survive breast cancer, a patient must have the tumor removed. Depending on the size and spreading of the cells, the tumor itself is removed or all of the breast tissue is removed.

According to the ACS, in addition to the surgery, patients must follow up with radiation therapy to ensure the cancer does not return.

Mrs. October

Because of women like Jodi, October is recognized as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

According to the ACS, 192,200 women will be diagnosed this year. Despite this, the death rate has declined significantly since 1992; 40,600 women will die from the disease in 2001.

Established in 1993, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer has become the foremost fund-raising/awareness event for breast cancer. According to the ACS, last year Making Strides collected more than $26 million. This money went to research, education, patient support and advocacy programs. This year, Making Strides will be held on Oct. 21 in Chicago, at the Museum Plaza at Grant Park.

Also during the month, but not limited to it, the Tell-a-Friend encourages women to get a mammogram. Organizations around a community may join to help spread the word. Jodi is not involved with the program, but takes the initiative to tell her friends to get a mammogram.

In addition to support groups, as a service to women in the DeKalb county area, the Tri-County Community Health Center is providing low-cost mammograms to women during the month. In Illinois, only 56 percent of women over 40 get mammograms, according to the 2001 Cancer Prevention & Early Detection Facts & Figures, provided by the ACS.

The thing Jodi found most helpful was not in a walk, but rather the community, and at NIU. The university has its own support group consisting of female employees. Deborah Haliczer started the group in 1992.

"It is a group of women who have experienced breast cancer and are in different stages of recovery," Haliczer said. "They mobilize themselves to work with new breast cancer survivors, women who are going through or just recovering from surgery."

Jodi found this beneficial.

"Most of the time the majority of the meetings are just a time to share," she said. "That, I have to say, was one of the most helpful parts of my healing process."

Women in DeKalb county have become increasingly aware of breast cancer. In a health assessment conducted by the DeKalb County Health Department and the Kishwaukee Community Hospital, breast cancer is the second-biggest health concern in the county, said Sharon Emanuelson, former director of the DeKalb County Unit of the ACS.

Thus, Kishwaukee Community Hospital and the American Cancer Society present an educational series, "I Can Cope," every year. This series helps inform cancer patients and to help them live with the disease. This year, sessions will be held at 7 p.m. Oct. 18, 25 and Nov. 1 at the KCH Murphy Education Center.

In DeKalb, the American Cancer Society will have its Fire and Ice Ball. A benefit to raise money for breast and prostate cancers, the ball is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 20. It will be take place at the South Pointe Centre, 200 Gurler Road.

New research

Although there has been no concrete evidence of what causes breast cancer, the fund-raisers during the month of October, not to mention the rest of the year, have been vital in research and awareness.

The money from the fund-raisers helps to finance research and awareness, both of which receive the bulk of funds. Colleges around northern Illinois, including Northwestern and University of Chicago, have received grants of about $8 million to aid in research.

One of the studies this money has gone to is the research of drugs used to treat osteoporosis. These drugs have been given to breast cancer patients and it has appeared that the drugs help prevent cancerous cells from moving to the bones.

Because cancerous cells need blood vessels to develop, scientists have been testing drugs to help stop the formation of new blood vessels. New chemotherapy drugs are being developed as well.

Although there are advances in the breast cancer treatment field, early detection is essential.

"I always tell my friends to get mammograms because early detection is really the key in breast cancer," Tyrrell said. "It makes a whole lot of difference."

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Info Box:
For more information on the programs listed call:
American Cancer Society at Batavia, Ill. 1-800-942-6985
www.cancer.org
I Can Cope 815-756-1521 ext. 4000
Making Strides 312-279-7376
DeKalb Fire and Ice ball (ACS) 1-800-942-6985
Tell-a-Friend (ACS) 1-800-ACS-2345

# # #

Source List:
· (Jodi Tyrrell, Manager of Operating Staff Services, 815-753-0094)
· (Sharon Emanuelson, Community Relations Director at Kishwaukee Community Hospital, 815-756-1521)
· (Deborah Haliczer, Director Of Employee Relations, 815-753-6039)
· (American Cancer Society, Batavia, Ill., 1-800-942-6985)
· (American Cancer Society Web site, www.cancer.org)