|
 What was surprising was the fact that she had zero
indication that she had cancer when she went for her mammogram. She
had been having mammograms since she was in her early 30s because of
her family history. She expected to someday find something in her
self-exams, but she didn’t. Instead her cancer was found through
medical imaging, a tumor, deep under the soft breast tissue,
attached to the bone. The diagnosis was a Phodes tumor. This is a
more rare type of breast cancer, and she learned that the only
treatment was surgery.
Hailing from Minnesota, Nancy and her husband Mike came to the
community for jobs. For a time, Nancy said she and Mike were both
working in Bloomington. They lived in that area. Then she got a job
in Springfield, Mike remained in Bloomington, and they chose to move
to Lincoln because it was the half-way mark between the two larger
cities.
Over time, she left her job in Springfield and went to work with ME
Realty in Lincoln. She worked as owner Seth Goodman’s assistant and
had the distinct pleasure of helping people find new homes in the
Lincoln and the Logan County area. She said it was a job that she
loved because she enjoyed helping, especially the first time home
buyers, dealing with the hurdles that are sometimes encountered when
buying a home. Even though she is no longer with ME, she is still
involved with real estate even today as a sort of side career,
working out of the Werth Real Estate Agency with owner Becky Werth.
Nancy also owned her own business in Lincoln for a time, Beaches
Boutique and Tanning. Then, in 2017 she took over directorship of
the Oasis Senior Center upon the retirement of Dom Dalpoas. For the
past five years, she has very much enjoyed being a part of the
senior citizen organization, but just this month, made the leap to a
new career, or rather the return to an old one.
Nancy’s education evolved around teaching and community service
through not for profit community programs. She is now moving back
into that type of work at the Logan County Correctional Center. She
explained that through Lake Land College out of Mattoon, there is a
special instructional program that prepares inmates for life outside
of prison. She will be working with the women teaching them life
skills, budgeting, resume’ writing, interview skills and offering
guidance on how to make the best impression at interviews through
behavior and appearance.
She said that the change is something she is very excited about. She
looks forward to helping the inmates and is hopeful that through her
guidance these women will go back out into society better prepared
to face what is ahead of them and succeed.
Many people in the community know Nancy, but few would know by
looking at her or talking to her that throughout her lifetime she
has dealt with a number of health issues. She said that she has had
more than 30 surgeries.
Nancy feels that for many people who are diagnosed with cancer, it
is like going through the five stages of grief. First there is
denial, it isn’t happening. Then there is anger that it is
happening. Next, some go through the bargaining process of grief and
then the depression of loss. And finally, there is acceptance. She
says acceptance is that point in time when one says, “Okay, I have
this, now what am I going to do about it?”
For herself, Nancy said yes she was indeed angry. She didn’t go
through denial because her family history had forewarned her that
some type of cancer would come into her life. But after anger, she
feels like she skipped straight to acceptance, and the attitude of,
“okay, I have this, now how do I get rid of it?”
Nancy said that in her journey through the disease she came out with
some very important lessons, some she knew already, and some she
learned along the way, but all of them are messages that she wants
to share with LDN readers.
“Cancer is not a death sentence,” Nancy said. She said that many
think that life is over when they hear those words, but in today’s
world of modern medicine and technology it does not have to be. She
said, “Don’t curl up and give up; make a plan and move forward.” She
said that she feels that the greatest fear is the unknown, so she
encourages people to learn as much as they can, to ask questions,
and understand the answers.
She began her journey with Dr. Saggins delivering her initial
diagnosis. From there she moved on to the surgeon who would remove
the tumor. She said along the way she was blessed with doctors who
were compassionate and also communicative. The doctors talked to her
and her husband with straight forward, matter of fact language that
they could understand, and certainly appreciate.
She also had a good support system at home. Nancy said that she and
Mike had been sweethearts since she was 15 years old. He knew her
family and her family history before they were married. He was with
her through her sibling illnesses, and was most especially with her
during her own battle. She said that she felt Mike probably went
through the five stages of grief a little differently than she did,
but they ended up in the same place, fight and win, that was all
that mattered.
[to top of second column] |
 Mike was with her for every procedure and almost
all of her doctor appointments. He stood with her and held her up
when she needed it. Her sons were also supportive and encouraging as
she faced the disease. As she prepared for
her surgery, Nancy said that she had consulted with her doctor and
surgeon and they felt that they could remove the tumor without
removing the breast, but they weren’t 100 percent certain. She
decided that she would sign-off on the surgeon doing whatever needed
to be done. She said she didn’t want to be awakened from surgery to
learn that she was going to have to have another surgery. So, she
had to prepare for the unknown. She didn’t know what she would have
or not have when she came out of the recovery room. That was a hard
fact to consider. She could come out with no breast, or she could
just come out with no tumor. Either way, she had to mentally prepare
for the outcome, and have faith that the doctors would do as they
felt was best for her survival.
When she awoke, she learned that the tumor had been removed, with no
long term impact on the structure of her breast. And, the doctors
felt confident that they had removed all the cancerous cells.
None the less, there were constant checks for the next five years.
Mammograms were conducted every three months, then six months, nine
months, and finally one per year. Nancy said when she reached the
five year mark with no recurrence, she felt like she could say she
was over it, and when she reached the ten year mark that confidence
grew.
Nancy says that her concerns now rest more on her grandchildren and
her nieces. Her son Andrew has three children, and they have
inherited a family history that is conducive to cancer. She said
that some of her nieces have had the DNA testing to determine their
likelihood of cancer and the results are as certain as the family
history.
Those who spend any time with Nancy know that she is an upbeat, fun
loving, friendly person, very outgoing and energetic. She said that
she tries to always be a positive person, but yes indeed there are
times when the weight of the world and what she has been through
crashes in on her. She said that she gives her worries to God and
knows that he is there with her all the time.
She chooses not to drown in the worry but to rather live for the day
and know that faith has brought her thus far, and it will carry
through even the tough days.
When asked about what she would say to someone newly diagnosed she
had no hesitation in her answer.
She said when she told Mike that she planned on talking about her
cancer with Lincoln Daily News, he was a bit surprised. He didn’t
imagine that she would want to share what she went through. She told
him then that she felt she had to do it, because she felt that if
she could encourage one person it would be worth it.
Her advice to all of us first and foremost: Cancer is not a death
sentence. She said face it and fight it. Have a good medical support
team from doctors to surgeons to nurses. She is quite thankful for
those who helped her and she wants everyone to have the same
confidence in their team as she had in hers.
Next, take advantage of your support team. There are those out there
who want to help you through this and you need to let them. From
spouses to children to parents and best friends, know who is with
you and helping you and use them as they want to be used.
Nancy said when her cancer finally came as she felt certain it
would, it did change her. It changed her priorities in life, it
changed her purpose in life and it taught her not to sweat the small
stuff. Cancer is big; dirty dishes are not. While you battle, focus
on what is important, winning. All the other things will take care
of themselves.
“What lies behind you and what lies in
front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you.”
-Ralph Waldo
Emerson
“You
just can’t beat the person who never gives up.”
-Babe Ruth
[Nila Smith] |
.jpg)
