With early detection through self-exams and mammograms and better medical treatment, more and more women are surviving, and thriving, after breast cancer.
In October 1996, the Palladium-Item first featured a group of women who were breast cancer survivors or whose lives had been touched by breast cancer. Since then, that group, along with other women and men, have been featured annually. These five women’s stories below represent the conclusion of this year’s Palladium-Item National Breast Cancer Awareness Month Power of Pink coverage.
• A 1993 mammogram showed that Virginia Bickel Wysong Dill had a breast cancer tumor that was the size of a pencil eraser top. She had it removed during a lumpectomy and also had seven lymph nodes removed.
Breast cancer was not her first encounter with cancer. In 1952, she had her uterus and one ovary removed for cancer. In 1966, her second ovary was removed, but showed no cancer.
She has battled many other health problems, including several strokes and falls, but the 87-year-old Richmond woman perseveres.
“I feel pretty good,” Dill said.
She recently moved from Interfaith Apartments to the Lamplight Inn at the Leland.
Her strong faith has helped her through the years and she still attends church regularly.
In addition to involvement in her church, Dill enjoys spending time with her family, which includes her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. “I never thought I’d live that long to see (my family) grow,” she said.
• From her infancy when she was underweight to the 1996 mammogram that showed a cancerous breast tumor, 91-year-old Patricia Drischel of Hagerstown feels like the Lord has been looking out for her.
“I feel like God’s had me in the hollow of my hand all this time,” she said. “My life has been wonderful.”
In Drischel’s lifetime, she has triumphed over many health challenges. When breast cancer was diagnosed, he had a mastectomy and several lymph nodes removed.
In relation to her breast cancer treatment, Drischel developed lymph edema in 2004. Lymph edema, often associated with the removal of lymph nodes, causes swelling in the arm and occurs when the lymph nodes fail to remove fluid adequately.
Recently, she’s been recovering from damage to her ribs from a couple of falls and mourning the death of a brother.
However, the longtime poet is still able to look on the bright side, showing excitement about her newest great-grandson, who brings her total of great-grandchildren to 25.
• Orpha Hampton and her husband, Wayne, celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary in September.
“It’s been fun all along the way and God has been good to us all along the way,” Orpha Hampton, 82, said.
The New Paris, Ohio, woman remained vigilant afterward and urged her three daughters to do the same. Two developed breast cancer but overcame it. Today, all three remain cancer-free.
Hampton stresses the need for women to have mammograms. She said the scan might be pain-free or painful, but it’s a small thing in comparison to possibly battling a late stage cancer.
During the past year, the Hamptons have had many medical appointments because Wayne Hampton, 83, had hip replacement surgery right after Christmas and their daughter, Donna, had hip replacement surgery in January.
Once the were back on their feet, there was a family reunion to attend.
“It’s been a good year mostly,” Hampton said.
• Pat Hornung of Richmond found a small lump in her right breast during a self-examination in 1975.
The 36-year-old widow with four children fought the breast cancer by having a radical mastectomy.
“It’s still unbelievable that it’s been this long for me,” Hornung said.
At 73, Hornung still enjoys working. “I feel so much better when I know I have to get up and get to work,” she said.
She also has worked at counseling breast cancer patients and participating in cancer-related activities. Her daughter Colleen Scott was inspired by Hornung to raise breast cancer awareness through the recent Saving Second Base 5K Walk.
Hornung, 73, said the walk went really well and a local woman who has cancer was the recipient of the proceeds.
“It’s very rewarding,” she said.
• Wanda Willis found a lump in her breast in 1995 during a self-exam.
She had a lumpectomy and about 20 lymph nodes were removed. She also had radiation treatment followed by five years on Tamoxifen, a drug that blocks the estrogen that many breast cancers feed upon.
She’s active at the Richmond Senior Community Center, where she serves on the club board and enjoys art classes, bingo night, dinner-dances and puzzles.
The 73-year-old recently received first place in the mixed media division of the Area 9 senior art competition for a painting she did that featured a lighthouse and that included real shells and driftwood in the scene.
She enjoys spending time with family , including her four children, six grandchildren and two great-granddaughters.
5 breast cancer survivors enjoy life
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