Ambassadors to Represent Komen, Breast Cancer

Name: Mary
County: Tippecanoe
Age: 58
How long she has been a survivor: 14 years
History with Komen: Komen 3-Day for the Cure, Race for the Cure
Brief Summary of Story: Mary’s journey started in 1997 when she was called back from a routine mammogram to speak to the radiologist. She was soon diagnosed with Intra-Ductal Carcinoma breast cancer. She underwent surgery and radiation, all while taking college classes part-time. Although she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer, she survive and is now passionate about the early detection message and fundraising to support that message. Through many fundraisers, she has raised over $40,000 so far to help spread the message.

Name: Joreen
County: Marion
Age: 82
How long she has been a survivor: 57 years
History with Komen: Race for the Cure
Brief Summary of Story: Joreen was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1954 at the young age of 25. At the time, her doctor gave her only six months to live, but she was determined to raise her one-year old son and return to work as a Registered Nurse. She received 21 radiation treatments and, after a radical mastectomy, she taught herself to use her right arm again.

Name: Kristy
County: Marion
Family: Bill (husband)
Education: B.A. in Psychology
Type of Cancer: Stage IV Inflammatory
How long she has been a survivor: 6 years
History with Komen: Komen National Grant Reviewer, Race for the Cure, Komen Speaker’s Bureau, Komen Pink Promise Symposium
Brief Summary of Story: Krysti was diagnosed with Stage Four Metastatic Inflammatory breast cancer in March 2005. Since then, she has undergone many treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiation, a bi-lateral mastectomy and reconstruction. She may live with breast cancer, but she embraces the life she has by studying, advocating, and speaking about breast cancer.

Name: Renee
County: Morgan
Age: 31
Family: Troy (husband), Walker (son), and Maci (daughter)
Type of Cancer: Stage III Invasive Ductal Carcinoma
How long she has been a survivor: 4 years
History with Komen: Komen 3-Day for the Cure
Brief Summary of Story: Renee was diagnosed at age 28. During her first biopsy, she saw Robin Roberts on television telling the world that she had breast cancer. This gave Renee the encouragement that she needed to make it through the difficult time. Renee had three tumors and 21 lymph nodes involved. After the first surgery, she endured 28 treatments of radiation and a hysterectomy, and now hopes to be an encouragement to others going through the same battle.

Name: Jeff
County: Hendricks
Age: 49
Education: B.S. in Marketing, Elementary Teaching Certificate, Masters in Education from Indiana Wesleyan
How long he has been a survivor: 5 years
History with Komen: Race for the Cure, Pink Celebration, Circle of Hope Celebration
Brief Summary of Story: Jeff was diagnosed in January 2006. Since then, he has represented breast cancer survivors through many media outlets. He wants to raise awareness of breast cancer in men, and continue to stress the importance of detecting and fighting breast cancer in women.

Name: Connie
County: Marion
Age: 57
Type of Cancer: Stage III A and HER 2 positive
How long she has been a survivor: 4 years
History with Komen: Race for the Cure Survivor
Brief Summary of Story: Connie is not only a breast cancer survivor, but she is also legally blind. She was diagnosed with breast cancer, only after her insisting friends scheduled her mammogram appointment and arranged for her transportation. Connie initially went through a lumpectomy and left-breast mastectomy, but then the doctors found cancer cells and a lump in another lymph gland. This second lump was HER2 positive, which meant chemotherapy and drug therapy. Connie also eventually had to have a preventative right-breast mastectomy.

Name: Yvette
County: Marion
Age: 43
How long she has been a survivor: 5 years
History with Komen: Pink Honor Roll
Take-Away Messages: Breast cancer has no color, race or gender. You are never alone.
Brief Summary of Story: In 2006, doctors found abnormal cells in both of Yvette’s breasts. After many mammograms, biopsies, MRIs and second opinions, Yvette decided to have both of her breasts removed. Her aunts had also had breast cancer, and she wanted to beat it early on.

Name: Kathy
County: Bartholomew
Age: 52
Education: Bachelor’s in Speech/Communications
Type of Cancer: Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)
How long she has been a survivor: 15 years
History with Komen: Attended special events, donor
Take-Away Message: Knowledge is power.
Brief Summary of Story: DCIS is stage zero, non-invasive breast cancer. Cathy has been diagnosed with DCIS three times, once in June 1996, once in June 2005, and again in August 2007. She has been through a total of 66 radiation treatments, drug therapy and eight surgical procedures.

Name: The Reeds (Co-Survivors)
County: Hancock
Family: Susan and Harold, Kendra (daughter), Teresa (stepdaughter), Derek (son) and Dana (daughter-in-law)
Type of Cancer: Stage IV
Brief Summary of Story: Susan lost her battle to breast cancer in February 2010. Susan’s husband, Harold, was her biggest supporter. He proudly wore his “real men wear pink” t-shirt and always stood by her side, even though he was facing health issues of his own. Derek, Susan’s son, spent days remodeling the first floor of her home to enable her to live her final months more comfortably. Susan’s daughter, Kendra, was the rock of the family, and helped Susan to carry out her final plans and wishes. Teresa, Susan’s stepdaughter, cleaned the house, ran errands, and took care of the things Susan could no longer do. In Susan’s memory, her family established The Susan L. Reed Fund to help other Stage IV cancer survivors and their families.

Name: Jennifer
County: Hamilton
Age: 35
Type of Cancer: Stage II Multi-Centric Invasive
How long she has been a survivor: 1 year
History with Komen: Race for the Cure, Pink Honor Roll
Take-Away Message: Breast cancer can happen to anyone, and you have to be responsible for your own health.
Brief Summary of Story: Jennifer was diagnosed with Stage II Multi-Centric Invasive breast cancer after discovering a lump in her breast. She has undergone a bilateral mastectomy and chemotherapy, but is determined not to let her life stop.

Name: Andrea
County: Johnson
Age: 41
Type of Cancer: Stage III
How long she has been a survivor: 1 year
History with Komen: Race for the Cure, Pink Ribbon Celebration
Take-Away Message: Everyone must know their risk, and know their own bodies.
Brief Summary of Story: Andrea was diagnosed with breast cancer 12 years after a battle with thyroid cancer. As a wife, mother and school principal, she quickly realized her duty to demonstrate the positive side of this battle. She endured lymph node dissection, chemotherapy, a bilateral mastectomy and radiation, but she never lost hope and always tries to look toward better days.

Name: Justina
County: Marion
Age: 29
How long she has been a survivor: 2 years
Take-Away Message: Survive and thrive.
Brief Summary of Story: At the young age of 27, Justina was diagnosed with breast cancer. She did not have any of the genetic risk factors or a family history of breast cancer, yet she became the statistic. Justina was also a prime example of being fit, but breast cancer did not care and did not discriminate. When diagnosed, she was in the middle of pursuing her career in Dallas, but chose to move back to her hometown to receive treatment. Justina moved forward with a bi-lateral mastectomy and reconstruction. Two weeks later, she stood in front of hundreds at her former college to be inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame, and she was so thankful that she was able to accept the award. Justina lives every day with a purpose, to share her story with anyone to raise breast cancer awareness.

Name: Victor
County: Jackson
Age: 52
How long he has been a survivor: 2 years
History with Komen: Race for the Cure
Brief Summary of Story: Victor was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009. He is also a kidney transplant recipient, and it is suspected that his rejection medication largely attributed to this disease. Victor is very active in promoting health awareness alongside Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the Kidney Foundation, the Indiana Organ Procurement Organization, and the American Cancer Society. Through his faith, he continues to overcome his challenges and strives to help others.

Name: Terri
County: Hamilton
Age: 50
Type of Cancer: Triple-Negative
How long she has been a survivor: 5 years
History with Komen: Race for the Cure
Take-Away Message: It is important to live a healthy lifestyle to prevent future cancer recurrences.
Brief Summary of Story: Terri was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of breast cancer, Triple-Negative, in 2006 and went through a biopsy, two lumpectomies, chemotherapy and radiation. Through her battle, she kept her positive spirit and chronicled her journey through poignant e-mails to “Terri’s Team” (her family and friends).

Name: Sue
County: Hamilton
Family: Parvin (husband)
Type of Cancer: Stage IV
How long she has been a survivor: 10 years
History with Komen: Volunteer, Pink Tie Ball, Race for the Cure, Pink Ribbon Celebration
Take-Away Message: No matter how dark the night, light always follows the next day.
Brief Summary of Story: In a span of 10 weeks, Sue lost her father, mother, and was diagnosed with breast cancer. She endured three lumpectomies and finally a mastectomy. This past year, Sue’s breast cancer returned just as she got ready for her last step, breast reconstruction. Her cancer was found to have metastasized to her bones. Despite all these hurdles, Sue remains positive and determined to beat her breast cancer, so that she will not desert her sister and will be around for many years to come.

Name: Stephanie
County: Marion
Age: 43
Education: B.A. in Environmental Health Science
Type of Cancer: Stage IV
How long she has been a survivor: 12 years
History with Komen: Race for the Cure
Take-Away Message: I WILL SURVIVE.
Brief Summary of Story: Stephanie was diagnosed with Stage III B breast cancer at age 32. At that time, she had a baby daughter and was determined to survive. Stephanie overcame breast cancer using her motto “I will survive.” She was encouraged by her faith, breast cancer education, life’s simple pleasures, remaining true to her feelings, and volunteering to make a difference. She is willing to do whatever it takes to survive. In the past year, Stephanie’s cancer was found in her lungs, but she is still determined to win her battle again.

Name: Nancy
County: Hendricks
Age: 72
Type of Cancer: Stages I and II
How long she has been a survivor: 18 years
History with Komen: Race for the Cure
Take-Away Message: We must continue to educate women on the importance of taking control of their bodies and using the tools/exams we have available today.
Brief Summary of Story: Nancy was first diagnosed with cancer in her left breast in 1993. In 1994, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Then in 2004, she was diagnosed with cancer in her right breast. Again in 2009, she was once more diagnosed with cancer in her left breast, which led to a double mastectomy. Nancy’s siblings have all battled forms of cancer as well, so she decided to undergo genetic testing. Doctors discovered that she has the BRAC1 gene, and one of her daughters has the gene as well. Nancy is the co-founder of Ovar’coming Together.

Name: Sheila
County: Marion
Age: 54
Family: Two sons, Forrest and Scott
Type of Cancer: Stage III breast cancer
How long she has been a survivor: 19 years
History with Komen: Pink Ribbon Celebration, Race for the Cure
Take-Away Message: Take good care of your health.
Brief Summary of Story: Sheila was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992, and was again diagnosed with recurrent breast cancer in June 2010. Even with this latest diagnosis, she continues to make the most of every day. Although she is still undergoing treatments, she is working for United Airlines and managing to fulfill her lifelong dream of traveling the world.