News
Breast Cancer Awareness Month (first of series)
Breast Cancer stings loved ones, too
By BETH MOLAND
News-Gazette reporter
When Winchester resident Cheryl Jones received a diagnosis that she had atypical breast cancer almost one year ago, husband Kevin found his world turned upside down right along with hers. But after a turbulent season of doctors, surgeries and recovery, the couple found a way to flip their world right-side up and touch every corner of it with their story and pink ivory wood crosses.
"She's my high school sweetheart, so we've been together for a long time," said Kevin.
After 26 years of marriage, he determined he was going through the breast cancer battle every step of the way with his beloved wife. Jones made a point of being with her for all five ensuing surgeries, due to complications. He, also, knew more of her situation than she did because doctors would often relay information to him while she was sedated.
"I would tell her everything they said and she would write it in her journal," Jones said.
Cheryl agrees with her husband's depiction of how she learned the finer details of her prognosis. From the first mammogram, to MRIs, lumpectomies, biopsy, and major surgery, Kevin can rattle off medical terms better than his wife. But she has her journal to refresh her memory.
"It started off in November when I found a lump in my left breast," Cheryl said. "Then they found two areas of papillary growth, which are not normal tissue, but needed removed. Then they found a third spot with the MRI, that did not show up with the mammogram or biopsy. It was tiny, but it was the cancer."
Fortunately, it did not spread to any lymph nodes, but major surgery in February still consisted of a full mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. Cheryl opted for TRAM construction, which uses her own stomach muscles to rebuild of a new breast. Even though it caused her 75 staples, she said her replacement is more realistic and will last much longer than silicone implants.
Having come so close to losing hers, Cheryl has come away with a bright attitude about life.
"It makes you appreciate the little things in life," she said. "I know you hear that a lot, but it does. Everybody is going through something in their lives, so when you ask them, 'How are you?', really listen.'"
Kevin said he wrestled with his wife's cancer diagnosis when he heard the word, instinctively, going into "coaching mode." After serving as a very successful, assistant varsity wrestling coach for 24 years at Winchester Community High School, he, admittedly, is a man who "doesn't like to lose."
"I know how to take a defeat and turn it into a victory," he said.
Jones discovered his wife's cancer was a "wrestling match" bigger than any he had ever encountered and he needed to find some new strategies. His coping mechanism came to him in the middle of the night when he decided to make pink ivory wood crosses for people affected by breast cancer.
I tell people, "I turned my whistle in for the cross," Jones said.
For Kevin's compelling story of how he dealt with his wife's breast cancer, see tomorrow's edition of The News-Gazette.
By BETH MOLAND
News-Gazette reporter
When Winchester resident Cheryl Jones received a diagnosis that she had atypical breast cancer almost one year ago, husband Kevin found his world turned upside down right along with hers. But after a turbulent season of doctors, surgeries and recovery, the couple found a way to flip their world right-side up and touch every corner of it with their story and pink ivory wood crosses.
"She's my high school sweetheart, so we've been together for a long time," said Kevin.
After 26 years of marriage, he determined he was going through the breast cancer battle every step of the way with his beloved wife. Jones made a point of being with her for all five ensuing surgeries, due to complications. He, also, knew more of her situation than she did because doctors would often relay information to him while she was sedated.
"I would tell her everything they said and she would write it in her journal," Jones said.
Cheryl agrees with her husband's depiction of how she learned the finer details of her prognosis. From the first mammogram, to MRIs, lumpectomies, biopsy, and major surgery, Kevin can rattle off medical terms better than his wife. But she has her journal to refresh her memory.
"It started off in November when I found a lump in my left breast," Cheryl said. "Then they found two areas of papillary growth, which are not normal tissue, but needed removed. Then they found a third spot with the MRI, that did not show up with the mammogram or biopsy. It was tiny, but it was the cancer."
Fortunately, it did not spread to any lymph nodes, but major surgery in February still consisted of a full mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. Cheryl opted for TRAM construction, which uses her own stomach muscles to rebuild of a new breast. Even though it caused her 75 staples, she said her replacement is more realistic and will last much longer than silicone implants.
Having come so close to losing hers, Cheryl has come away with a bright attitude about life.
"It makes you appreciate the little things in life," she said. "I know you hear that a lot, but it does. Everybody is going through something in their lives, so when you ask them, 'How are you?', really listen.'"
Kevin said he wrestled with his wife's cancer diagnosis when he heard the word, instinctively, going into "coaching mode." After serving as a very successful, assistant varsity wrestling coach for 24 years at Winchester Community High School, he, admittedly, is a man who "doesn't like to lose."
"I know how to take a defeat and turn it into a victory," he said.
Jones discovered his wife's cancer was a "wrestling match" bigger than any he had ever encountered and he needed to find some new strategies. His coping mechanism came to him in the middle of the night when he decided to make pink ivory wood crosses for people affected by breast cancer.
I tell people, "I turned my whistle in for the cross," Jones said.
For Kevin's compelling story of how he dealt with his wife's breast cancer, see tomorrow's edition of The News-Gazette.
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