Breast cancer survivors emphasize early detection

“Early detection is the key. Constantly do self-exams. Don’t put it off. See the doctor right away and trust in God.” –Marie Sottardi

LAURA DODSON | FLORIDA CATHOLIC CORRESPONDENT

Posted: 10.22.09

COMMON SYMPTOMS

The National Institutes of Health offers the following list of common symptoms of breast cancer. The agency recommends seeing a health care provider as soon as possible for diagnosis and possible treatment. The agency also states that many times these symptoms are not due to cancer and could be related to other health issues. However, early detection is key.

• A change in how the breast or nipple feels.

• A lump or thickening in or near the breast or in the underarm area.

• Nipple tenderness.

• A change in how the breast or nipple looks.

• A change in the size or shape of the breast.

• A nipple turned inward into the breast.

• The skin of the breast, areola or nipple may be scaly, red or swollen.

• The skin of the breast may have ridges or pitting – looking like the skin of an orange.

• Nipple discharge (fluid).

For more information, visit the Web site.

ORMOND BEACH | Two words – breast cancer – literally strike fear in the human breast. The National Institutes of Health estimates that one in eight or 192,370 women and 1,910 men will be struck by it this year. Continuing medical advancements make recovery a reachable goal. The key, however – and it cannot be emphasized enough – is early detection.

Thirty-seven years ago, Marie Sottardi, now a parishioner at Prince of Peace in Ormond Beach, felt a bump in her left breast while taking a shower. She was 42, the wife of a firefighter and mother of two sons – Glenn, who was 8, and Drew, 4.

“I had a difficult time getting pregnant,” Sottardi shared, “and my two children were miracles. Having to take care of them was just the right therapy and I knew God wasn’t going to let anything happen to me.”

Kimberly Winkler of Immaculate Conception Parish in Melbourne Beach is married to her high school sweetheart and the mother of two sons. Clay was 4, and Reece, only 1 when at 31 she first felt discomfort from a seat belt pressing against her breast. She took action, was in remission for 10 years, but two years ago, cancer raised its ugly head again. Winkler is now taking the first Food and Drug Administration approved oral chemotherapy for breast cancer.

“Thank God they have these procedures now,” Winkler stated. “You will never find anybody who will fight tooth and nail like a cancer survivor, especially someone with children, to have one more day with their child.”

Sottardi had a radical mastectomy of the left breast but returned to her doctor three months later and insisted the right one be removed as well. “He said, ‘No,’ at first, but then did it because I had young kids,” Sottardi continued.

Winkler had a double radical mastectomy as well, and chemotherapy that made her violently ill. Half-way through her treatments she thought she couldn’t go on.

“I was waiting for Reece to come in after his bath to kiss me goodnight,” Winkler recalled. “I sang them (her two sons) a song every night and Reece came in singing it, ‘You are the light of my life. ’ He could barely babble and I told them then, ‘My greatest privilege is to have you two angels. God has trusted me with your lives and that is the greatest honor.’”

Winkler completed her chemotherapy and radiation.

Both women sing the praises of their husbands who made job changes to care for the children in the long months of recovery, and tell wonderful stories of the family, friends, neighbors, even people they didn’t know, who provided meals every night.

Sottardi has devoted her life since to helping other women with cancer as a counselor with the Reach to Recovery program of the American Cancer Society, first in Long Island and for the past 10 years in Ormond Beach where she now lives. She is also active in the Council of Catholic Women, community concerns, collecting shirts for farmworkers and more in her parish.

“I had a whole new feeling about life,” Sottardi shared, “what was important. God, let me live to raise my children.”

Winkler is a child psychologist and was grateful to be able to return to her work. “I really do feel it’s a calling. I felt so blessed since the first day I started graduate school. I knew since I was 21 that I would be this vessel.”

Because of her treatment program of radiation, multiple surgeries and radiation during the past two years, Winkler hasn’t been able to continue her practice. Yet, she is still productive. Three books are in the final stages of completion: a children’s book on bullying; a parenting self-help program; and a book for children adjusting to family losses, especially divorce, military deployment and death. The next step is securing a publisher. When she is able, she attends Mass with her family and eagerly shares her faith.

“God has been merciful because he gave me 10 healthy years to raise my children,” Winkler said. “This is not about me. I’ve had two women tell me that because of my witness, they discovered their cancers. This is a gift that the Holy Spirit gave me for other people. And the fact that I’m grateful for it is the cherry on top.”

Both women are adamant in their advice to others: “Early detection is the key. Constantly do self-exams. Don’t put it off. See the doctor right away and trust in God,” advised Sottardi.

Winkler urges even further: “You have to be your own advocate. No one knows your body like you do and if you sense something is wrong, don’t let anyone deter you from getting the help you need.”

October is recognized as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month to empower everyone to participate in the early detection of the disease. For more information, visit the Web site. To learn more about breast cancer, visit the Web site of the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health.