Group helps in cancer battle
A lot has changed for the better for women in this region battling breast cancer over the past 15 years.
Patients are now given more treatment options than ever before. For example, more patients are able to have the less-invasive lumpectomy procedure as opposed to a mastectomy surgery. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are also used more sparingly than in the past.
“People think you have to go to Pittsburgh to get the most updated things, but Butler is amazing in the things they have,” said Cheryl Schaefer, who has been coordinator of the Butler Breast Cancer and Women's Cancer Support Group since it started more than 15 years ago.
While treatment options and treatment outcomes have improved for many, breast cancer is still an ordeal that affects people physically, mentally and emotionally, Schaefer said.
Another way the cancer battle has changed — and improved — is the emotional support and non-medical assistance available to patients, though groups such as the support group based in Butler.
The group meets from 7 to 9 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month on the first floor of Butler Health System's Crossroads Campus on Oneida Valley Road in Summit Township.
During the past 15 years, there have been numerous national campaigns to raise awareness of breast cancer and to encourage women to get screened for the disease.
Schaefer said many people choose to keep their cancer battle private, though more and more people seem open to sharing their experiences and trying to help others.
“Years ago, people never said anything. A lot of people never knew. There are a lot of people still that don't tell anyone,” Schaefer said.
“Nowadays more people put that pink ribbon on, family members put that pink ribbon on and more males wear that pink ribbon. It's amazing to see.”
Everyone who gets diagnosed with cancer has a different experience, Schaefer said.
The support group is open to anyone who has been diagnosed with breast cancer, and they are encouraged to have friends or family members join them. Sometimes the group will have discussions, while other times they will bring in a guest speaker.
Kate Coradi of Renfrew was diagnosed with breast cancer last year and has been attending the Butler support group since January.
Having a chance to sit down with other women who are going through the same struggles has been important, Coradi said.
“It's a godsend to me. Cancer happens to a lot of people, but everyone handles it differently,” she said.
Coradi said she has approached women in public who are wearing pink ribbons or who are going through hair loss associated with cancer treatments and had conversations.
“I think it's a good thing that more and more people are wearing them,” she said about the pink ribbons. “People buy them who have had cancer, it's like connecting.”
Schaefer said that while many people wear ribbons and offer their support to friends and family, some people struggle to show their support because they don't know how to talk to the cancer patient about their disease.
Sometimes the easiest way to show support is by offering to help with transportation or with household chores.
“They can offer people rides. They can offer to babysit for you. They can offer to cut your grass, rake your leaves, shovel your snow. The small things are what really means the most,” she said.
The support group and Riding for the Cure, a group that holds a bike ride every year to raise money, help to offer cancer patients services such as free wigs or hair halos. A hair halo is like a wig that doesn't cover the whole head, but can be worn with a hat or scarf. They also work with local medical offices to offer free pet therapy and other services for patients.
Anyone interested in donating to support local cancer patients can make a check out to “Butler Health System Foundation” and mail it to 166 Jamisonville Road, Butler, PA 16001.
On the memo line of the check write “Breast Cancer Support Group” to support breast cancer patients or write “Riding for the Cure” in memo to support other cancer patients as well.
