Pink Out Night is held every year by Butler Breast and Women’s Cancer Support Group. Proceeds of the event go to the group’s charity efforts. Submitted Photo

CENTER TWP — When it comes to cancer, Cheryl Schaefer is all about the fight.

Schaefer, 68, of Center Township, has fought uterine, breast and thyroid cancer over the years. She joined the Butler Breast Cancer and Women’s Cancer Support Group more than 45 years ago.

The organization’s head, Phyllis Schwalder, changed jobs and could no longer run the group meetings. Schaefer was asked to take the reins in 1980 at age 22 - and remains in charge.

The group of 15 to 20 individuals meet from 7 to 9 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month in the basement of the Trinity Lutheran Church. Many other cancer survivors receive correspondence from the organization.

“I want people to know what’s going on,” Schaefer said. “In terms of our meetings, people come, people go, we get new people. It’s important that we support each other, talk to each other.

“We talk about what’s going on with each other, who might be on a new medication, going through some issue. We’re there for each other.”

Schaefer takes the latter point to heart.

She makes herself available 24 hours per day, every day. She’s taken calls in the middle of the night from people dealing with cancer and the challenges that go with it.

The Butler Breast Cancer and Women’s Cancer Support Group has a website through the PA Breast Cancer Coalition.

“I’ve gotten phone calls from other countries concerning cancer treatment,” Schaefer said. “In some places, treatments take longer. The same treatments aren’t available to everybody. I’ve had translators talk to me because the cancer patient placing the call doesn’t speak English.

“It’s important that we pass along information to other people. No one should keep a cancer diagnosis to him or herself.”

Schaefer cited the case of a woman diagnosed with breast cancer who kept that news to herself, claimed she went on vacation while she was actually away getting treatment. She never told her daughter. That same daughter called her years later, crying on the phone because she had tested positive for breast cancer.

“Her mother never told her she went through the same thing. A lot of cancers are hereditary. Family members need to share when they’re diagnosed,” Schaefer added.

The support group’s age range is from people in their 20s to those in their late 90s. Men and women come to the meetings.

“Some husbands come in support of their wives,” Schaefer said. “Anyone is welcome. We deal with all types of cancer, male and female.”

The group has two events upcoming.

Its annual Pink Out Night is slated for Oct. 10 at Highfield Hall, 229 Highfield Road in Butler Township. The dinner costs $15 and runs from 3:30 to 6 p.m. The meal includes roast beef, mashed potatoes, tossed salad, a vegetable, roll and butter, and dessert.

The event also features music, a basket auction and 50-50 drawing. A limited amount of tickets will be available at the door. Call Anita at 724-991-9306 or Cheryl at 724-282-4421 for more information.

Then, on Oct. 21, Boscov’s Friends Helping Friends, a discount shopping day, will be from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Discount shopping passes are $5 and will be sold at the store’s back entrance that day. The $5 pass entitles the shopper to a 25% discount off virtually everything in the store.

Proceeds benefit local cancer support.

“Shoppers can use that discount all day, as often as they wish,” Schaefer said. “We’ve been told that’s Boscov’s busiest shopping day of the year.”

Cheryl Schaefer has been part of the Butler Breast Cancer and Women’s Cancer Support Group since 1980. She's taken charge of the group, which helps those going through cancer treatments through fundraisers and monthly meetings. Submitted photo