Glenda Stitt

A breast cancer diagnosis is a life-changing event for thousands of women every year.

The Butler Eagle’s Glenda Stitt, who’s been an employee for 40 years, recently finished two kinds of chemotherapy and radiation treatments. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in November. She’s tried staying positive throughout.

“Just keep the faith in God,” said Stitt, 60, of Franklin Township. “I’ve been on so many prayer chains, and I know the power of God has gotten me through this.”

She said she was overwhelmed with support, particularly at the office.

“When I found out I had cancer, I went to each department (at work) and told them what I was going through,” said Stitt. “I’ve been here 40 years. It’s family. And you get more support from your family. That’s exactly what they are.”

Co-workers, friends, acquaintances, even strangers, offered up support. She was overwhelmed by the grace of others.

For instance, while she was shopping one day, a woman had complimented Stitt’s hair. Stitt explained to her that it was a wig, because she was going through chemotherapy treatments. The woman told her she was a breast cancer survivor herself.

Her husband, Don, has also been a blessing, she said. He retired in April, but before that, he would take off work to drive her to her chemotherapy sessions, and be there any time she needed him.

Hair loss is something everyone knows will happen with chemotherapy. But there are other side effects, too. Between the two different kinds of chemotherapy, she experienced a loss of finger nails, numbness in her feet and, for the first few weeks, a metallic taste in her mouth.

But even as she was going through treatments, she kept working. It wasn’t easy, but she did that for a reason. She advises anyone with the same diagnosis to do it if they can. Luckily for her, she had all her treatments at the Butler Cancer Center, a part of Butler Health System, only a few miles away from work and home.

“Get up in the morning. If you work, go to work every day. It gives you purpose,” she said. “I would come into work, and I would get tired by mid-afternoon, and then I would go home, change my clothes, and go right to bed by 6 o’clock. I was in bed then for the first two weeks.”

Despite a difficult year, she’s remained strong. She’s scheduled for another mammogram soon, and will be undergoing more tests to determine whether the cancer is gone. “Just keep busy” became her unofficial mantra.

“The only time I took off was the day of chemo. And I came into work the next day. I didn’t stop,” Stitt said. “I did get tired, but I did not stop.”