Dorothy Head

Dorothy Head walked in her first Race for the Cure in 1999 in honor of her sister-in-law who had recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. A mere two months after her first walk for Komen, Dorothy was in for her yearly mammogram when the radiologist explained "something had changed." At the age of 50, Dorothy was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Known as a practical person, Dorothy took this difficult information and thought "Well I got it, let’s fix it." With this bold attitude she wasn’t worried, she simply knew something had to be done. Faced with a difficult decision between a lumpectomy and a mastectomy, Dorothy found comfort in the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Web site, reading about other survivors and their decisions during treatment. The first year was difficult for Dorothy, with complications arising from her reconstructive surgery, but her strong support system carried her through. Her husband in particular was an essential part of her triumph. Dorothy’s loving spouse was supporting her not only physically, but most importantly, he was present emotionally. She explains he was a great listener and caregiver, and an essential provider of light-hearted comic relief during the hard times. Her son and daughter, as well as close friends in the community, supported Dorothy during the most difficult stages of the disease. She believes that the counseling sessions she attended while fighting cancer was also a tremendous help, providing the foundation for Dorothy herself to become a vital part of many other survivors’ lives.

Every day Dorothy continuously dedicates her time and energy to helping the next generation of breast cancer patients. She has held many part-time nursing positions and spent 14 years as a stay-at-home mom. Later in her career, Dorothy found herself working closely with Dr. Robyn Young at The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at the Magnolia location in Fort Worth. Together they created a dynamic duo in the battle against breast cancer. Now, Dorothy is a patient navigator at Burleson’s Huguley Hospital location for The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders.

As a patient navigator, Dorothy meets with breast cancer patients at the most important stages of their experience. Dorothy explains to the patient and their family the significance of this time, dealing with unwanted emotions and difficult situations. She is a valued support system for these women, answering any questions they might have regarding the disease, providing them with information and resources for treatment and pointing them in the best direction for support groups. Specifically she provides educational programs as a navigator; some are serious - discussing emotional factors, while others are more fun and upbeat. For example, Dorothy is a coordinator for the American Cancer Society, in which she hosts events for the "Look Better Feel Better" program. These events are usually for women in their first year of treatment, where they are given a complimentary supply of cosmetics, as well as scarves, hats and wigs to make themselves physically look and feel better during treatment. It is evident to many that Dorothy’s tireless efforts, with her amazing service of encouragement and support, is absolutely vital for these women to be triumphant with their battle.