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National Spotlight
Financial Resources —Did you know that there are many financial resources that can help people living with breast cancer? Find out more
Rally for the Cure — Golf, tennis, dinner events and so much more...
Go Passionately Pink to help save lives! — Just wear pink, have fun and raise money to fight breast cancer. Be inspired by the multitude of ideas right here, or think of your own. There are so many creative ways to have fun and fight breast cancer.
Stacy Heath
In October of 2008, Stacy Heath went in for a regular visit with her OB/GYN. During the appointment, she had a question about a red spot that had formed on the side of her right breast. While her doctor was convinced the spot was just an irritation or a rash, she had Stacy undergo an ultrasound and a mammogram just to be sure. With negative results for both tests, Stacy, drove through traffic from the Dallas Race for the Cure and on with life, relieved she was supposedly cancer free.
She immediately called her family doctor, who saw her the day she returned home from traveling. She had a mammogram and an ultrasound, but neither confirmed breast cancer. Later that day, a breast surgeon did a biopsy, but that also came back negative. A second biopsy the following week confirmed that she had stage IIIB inflammatory breast cancer, with triple negative pathology at the age of 34. Within a week of diagnosis, Stacy started chemotherapy for her rare aggressive breast cancer, and in the same year went through seven more rounds of chemotherapy, a bilateral mastectomy including the removal of 16 lymph nodes, seven weeks of radiation and partial reconstruction surgery.
Although Stacy’s cancer has a 50 percent chance of a 5-year survival, her extremely positive outlook on life never lets her think she won’t make it through the disease. Advice from her doctor made her realize that taking small steps and celebrating small victories was the best way to get through treatment. Stacy also learned the power behind the statement "you are stronger that you think you are," and tried not to get wrapped up in odds or statistics of breast cancer survival. She chose instead to focus on beating her cancer and becoming a "100%" individual survivor to help improve the overall statistics.
In April of 2009, in the middle of chemotherapy, Stacy completed the 1-mile run in her first Race for the Cure. The powerful emotions she felt that day, with tears and hope she shared with other survivors, brought her back for her second Race in April of 2010. This time she formed "Team IBC = I Beat Cancer" based on the motto of the local IBC support group she formed in 2009 and raised more than $12,500 through $5 donations from friends and family. Helping build awareness, the group Stacy and five other survivors started, educates women about breast cancer. Stacy and other group members present a motivational and informative presentation to women and primary health care providers all around Dallas/Fort Worth.
Stacy is passionate about sharing her experience with breast cancer, specifically with photographs for other women to visualize and learn about IBC, just like she did. As a strong advocate for breast cancer awareness, Stacy plans to continue her involvement with Race for the Cure, is thankful for her teammates in the Race and in life, and is looking forward to the journey to find a cure.
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Greater Fort Worth Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® |
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