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Show 2 Hill., TIMES COMMENTARY October 9, 2014 /- ; Hillt op TIMES Airman wages war against breast cancer Weekly since 191i, Hilltop Times Managerial Staff: Andrea Mason Director, Team Hill Public Affairs (801) 777-2286 Rich Essary Team Hill Public Affairs (801) 777-2284 Barbara Fisher Team Hill Public Affairs (801) 775-3652 Deadlines: Editorial and news items are due by noon on the Friday prior to the Thursday print date. To submit news items, email 75abw.pa@us.af.mil or call the numbers above. For Classified Advertising, call (801) 625-4300. For Retail Advertising, call (801) 625-4388. The Hilltop Times is published by Ogden Publishing Corp., a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force, under, and in compliance with, a Memorandum of Understanding with Hill Air Force Base. The content of the Hilltop Times does not necessarily represent the views of, nor is it endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Air Force or Hill Air Force Base (collectively, the Government). The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Government of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the Standard-Examiner, 332 Standard Way, Ogden, Utah, 84404. Additional editorial content is provided by various military and civilian wire services and Hill Air Force Base public affairs departments. Call 801-775-3652 with story ideas or comments, or email 75abw.pa@us.af.mil . Call 801-625-4300 for Classified Advertising or 801-6254388 for Retail Advertising. Courtesy photo Staff Sgt. Amanda Dick celebrates her last chemotherapy treatment with her family, May 9, at Tripler Army Medical Center, Hawaii. According to the American Cancer Society, about one in eight women in the U.S. are diagnosed with breast cancer. BY STAFF SGT. AMANDA DICK Headquarters Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs tj DINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii 4 "You have cancer." The three words no one, no matter their age, wants to hear. I happened to receive these words at the age of 29. Though I knew from the moment I found the lump in my breast it was cancer, I was in no way prepared to hear those words Oct. 4, 2013, 4 the day that forever changed my life. Breast cancer runs in my family. Both my mother and her sister are breast cancer survivors. My grandmother survived both breast and ovarian cancers, but sadly succumbed to brain cancer. With such a high risk of cancer in my family, I've always been super conscious about this issue. I found the lump while conducting a routine breast self-examination. When found, my lump was the size of a pea. By the time I had surgery three months later, it had grown to just smaller than the size of a lime. Because the lump was fairly small (by cancer standards) and found early, and the cancer hadn't spread to my lymph nodes, I was diagnosed as Stage 2a. On the day of diagnosis, I also found out I have the BRCA1 gene, which puts me at an even higher risk for breast and ovarian cancers. Because of family history and this cancer gene, I decided to have a bilateral mastectomy. For me, the surgery wasn't that bad, and I didn't have much pain once the drains were taken out a week after surgery. The worst part was not feeling like a woman anymore because of the removal of certain body parts, something I'm still struggling with today. In January 2014, I began the process of chemotherapy. Let me tell you, it was not fun! On the night of my very first treatment, I sat on the floor of the bedroom in front of a trash can, rocking back and forth trying not to throw up, feeling like I was dying and calling out for my mommy. My poor dog was lying on the bed with a pitiful look of terror, because he had no idea what was going on. After the first treatment, I cut my hair short in preparation for it falling out, and because my head ached like needles were being stabbed into my scalp. After the second treatment, my hair did start falling out. I could literally run my hands through my hair and clumps would be inbetween my fingers. During the five months of chemo, I never felt as bad as that first night, but the nausea stuck around and drugs never fully helped the queasiness go away. In fact, the only thing I could find to help my nausea was eating, and thankfully, I never had issues with food tasting like metal, as so many chemo patients do. However, because food was the only remedy that helped my nausea, I gained weight. The five months of steroids didn't help either. Throughout eight treatments of chemo, I went through a cycle of feeling like crap during "chemo week," then starting to feel better the next week only to shock my body with a treatment, starting the process over again. The further along in my treatments I got, the fewer "good days" I had. I finished chemotherapy May 9, 2014, and started the process of reconstruction in September. Though the big fight is over, I still have the fight of getting back in shape and losing the weight I gained as a result of the drugs. This will help me pass my physical fitness test and not lose the technical sergeant stripe I was selected for. When I found out I had cancer, I was left with a couple of decisions. First, do I stay in the Air Force or get out? That decision was easy to make; I love the Air Force and my job and knew I wanted to stay in. Second, do I stay in England, go back to the U.S. to be treated at Walter Reid, or fly home to Hawaii where my parents lived and be treated at Tripler Army Medical Center? This was a tougher decision. I loved being in England and the "family" I had there, however, nothing could come close to being with my parents, who I knew I would need. I eventually went with the Hawaii option, and my leadership in England worked very hard to get me here, despite the government shutdown going on at the time. And really, who doesn't want to go through something like this on a beautiful, tropical island? Having living proof of a breast cancer survivor in front of me, I was able to draw comfort from my mom, as she had gone through the experience about 11 years before at Tripler. My dad was my constant companion throughout chemo; he took me to every treatment and kept me company. By my side to cuddle with me after each treatment was my See CANCER I Page 5 Combined Federal Campaign kick off BY LT. GEN. HAWC Nest Fitness Tip from the Health and Wellness Center Studies have found that people who have smoked for years can dramatically reduce their risk of lung cancer and many other cancers by quitting. QUIT TODAY. For assistance call the HAWC at 801-777-1215. THINK SAFETY Hill's Total 2014 DUIs: 8 Hill's Last DUI: Aq. 2 Unit Involved: 75a ,ier &we 70‘19 Airmen Against Drinking and Driving provide rides when designated drivers are unavailable. Call 801-777-1111 to request a ride anytime. Hours of operation: Fridays-Saturdays 10 p.m.- 6 a.m. Sundays 9 p.m.-midnight. BRUCE A. LITCHFIELD Air Force Sustainment Center INKER AIR FORCE BASE - Okla. 4 Fall is here and it's time for the Combined Federal Campaign. CFC raises millions of dollars each year to support family, friends, neighbors and communities who are in need. This campaign has been in place since the 19605 and gives never know when we may need help, but with CFC we can pay it forward. Please join in this worthy campaign by showing how we are caring wingmen to all. Keep 'em flying...it's what we do! federal employees the ability to donate to their favorite charities through payroll donations with very low overhead 4 meaning more of your money goes to the charities you designate. CFC is designed to be a simple way for you to help others. Your donations have provided food, shelter, warmth, medicine and education for countless people in the community and around the world. On a personal level, we RIGHT: To mark the kick-off of the 2014-15 Combined Federal Campaign, Air Force Sustainment Center Commander Lt. Gen. Bruce Litchfield signs his pledge form Oct. 1. ,1NJ Report suspicious activity via the AFOSI EAGLE EYES program Dial: 777-3056 / 3057/ 3058. watch 4 Report 4 Protect Force Protection is Our Business 4 Everyone is a Sensor Security Forces 777-3056 Program 777-3056 Hill Straight Talk 24-hr, Crisis Information Force Support Squadron.......... ................... 777-4134 IG Complaints Base Restaurants 777-2043 (for appointment) RetirementlCompensation 777-6142 IG Complaints.. (civilian) (after hours) Equal Opportunity Office 777-5455 Fraud, Waste or Abuse Employer Relations 777-7129 (recording) Military Pay 777-1851 Loud Noise Civilian Pay 777-6246 (complaints) Air Force Suggestion 777-6901 75th Medical Group Civil Engineering 777-9696 Public Affairs 777-5305 Military Housing Maintenance 777-5361 Safety Office Safety Office Hotline 777-5361 Sexual Assault Response 777-1856 777-5333 825-9392 777-3333 586-9300 777-1985 Coordinator (or) 777-1964 777-3257 1-877-885-9595 Union AFOSI Narcotics Hotline 777-1852 777-4681 777-4918 Family Readiness Center (when activated) SUICIDE PREVENTION ASSISTANCE Mental Health Clinic 777-7909 Chaplain 777-2106 Military OneSource (800) 342-9647 National Suicide (800) 273-8255 Prevention Line TriWest Crisis Line (866) 284-3743 TriWest Behavioral (866) 651-4970 Health Contact Center EAP (800) 222-0364 777-1163 Occupational Medicine Services 777-2255 Wingman Advocates |