September 29, 2009

Three Generations, Three Survivors
Grandmother, Mother and Daughter Share Story of Breast Cancer

SIOUX FALLS (Oct. 1, 2009) - Breast cancer at age 31. This frightening diagnosis at an unusually young age happened not once, not twice but three times in the life of a Sioux Falls area family.

At age 31, in 1960, Delores Hult felt a lump on her breast the size of a pea. When a biopsy proved it was cancer, she had a mastectomy and cobalt treatments. Twelve years later, she had a recurrence on the other breast, and had a mastectomy on that side too.

She never would have dreamed that 23 years later, when her daughter Jeannie Ostrem was 31, history would repeat itself. Jeannie also found a lump during a self breast exam. Like her mother, Jeannie had a single mastectomy, and then had a recurrence in the other breast two years later.

By the time Jeannie's daughter, Kelli Timmer, reached adulthood, she realized she was at risk, and began annual mammograms at age 24. Her screening mammogram several months earlier was all clear, but in August, just after her 31st birthday, she felt a lump, just as her grandmother and mother had at the same age.

Kelli had bilateral mastectomy and reconstructive surgery as well as a round of chemo treatments, because the cancer was also found in her lymph nodes. Genetic testing revealed that she carried the BRCA1 genetic mutation which is linked to breast cancer, and an increased risk of ovarian cancer. "The type of cancer we carry is a particularly aggressive form," Kelli said. "It seems to blow up overnight."

The mother of three healthy children, Kelli opted to have a complete hysterectomy as soon as she recovered from her first surgeries.

Because she has a daughter, now age 6, Kelli is thankful she knows about the BRCA1 mutation, so her daughter can be tested when she's older. "If she carries the gene, she can decide to take whatever preventative measures she can, or decide to have surgery versus the waiting game," Kelli said.

Delores, Jeannie and Kelli all understand how helpful it is to have someone to talk to who understands. "When I was diagnosed, I didn't know anyone who had had it except my mother. People didn't talk about it. You just got through it," Jeannie said.

Kelli, having her mother and grandmother as well as coworkers at Avera McKennan for support, was one of the first "Think Pink" ladies at Avera McKennan - a group of breast cancer survivors who share their stories and lend their support to others who face the same journey. Kelli is also part of a group for young breast cancer survivors. Now, Delores and Jeannie are Think Pink ladies as well.

"There's something about being close to other people who have gone through this themselves. And, it's helpful to be around people who are positive," Kelli said.

The three are advocates of early detection guidelines, including annual mammograms and annual clinical breast exams. But they especially urge women to do monthly self-breast exams, because that's how each one found her cancer.

Breast cancer affects women age 40 and older, but each year, an estimated 11,100 women under 40 are diagnosed with breast cancer. "You're never too young to begin doing self-breast exams," Kelli said. "And if you feel something, trust your instincts, and don't second guess yourself. Get it checked out."

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and "Think Pink" month at Avera McKennan. For more information go to www.AveraThinkPink.org.