The Compass Winter 2019

WINTER 2019 A bump in the road Thanks to early detection, Diane’s cancer didn’t stand a chance. Inside this issue hat you don’t know about had no family history of breast cancer,” your health can hurt you. Mrs. Walter says. A few days later, she Screening tests have played received a call from Women’s Imaging to Foundation News schedule an appointment. 14 New Monthly Giving Option a major role in improving cancer survival rates by allowing doctors to detect and Indeed, Mrs. Walter’s mammogram treat cancer before it even triggers came back abnormal. Further tests and symptoms. For example, mammograms a biopsy confirmed a tumor. Fortunately, can help identify about 87 percent it was small and still in its early stages. “It of women who have breast cancer, was really the best-case scenario,” Mrs. depending on factors such as breast Walter says. “My doctor told me this was density. With this early detection, the going to be just a bump in the road.” patient has more treatment options surgery to remove the tumor, followed However, many patients choose to skip by 16 days of radiation therapy. About these screenings—they think the test is half of all cancer patients will need only for those who have symptoms, or radiation therapy during the course of they aren’t in a high-risk group, or the their treatment. A linear accelerator tests cause discomfort, etc. delivers radiation with pinpoint accuracy Station went to her annual physical, her doctor recommended a mammogram, 7 Within a week, Mrs. Walter had and an increased probability of survival. When Diane Walter of College Lorenzo’s Letter to Santa to target and treat tumors while sparing surrounding healthy tissue. “I didn’t have many side effects from the a standard breast cancer screening for radiation, except some fatigue,” Mrs. Walter women over age 50. “He was putting says. “I was still able to run 5ks and train for in the order for the test, but I kept a half marathon. And when I did have a skin thinking about how busy I was. I thought reaction, they got me in that same day to it would be ok to put it off because I make sure everything was alright.” Continued on pg 2 News, Projects & Campaigns 3 4 5 6 8 9 10 12 Play a round “fore” healthcare Swing for Health Buda just got Better Communities Connected Growing Stronger Together To the Moon and Back Cancer-free and back to life Charity Dove Hunt & True Grit Tribute Party 13 A lifetime of generosity