Cancer Research for the Ozarks

It’s time for our next local Breast Cancer Warrior Kelly Spencer!! Kelly has so quietly and bravely fought a huge battle over this past year. She has twin ...girls that go to school with my Lily and she is a wonderful friend. Her diagnosis came as a huge shock to me personally because she is so young and has girls the same age as my daughter. It was very eye opening to me that this horrible disease can touch any of us, at any time and that life is so precious. THANK YOU Kelly for sharing your story so we can help spread awareness and encourage other women fighting this same battle. THANK YOU Marilynn Langston Images for partnering with us to celebrate these women and for capturing these beautiful photos. ************************************************ Here is Kelly’s journey in her own words: In August of 2019 I was able to palpate something in my breast that I had previously not noticed. After talking to my husband and primary care doctor, we decided to reevaluate in one months time. A month goes by and it’s still there, in fact possibly larger. My mammogram is then scheduled for a few days later on October 7th at Phelps Health, which just so happened to be the start of breast cancer awareness month. A Mammogram, 2 different biopsies (both stereotactic and ultrasound guided), followed by a repeat mammogram were all performed on the same day. A few days later I got the call from my PCP that my biopsy results came back and I in fact had Triple Positive breast cancer at 33. My journey involved 6 rounds of chemotherapy (1 round every 3 weeks), surgery in February which revealed I had a complete response to chemotherapy, followed by immunotherapy. I got to ring the bell after my last immunotherapy infusion on October 7, 2020, wrapping up one full year of treatment. Nobody in my family has had breast cancer and all my genetic testing came back negative. YOU know your own body best. If something doesn’t feel right, take action and call your primary care physician. I feel so fortunate to have had access to such exceptional care right here at the Delbert Day Cancer Institute in Rolla. Local care allowed me to stay home with my 3 year old twin girls, and my incredible support system. Please consider making a donation to the Phelps Health Foundation. Your generous gift will help make a difference in the lives of local cancer patients!! https://phelpshealthfoundation.org/ An important thing to remember is that breast cancer is complicated. There are so many different types and stages upon diagnosis. Don't compare your treatment plan to anybody else’s. Your journey will be unique and individualized to YOU!!. Run your own race and you will be amazed at the amount of people who will turn out to support you. Thank you Kelly!! You are amazing!!!!!

Watch FDR’s stirring speech at the dedication of the NIH campus 80 years ago this week. Great words from a great leader: We cannot be a strong nation unless we are a healthy nation.https://directorsblog.nih.gov//nih-at-80-sharing-a-timele/

Join us and Bright Pink tomorrow at noon CT for a free one-hour webinar! Topics like genetic counseling and testing, how genes behave, prevention and testing ethics will be covered, as well as an opportunity to #AskTheExperts. bit.ly/webinar-your-genetics

For all the things you love...please, wear a mask.

Sabrina scheduled her first mammogram when she turned 40, never guessing 2020 would bring a cancer diagnosis. Now she hopes her early diagnosis inspires other women to schedule their mammogram today: https://bit.ly/3mz6owK.

The NCCN Guidelines for Patients: Immunotherapy Side Effects series includes information for patients and caregivers on CAR T-Cell Therapy and Immune Checkpoin...t Inhibitors. Access these booklets for free at https://www.nccn.org/patients/guidelines/cancers.aspx. #immunotherapy #patientresources #irAE #cancercare

Join us at 6 p.m. Thursday for our #MercyFortSmith virtual webinar on breast cancer screenings! Registration is required. Click here to learn more: https://bit.ly/31Sry13

Election Day is in ONE week away. Remember to vote safely this year! Wear your mask, keep your distance and practice good hand hygiene.

Nurse practitioner Laura Hooper explains what "high risk" means for breast cancer and who qualifies for our High Risk Breast Clinic program. Learn more: https://bit.ly/37IIcnr

You can help science move forward. Clinical trials to find a vaccine for #COVID19 are taking place in your community. Learn more about participating: https://go.usa.gov/xfShb

$16,818.64 Our community poured out a lot of love at #CoffeeForACure! Best year yet! The Human Bean of St. Joseph collected $8,409.32 in sales and tips. Mosaic Life Care Auxiliary matched it. That’s $16,818.64 to help local breast cancer patients! #WayToGo #YouDidIt #ThankYou