Full Transcript for TOPIC: Making Strides Walk - American Cancer Society

that's provided through American Cancer Society. And 35 00:02:04.790 --> 00:02:08.389 so in every way throughout my career, I have tried 36 00:02:08.449 --> 00:02:12.189 to be support to American Cancer Society and have done 37 00:02:12.219 --> 00:02:15.860 that in different ways. And the American Cancer Society has 38 00:02:15.900 --> 00:02:20.460 supported me. They helped some scholarships for my education. They 39 00:02:20.500 --> 00:02:24.400 have helped in multiple patient programs that we have tried 40 00:02:24.439 --> 00:02:26.639 to put on in the community, and then they have 41 00:02:26.719 --> 00:02:30.460 individual programming for patients as well. So I feel like, 42 00:02:30.860 --> 00:02:32.979 of course, I would be on the board of the 43 00:02:33.039 --> 00:02:36.289 American Cancer Society. Anything that I can do to support 44 00:02:36.349 --> 00:02:41.590 this organization as they support individuals, families, and communities in Pittsburgh, 45 00:02:41.750 --> 00:02:42.370 well worth it. 46 00:02:42.550 --> 00:02:45.389 Well, you're both wearing pink, and shame on me, because... 47 00:02:46.069 --> 00:02:49.219 October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Right. So I didn't 48 00:02:49.240 --> 00:02:50.860 get the memo. I'm sorry. 49 00:02:50.879 --> 00:02:52.960 We'll help you. 50 00:02:53.419 --> 00:02:56.479 Julie, you have a very unique story. So tell us 51 00:02:56.520 --> 00:02:56.939 about that. 52 00:02:57.199 --> 00:02:59.919 Sure. And just let me say before, Peg, thank you 53 00:03:00.000 --> 00:03:02.000 for all you do to help fight breast cancer. 54 00:03:02.039 --> 00:03:02.560 You're amazing. 55 00:03:02.580 --> 00:03:04.819 And she's truly a cancer-fighting hero, for sure. 56 00:03:04.879 --> 00:03:06.909 Thank you. So thanks, Johnny. 57 00:03:08.159 --> 00:03:10.629 My goal in life is to, like when I was 58 00:03:10.689 --> 00:03:13.349 told you have cancer, I don't want anybody to ever 59 00:03:13.409 --> 00:03:16.419 have to hear those words. I'm a breast cancer survivor. 60 00:03:16.539 --> 00:03:20.719 I was diagnosed in 2019. I took care of my mom, Beverly, 61 00:03:20.860 --> 00:03:24.740 who had breast cancer before. She fought for 12 hard 62 00:03:24.780 --> 00:03:27.759 years before she passed away. So I knew a lot 63 00:03:27.780 --> 00:03:30.840 about breast cancer and then getting diagnosed with breast cancer 64 00:03:30.919 --> 00:03:35.219 was really, really difficult. So my goal in life is for, again, 65 00:03:35.300 --> 00:03:37.599 nobody to ever hear the words you have cancer. And 66 00:03:37.620 --> 00:03:40.949 I am so passionate about working with the American Cancer 67 00:03:40.969 --> 00:03:44.599 Society to help fight cancer and so that we can 68 00:03:44.659 --> 00:03:46.270 eliminate it and move forward. 69 00:03:46.590 --> 00:03:48.409 All right. Tell me about your story. I mean, when 70 00:03:48.449 --> 00:03:51.349 you found out, when you heard those words, you have cancer, 71 00:03:51.409 --> 00:03:52.270 it's got to be a shock. 72 00:03:52.689 --> 00:03:53.409 Oh, it was a shock. 73 00:03:53.449 --> 00:03:55.849 Yeah. I mean, honestly, it was one of the worst 74 00:03:55.870 --> 00:03:59.590 days of my life. It was a few days where 75 00:03:59.710 --> 00:04:02.050 I just couldn't even get out of bed and laid 76 00:04:02.110 --> 00:04:05.289 on the floor. And then I realized I needed to 77 00:04:05.330 --> 00:04:08.009 pick myself up and move on and fight. And so 78 00:04:09.090 --> 00:04:11.449 it's really hard to get through. And the great thing 79 00:04:11.490 --> 00:04:14.479 about the American Cancer Society is, you don't have to 80 00:04:14.520 --> 00:04:16.819 just lay on that floor, right? There are people that 81 00:04:16.860 --> 00:04:19.560 can help you. You can reach out for help to 82 00:04:19.639 --> 00:04:24.699 get that assistance to help you move forward and be okay. 83 00:04:25.050 --> 00:04:27.990 So it's okay to ask for help, right? If people 84 00:04:28.029 --> 00:04:31.269 listening this morning want to take anything away, it's okay 85 00:04:31.310 --> 00:04:34.029 to ask for help, which I know is really difficult 86 00:04:34.069 --> 00:04:35.209 for a lot of people to do. 87 00:04:35.550 --> 00:04:38.970 I remember our previous conversation is that you felt a 88 00:04:38.990 --> 00:04:41.490 certain loneliness, like you were going through this alone and 89 00:04:43.000 --> 00:04:44.379 That doesn't have to be the case. 90 00:04:44.819 --> 00:04:45.420 No, no. 91 00:04:46.040 --> 00:04:50.350 And again, the American Cancer Society has a hotline you 92 00:04:50.379 --> 00:04:53.410 can call, right? And you can talk to them about 93 00:04:53.689 --> 00:04:55.730 anything and they will get you the support that you need. 94 00:04:56.069 --> 00:04:59.870 And there is no reason to ever feel alone, right? 95 00:04:59.930 --> 00:05:03.209 You can get that help. So don't be able to 96 00:05:03.250 --> 00:05:04.740 help yourself. Don't do that, right? 97 00:05:04.959 --> 00:05:08.199 Peg, we hear the phrase early detection saves lives. We 98 00:05:08.240 --> 00:05:11.550 hear it all the time. What does early detection actually 99 00:05:11.689 --> 00:05:13.170 change for a patient? 100 00:05:13.949 --> 00:05:17.149 Well, if a cancer is found early, then there's a 101 00:05:17.209 --> 00:05:20.370 higher chance that it can be surgically removed, and then 102 00:05:20.550 --> 00:05:23.069 there's less of a chance that the cancer will spread, 103 00:05:23.569 --> 00:05:27.009 which ultimately would cause death in breast cancer, that the 104 00:05:27.040 --> 00:05:31.540 cancer has spread and that death results from that advanced 105 00:05:31.579 --> 00:05:35.160 stage cancer. It's not to say that people who have 106 00:05:35.199 --> 00:05:38.860 advanced stage cancer die will be dead immediately. There's so 107 00:05:38.899 --> 00:05:42.879 much hope now. There's so much treatment that any stage 108

00:05:43.139 --> 00:05:48.329 breast cancer is still full of promise and treatment. But 109 00:05:48.649 --> 00:05:53.370 early detection allows the smallest burden of the cancer to 110 00:05:53.389 --> 00:05:57.550 be present, and then that can hopefully be surgically removed 111 00:05:57.990 --> 00:06:01.240 so that there's less of a chance of spreading. 112 00:06:01.980 --> 00:06:03.120 Julie called you a hero. 113 00:06:03.399 --> 00:06:03.470 Oh. 114 00:06:03.769 --> 00:06:06.110 Do you see yourself as a hero? I don't. 115 00:06:06.189 --> 00:06:09.040 And I see the patients as heroes. I really do. 116 00:06:09.060 --> 00:06:13.060 They endure, you know, with such grace. And it just 117 00:06:13.199 --> 00:06:15.220 is such, people say to me, isn't it depressing to 118 00:06:15.259 --> 00:06:18.019 work in cancer? And it actually is not depressing at all. 119 00:06:18.160 --> 00:06:21.240 It's life affirming to work in cancer because you see 120 00:06:21.319 --> 00:06:24.459 people who are given, you know, just on any given day, 121 00:06:24.540 --> 00:06:27.009 the worst news of their life. And they stand up 122 00:06:27.069 --> 00:06:29.930 and say, okay, I'm ready. And they endure it. And 123 00:06:29.990 --> 00:06:32.779 they do it with such beauty and grace and teach 124 00:06:32.839 --> 00:06:34.759 us all a lesson about how valuable life is. 125 00:06:35.160 --> 00:06:39.620 You do recognize that healthcare professionals are heroes. To a 126 00:06:39.680 --> 00:06:42.319 lot of people, especially look at Julie, she's shaking her 127 00:06:42.360 --> 00:06:42.899 head yes. 128 00:06:43.199 --> 00:06:45.379 Well, I will certainly put in a plug for all 129 00:06:45.439 --> 00:06:50.410 oncology professionals and people who work in our field. It 130 00:06:50.529 --> 00:06:58.120 is difficult and it can be sometimes challenging and sometimes dispiriting, 131 00:06:59.399 --> 00:07:02.730 but In order to provide that care, you do have 132 00:07:02.769 --> 00:07:06.149 to find within yourself something that says, yes, this is 133 00:07:06.209 --> 00:07:08.310 worth it. I am going to go back to work. 134 00:07:08.370 --> 00:07:11.100 I'm going to do my research or my writing or 135 00:07:11.129 --> 00:07:13.779 my teaching or take care of patients right on the 136 00:07:13.819 --> 00:07:17.680 floor or in the infusion rooms and find a lot 137 00:07:17.720 --> 00:07:19.620 of value and worth in that. And I think the 138 00:07:19.660 --> 00:07:23.360 patients will say to you, yes, it is worth it 139 00:07:23.439 --> 00:07:26.600 to us to have you here. As an oncology nurse, 140 00:07:26.639 --> 00:07:30.709 we certainly get a lot of, I wouldn't say praise, 141 00:07:30.730 --> 00:07:36.569 but a lot of thanks and a lot of gratefulness 142 00:07:36.649 --> 00:07:39.920 from patients because you're truly walking a journey that nobody 143 00:07:39.949 --> 00:07:42.939 wants to walk. And that idea of, I got you, 144 00:07:43.720 --> 00:07:45.959 I've seen this before, I'm going to walk with you 145 00:07:46.019 --> 00:07:48.399 and your family because I've walked with lots of people 146 00:07:48.459 --> 00:07:51.259 before and their families, it's very comforting to people. 147 00:07:52.579 --> 00:07:53.459 Yes, yes it is. 148 00:07:53.480 --> 00:07:56.180 I was going to say, they are the experts, right? 149 00:07:56.199 --> 00:08:00.819 They're If you think about it, Peg, they're the comfort blankets, right? 150 00:08:00.860 --> 00:08:04.019 They surround you, and they know how to guide you 151 00:08:04.220 --> 00:08:06.800 and how to help you navigate through everything. So I 152 00:08:06.839 --> 00:08:08.860 am very thankful for them, and you are a hero, 153 00:08:09.019 --> 00:08:09.879 no matter what you think. 154 00:08:10.360 --> 00:08:12.680 We're talking with Peg and Julia of the American Cancer Society, 155 00:08:12.699 --> 00:08:14.540 a couple of volunteers. I don't want to get too 156 00:08:14.579 --> 00:08:17.379 far without mentioning that coming up on October 18th, it's 157 00:08:17.399 --> 00:08:20.629 going to be the Making Strides Walk, Accresure Stadium. It's 158 00:08:20.689 --> 00:08:23.310 not too late to sign up. It's not too late 159 00:08:23.350 --> 00:08:27.500 to donate. Research is vital, and I'm sure you agree 160 00:08:27.560 --> 00:08:31.870 that research makes a huge difference in the fight against cancer. 161 00:08:32.210 --> 00:08:34.990 The wonderful thing about the research program from the American 162 00:08:35.029 --> 00:08:38.850 Cancer Society is that they recognize that there are many 163 00:08:38.909 --> 00:08:44.019 facets to cancer research. So they will fund very basic 164 00:08:44.440 --> 00:08:51.120 biologic cellular research, and many important cancer discoveries have come 165 00:08:51.529 --> 00:08:55.470 from those dollars where they support people in basic research 166 00:08:55.549 --> 00:08:59.419 labs doing the experiments that we think about to discover 167 00:08:59.480 --> 00:09:02.419 drugs or to discover why cells behave in a certain way. 168 00:09:03.019 --> 00:09:06.120 But the American Cancer Society also recognizes that there's a 169 00:09:06.159 --> 00:09:09.360 human side to cancer. And so they will also fund 170 00:09:09.779 --> 00:09:13.500 research that explores the experience of cancer and what that 171 00:09:13.600 --> 00:09:17.350 means for patients and families and how that can be improved. 172 00:09:17.570 --> 00:09:22.639 So they look at cancer as a multidimensional process. and 173 00:09:23.039 --> 00:09:27.669 they will support all of those different endeavors through their 174 00:09:27.710 --> 00:09:32.309 research dollars, different mechanisms. And the mechanisms evolve and change 175 00:09:32.669 --> 00:09:36.309 as cancer care evolves and as different needs evolve. 176 00:09:37.149 --> 00:09:39.169 So tell me more about the evolution. Where have you 177 00:09:39.240 --> 00:09:45.100 seen the American Cancer

Society make strides in helping individuals 178 00:09:45.139 --> 00:09:45.799 go through cancer? 179 00:09:45.860 --> 00:09:47.759 One of the things that they do is they have 180 00:09:47.820 --> 00:09:51.159 catalyst awards. So they will say, if you've been funded 181 00:09:51.220 --> 00:09:53.639 by the American Cancer Society, we want you to partner 182 00:09:53.679 --> 00:09:56.850 with someone else who has been funded by the American 183 00:09:56.870 --> 00:10:00.179 Cancer Society. And perhaps from two different fields, perhaps a 184 00:10:00.259 --> 00:10:03.039 nurse and a basic scientist. And we want you to 185 00:10:03.080 --> 00:10:05.860 think about ways that you could bring your science together 186 00:10:06.379 --> 00:10:10.919 and improve care for patients and families or improve the 187 00:10:11.600 --> 00:10:15.549 drug development or improve what we understand about cells. So 188 00:10:15.590 --> 00:10:18.370 there's all sorts of innovative things that they think about 189 00:10:19.309 --> 00:10:24.210 in order to continually challenge the researchers and to get 190 00:10:24.470 --> 00:10:27.740 more on their investment. Because when they invest in a researcher, 191 00:10:28.080 --> 00:10:31.240 they want the research to continue and to continue to grow, 192 00:10:31.320 --> 00:10:33.519 and they want that researcher to be successful. 193 00:10:33.840 --> 00:10:36.519 You know, the American Cancer Society does a number of things. 194 00:10:36.559 --> 00:10:41.750 Not only do they, you know, provide research money, but awareness, advocacy, 195 00:10:42.539 --> 00:10:46.299 They have certain programs for people going through cancer. But 196 00:10:46.639 --> 00:10:49.070 I asked you, one of the first questions I asked 197 00:10:49.090 --> 00:10:51.690 you was about early detection. And that's one of their 198 00:10:51.750 --> 00:10:55.100 big things is they want you to, early detection is 199 00:10:55.460 --> 00:10:59.950 very important. I can't remember if it was one of 200 00:10:59.990 --> 00:11:02.549 you or somebody else from American Cancer Society. It says 201 00:11:02.610 --> 00:11:06.169 you know your body. If there's something that is abnormal 202 00:11:06.190 --> 00:11:08.809 that you should, and don't be reluctant, to reach out 203 00:11:08.830 --> 00:11:11.009 to a medical professional and find out about it. 204 00:11:11.009 --> 00:11:11.759 Right. 205 00:11:12.480 --> 00:11:16.000 So what is some of your advice for somebody who is, 206 00:11:16.440 --> 00:11:21.230 you know, that maybe is a little loose about getting 207 00:11:21.259 --> 00:11:22.710 mammograms or something like that? 208 00:11:23.279 --> 00:11:27.549 Well, we tell people, don't be afraid. Just let's talk 209 00:11:27.610 --> 00:11:30.330 about why you are reluctant to get a mammogram. Is 210 00:11:30.389 --> 00:11:34.669 it something around finances? Because mammography in the Pittsburgh region 211 00:11:34.769 --> 00:11:38.070 and in Pennsylvania is

paid for. We have a wonderful 212 00:11:38.129 --> 00:11:42.850 voucher program and anybody can connect an individual to the 213 00:11:42.889 --> 00:11:46.909 voucher program so that any mammogram is paid for and 214 00:11:47.830 --> 00:11:52.100 all treatment working up, any abnormality is paid for, any 215 00:11:52.149 --> 00:11:55.750 diagnostic test. And if you are diagnosed with breast cancer, 216 00:11:55.769 --> 00:11:58.929 that treatment is paid. So this is a wonderful voucher 217 00:11:58.970 --> 00:12:01.669 program that is available. And I work with the American 218 00:12:01.720 --> 00:12:05.139 Cancer Society on the ground in Allegheny County, and we 219 00:12:05.179 --> 00:12:08.580 make people aware of this program to say there's a 220 00:12:08.639 --> 00:12:12.919 voucher program. If you're not old enough at the age 221 00:12:12.940 --> 00:12:16.070 of 40 or whatever the recommendation for you is, And 222 00:12:16.090 --> 00:12:18.250 you find something wrong with your breast, a lot of 223 00:12:18.289 --> 00:12:20.509 younger women will say, I don't even want to know 224 00:12:21.110 --> 00:12:25.840 or I can't go down that path. We just encourage 225 00:12:25.879 --> 00:12:28.440 you to go and get it checked out. Chances are 226 00:12:28.700 --> 00:12:32.980 it's not cancer. But peace of mind and on the 227 00:12:33.019 --> 00:12:35.740 rare chance that it is cancer because cancer can occur 228 00:12:35.779 --> 00:12:38.539 in younger women, we want you again to have that 229 00:12:38.759 --> 00:12:43.500 early diagnosis and to have every chance for long, long life. 230 00:12:43.809 --> 00:12:46.149 Now, Julie, you have a family history of breast cancer. 231 00:12:46.980 --> 00:12:50.539 Was there any reluctance in getting a mammogram or maybe 232 00:12:50.759 --> 00:12:53.860 investigating what is happening to you? 233 00:12:54.600 --> 00:12:55.799 No, not at all, Johnny. 234 00:12:55.840 --> 00:13:02.100 In fact, to me, after watching my mom battle breast 235 00:13:02.120 --> 00:13:05.580 cancer for 12 years and seeing her suffer, I would 236 00:13:05.820 --> 00:13:09.509 absolutely not and I'd recommend anybody to get screened for sure, right? 237 00:13:09.570 --> 00:13:12.500 There should be no fear whatsoever. about getting screened. It 238 00:13:12.570 --> 00:13:16.710 saves your life, right? Like Peg talked about in the 239 00:13:16.750 --> 00:13:19.970 beginning about how early detection is key because if you 240 00:13:19.990 --> 00:13:23.070 can catch the cancer early, that you can fight it 241 00:13:23.129 --> 00:13:25.990 much better. And I'm living proof of that, right? So 242 00:13:26.190 --> 00:13:28.889 I was, I was, my cancer got caught from a 243 00:13:28.909 --> 00:13:32.259 mammogram and I was early detection, right? And so If 244 00:13:32.299 --> 00:13:34.980 you look at the difference between me and my mom, right, 245 00:13:35.100 --> 00:13:37.399 I'm here and she's not, and her cancer got caught 246 00:13:37.460 --> 00:13:37.899 much later. 247 00:13:38.340 --> 00:13:39.340 So it's huge. 248 00:13:39.399 --> 00:13:42.149 So I would advise anybody, and I always hear, Peg, 249 00:13:42.230 --> 00:13:45.070 that I'm not going to get my mammogram because I 250 00:13:45.090 --> 00:13:49.570 don't have time. Well, there's nothing you can do for 251 00:13:49.610 --> 00:13:52.750 yourself that's better than to take care of yourself because... 252 00:13:52.950 --> 00:13:54.750 You can't take care of others if you can't take 253 00:13:54.769 --> 00:13:57.129 care of yourself or if you're sick. So you really 254 00:13:57.190 --> 00:13:59.870 need to stop and take a minute and make the 255 00:13:59.909 --> 00:14:02.700 time for you and get that screening and help save 256 00:14:02.820 --> 00:14:03.259 your life. 257 00:14:04.700 --> 00:14:06.960 Have you talked to women who have been reluctant to 258 00:14:07.000 --> 00:14:10.259 get mammograms? Either they're giving those kind of excuses and 259 00:14:10.279 --> 00:14:12.100 what do you generally say to them? 260 00:14:12.440 --> 00:14:13.519 Yes, absolutely. 261 00:14:13.720 --> 00:14:16.940 And Johnny, I know you might find it shocking, but 262 00:14:16.960 --> 00:14:18.919 there's a lot of people who just won't go to 263 00:14:19.929 --> 00:14:22.710 get the mammogram, right? And to me, I just look 264 00:14:22.750 --> 00:14:24.830 at them and I'm like, I'm still alive for a 265 00:14:24.870 --> 00:14:28.029 reason right now. And one of those reasons was because 266 00:14:28.129 --> 00:14:30.629 I got my mammogram and it helped save my life. 267 00:14:31.250 --> 00:14:33.470 And you really should get screened too, right? 268 00:14:33.490 --> 00:14:34.809 There is no excuse. 269 00:14:34.909 --> 00:14:37.870 I've offered to go with people if they're afraid or 270 00:14:37.990 --> 00:14:39.669 if they say, oh, I don't have a way there, 271 00:14:39.820 --> 00:14:42.620 I'll drive you there, right? Like there's just no excuse. 272 00:14:42.629 --> 00:14:45.019 Eliminate those barriers, save your life and get screened. 273 00:14:45.500 --> 00:14:48.919 October, of course, is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. And full admission, 274 00:14:48.940 --> 00:14:52.649 my mother had breast cancer. She had, well, this is 275 00:14:52.690 --> 00:14:57.549 what happened. She had Alzheimer's and they detected breast cancer 276 00:14:57.580 --> 00:15:01.259 and they told us that she had it before. But 277 00:15:01.399 --> 00:15:05.090 none of us, her local doctor wasn't aware of it, 278 00:15:05.539 --> 00:15:08.779 but they could see the operation where they did the operation. 279 00:15:09.419 --> 00:15:13.200 And it was back then, it was, you know, breast 280 00:15:13.220 --> 00:15:16.899 cancer was a detriment. You might lose your job. So 281 00:15:16.919 --> 00:15:20.700 we've come a long, long way. We've got ways to go. 282 00:15:20.879 --> 00:15:24.509 We're always looking for improvements, but things have

improved quite 283 00:15:24.529 --> 00:15:28.580 a bit. What kind of improvements have you seen? as 284 00:15:28.620 --> 00:15:30.039 a professional over the years? 285 00:15:30.299 --> 00:15:34.049 I do think the public awareness and ease of talking 286 00:15:34.110 --> 00:15:38.289 about breast cancer has changed tremendously. There was a, or 287 00:15:38.470 --> 00:15:43.340 probably still is in many areas, a stigma about cancer overall. But, 288 00:15:43.500 --> 00:15:47.299 you know, we are a tension and celebrity culture. And 289 00:15:47.379 --> 00:15:50.610 as more and more sort of people of prominence or 290 00:15:50.929 --> 00:15:53.990 had a lot of media attention speak about breast cancer, 291 00:15:54.769 --> 00:15:57.740 it became okay to sort of talk about that and 292 00:15:57.799 --> 00:16:01.590 to say, yes, I've undergone treatment, I'm fine. or to 293 00:16:01.690 --> 00:16:04.529 show actually going through treatment. And now you see women 294 00:16:04.549 --> 00:16:07.769 with stage four cancer saying, yes, I'm going through treatment, 295 00:16:07.789 --> 00:16:10.129 but I'm also living my life. So this sort of 296 00:16:11.210 --> 00:16:15.169 openness about, yep, it's cancer and I'm living with it 297 00:16:15.830 --> 00:16:19.570 is very different. And I think that's come from advocacy 298 00:16:19.789 --> 00:16:23.860 and survivors speaking out and saying, I'm not going to 299 00:16:23.879 --> 00:16:26.340 be shamed. I'm going to be right here. You see 300 00:16:26.360 --> 00:16:29.600 this at the walk with women who will walk without 301 00:16:29.659 --> 00:16:35.029 hair or even show scars to say, I'm not ashamed. 302 00:16:35.049 --> 00:16:37.690 These are battle scars. I'm proud. I'm a survivor. This 303 00:16:37.769 --> 00:16:39.509 is what I had to do. This is me. 304 00:16:39.590 --> 00:16:40.090 Get over it. 305 00:16:40.149 --> 00:16:44.029 And we applaud all those individuals. Right, right, right. Whether 306 00:16:44.070 --> 00:16:47.289 they have hair or not, it doesn't matter. Those are 307 00:16:47.309 --> 00:16:47.909 the heroes, too. 308 00:16:47.929 --> 00:16:48.129 Yes. 309 00:16:48.269 --> 00:16:50.750 Yeah, because they show the people that this is an 310 00:16:50.830 --> 00:16:54.500 example of you can survive this. You can do this. 311 00:16:55.669 --> 00:16:56.950 They give hope and inspiration. 312 00:16:57.129 --> 00:16:57.409 Yes. 313 00:16:57.870 --> 00:17:00.549 So let's talk a little bit about Making Strides, which 314 00:17:00.610 --> 00:17:04.430 is coming up at Accresure Stadium coming up on October 18th. 315 00:17:04.759 --> 00:17:06.519 What can you tell us about Making Strides? 316 00:17:07.279 --> 00:17:10.700 It is such a special morning. I mean, to just see, 317 00:17:10.759 --> 00:17:13.099 like we talked about, all the survivors that are there, 318 00:17:13.119 --> 00:17:17.259 it's just so inspiring. And it's a really family-friendly event, right? 319 00:17:17.640 --> 00:17:20.519 So bring your kids. There's tons of activities going on. 320 00:17:20.859 --> 00:17:24.609 There's a beautiful tribute garden to remember those who have 321 00:17:24.670 --> 00:17:27.490 passed from cancer or those who are in the fight 322 00:17:27.529 --> 00:17:30.710 right now or survivors, right, to honor all of them. 323 00:17:30.730 --> 00:17:33.289 So it's just gorgeous. And it's a very quiet area 324 00:17:33.329 --> 00:17:35.630 where you can just reflect. And it's just so special. 325 00:17:35.710 --> 00:17:39.480 Well, it's unfortunate, but cancer has touched just about everybody's life. 326 00:17:40.019 --> 00:17:45.420 And you mentioned that there's kids involved. And unlike my mother, 327 00:17:45.460 --> 00:17:48.980 my mother didn't share her diagnosis. And this is something 328 00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:52.349 that you can share. So they understand That, you know, 329 00:17:52.470 --> 00:17:55.400 at some point, a young girl who's six or seven, 330 00:17:55.440 --> 00:18:02.039 at some point, she can understand that mammograms should be 331 00:18:02.319 --> 00:18:05.819 a regular part of life. Right, right. Yeah. So what else? 332 00:18:05.859 --> 00:18:08.319 Tell us more about Making Strides and what kind of 333 00:18:08.380 --> 00:18:09.960 gives us the atmosphere of the event. 334 00:18:10.700 --> 00:18:13.690 It is just, again, it's so special and it's so inspiring. 335 00:18:13.710 --> 00:18:15.970 And there's tons and tons of people that come out 336 00:18:16.009 --> 00:18:18.589 from the community to support it. It's a walk, right? 337 00:18:18.609 --> 00:18:21.980 So anybody can do it. You can go whatever distance 338 00:18:22.019 --> 00:18:25.369 you want. And there's, you know, people cheering you along 339 00:18:25.410 --> 00:18:29.839 the course, along the way. And it really, truly, again, 340 00:18:29.900 --> 00:18:32.319 for all the cancer survivors out there, just to see them, 341 00:18:32.740 --> 00:18:33.680 it's just so inspiring. 342 00:18:33.859 --> 00:18:36.619 Now, you're very open about asking for help. And this 343 00:18:36.680 --> 00:18:39.359 is an opportunity to spread that message. 344 00:18:39.980 --> 00:18:41.640 Yep. Yep, exactly. 345 00:18:41.740 --> 00:18:45.240 And there's, I think the other thing, too, is there's 346 00:18:45.339 --> 00:18:47.960 areas where survivors can all meet and talk to each 347 00:18:48.019 --> 00:18:52.759 other and give each other advice and really kind of connect. 348 00:18:52.839 --> 00:18:55.880 And that's a huge area too. And as well for caregivers, right? 349 00:18:55.920 --> 00:18:59.740 There's a whole caregiver section to making strides as a 350 00:18:59.759 --> 00:19:03.339 caregiver before a survivor. Being a caregiver is tough, right? 351 00:19:03.400 --> 00:19:05.559 So let's give a shout out to all the caregivers 352 00:19:05.640 --> 00:19:08.269 out there because it is a very difficult job. 353 00:19:08.400 --> 00:19:15.400 I'm glad you said that

because oftentimes they They sacrifice 354 00:19:15.460 --> 00:19:16.549 their own lives. 355 00:19:16.589 --> 00:19:17.890 Right. They're the unsung heroes. 356 00:19:17.930 --> 00:19:20.150 Yeah, they really are. And a lot of them die 357 00:19:20.329 --> 00:19:25.650 much too young because of the stress and the burden 358 00:19:25.670 --> 00:19:26.589 that they take on. 359 00:19:26.650 --> 00:19:28.609 They haven't been looking after themselves, right? 360 00:19:28.650 --> 00:19:29.190 Sure, yeah. 361 00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:33.329 Another really cool thing about that morning is that you 362 00:19:33.369 --> 00:19:36.869 see all the different community groups that support breast cancer that, 363 00:19:36.970 --> 00:19:39.069 you know, you might not have known about. And so 364 00:19:39.130 --> 00:19:41.950 you get to meet all those people who are involved 365 00:19:41.990 --> 00:19:44.210 in the community in their own way. There's a group 366 00:19:44.250 --> 00:19:48.210 that always comes dressed as superheroes. They're fun. People on stilts. 367 00:19:49.049 --> 00:19:52.380 It's just really fun. fun, you know, it just does 368 00:19:52.460 --> 00:19:53.579 feel very, very special. 369 00:19:53.599 --> 00:19:53.980 Yeah. 370 00:19:54.019 --> 00:19:54.920 Face painting, right? 371 00:19:54.940 --> 00:19:55.119 Yeah. 372 00:19:55.140 --> 00:19:56.220 Yeah. It's a lot of fun. 373 00:19:56.559 --> 00:19:58.839 So when did you start getting involved with the American 374 00:19:58.859 --> 00:20:00.240 Cancer Society? We'll start with Julie. 375 00:20:00.740 --> 00:20:05.000 Well, Joni, I started quite a few years ago, over 376 00:20:05.000 --> 00:20:08.819 20 years ago. And so I started when my mom 377 00:20:09.180 --> 00:20:11.880 got diagnosed with cancer and really realized I wanted to 378 00:20:11.900 --> 00:20:13.900 fight back, right? And I wanted to help raise money 379 00:20:13.940 --> 00:20:18.480 for research. And so I had started with Relay for Life, 380 00:20:18.859 --> 00:20:22.339 which is an American Cancer Society event. And I eventually 381 00:20:23.039 --> 00:20:26.279 worked and I have my own 5K to fight cancer 382 00:20:26.299 --> 00:20:30.210 with the American Cancer Society in the spring every year. 383 00:20:30.549 --> 00:20:33.390 And of course, I am on the Making Strides Committee 384 00:20:33.470 --> 00:20:35.509 for breast cancer, for the breast cancer walk to help 385 00:20:35.569 --> 00:20:38.529 grow that walk as well. So anything that i can 386 00:20:38.609 --> 00:20:41.230 do with them to help fight cancer and raise money 387 00:20:41.250 --> 00:20:43.210 for all the programs i'm absolutely and. 388 00:20:43.170 --> 00:20:46.150 You were part of acsb even before your diagnosis. 389 00:20:45.720 --> 00:20:48.460 Yes yes yeah for quite some time so. 390 00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:52.779 So what your connection with acs did it change once 391 00:20:52.819 --> 00:20:54.859 you found out the diagnosis. 392 00:20:54.579 --> 00:20:57.349 Yes yeah it did for sure right and to me 393 00:20:57.410 --> 00:20:59.970 i know peg talked a little bit about the programs 394 00:21:00.049 --> 00:21:06.190 but right like like call the cancer helpline, right? The 1-800-227-2345, right? 395 00:21:06.529 --> 00:21:09.170 Call that number and get the help that you need. 396 00:21:09.210 --> 00:21:13.430 And they help connect you with resources so that to, again, 397 00:21:13.490 --> 00:21:16.799 to help you move forward. So yeah, that was huge, right? 398 00:21:16.839 --> 00:21:19.420 To get the support, but it also helped me really 399 00:21:19.480 --> 00:21:22.400 because I was able to connect with so many other survivors. 400 00:21:23.039 --> 00:21:25.539 as well. And again, we talked about the loneliness, right? 401 00:21:25.599 --> 00:21:28.059 Like to connect with them and see people that had 402 00:21:28.099 --> 00:21:30.779 survived for like, you know, 20 years, 30 years and 403 00:21:30.819 --> 00:21:33.900 just such like, just so, so much hope, right? 404 00:21:33.960 --> 00:21:34.480 It gave me hope. 405 00:21:35.740 --> 00:21:40.769 Um, going back to Julie, uh, your work, um, looks 406 00:21:40.849 --> 00:21:44.769 at cancer treatment equity, uh, here in Allegheny County, are 407 00:21:44.809 --> 00:21:48.450 women receiving the same chance of surviving breast cancer, uh, 408 00:21:48.609 --> 00:21:51.230 or are they still significant gaps? 409 00:21:51.690 --> 00:21:56.450 There are gaps in care, not in walking into a 410 00:21:56.470 --> 00:21:59.339 cancer center and that a black woman is treated differently. 411 00:21:59.859 --> 00:22:03.279 It's really in the support that we have discussed and 412 00:22:03.380 --> 00:22:06.180 some of the late stage diagnosis, those kinds of things 413 00:22:06.240 --> 00:22:11.890 that perhaps are really coming from community. And we are 414 00:22:11.970 --> 00:22:15.509 trying to reach out to strengthen communities so that they 415 00:22:15.549 --> 00:22:19.250 in turn can strengthen their individuals from those communities so 416 00:22:19.289 --> 00:22:24.170 that Everybody knows about mammography. Everybody has transportation to either 417 00:22:24.210 --> 00:22:31.170 mammography or care. And that going through treatment can be supported, again, 418 00:22:31.250 --> 00:22:34.609 through all of the what we call social determinants, food 419 00:22:34.710 --> 00:22:39.230 and lodging and transportation, but also through support and peer 420 00:22:39.269 --> 00:22:42.680 support so that it's very meaningful. It can be sometimes 421 00:22:42.859 --> 00:22:45.140 challenging at the cancer center to get all the support 422 00:22:45.160 --> 00:22:48.380 that you need because the cancer center is so busy 423 00:22:48.440 --> 00:22:51.339 kind of providing the cancer care. And so we are 424 00:22:51.440 --> 00:22:55.450 working on trying to boost community so that communities can 425 00:22:55.470 --> 00:22:57.309 in turn help individuals.

426 00:22:57.799 --> 00:23:01.500 Well, speaking of community, I think Pittsburgh's community, medical community, 427 00:23:01.900 --> 00:23:05.440 is very outspoken. And I think there's certain advantages, but 428 00:23:05.460 --> 00:23:10.480 there's always going to be disadvantages. And American Cancer Society does, 429 00:23:10.500 --> 00:23:12.900 I think, a great job of trying to address that 430 00:23:13.460 --> 00:23:15.900 and letting people know. And it's all about, it's kind 431 00:23:15.920 --> 00:23:19.460 of communication. You mentioned vouchers a few minutes ago. I 432 00:23:19.480 --> 00:23:21.990 think it's worth mentioning again. Tell us about the vouchers. 433 00:23:22.130 --> 00:23:24.130 Well, there's a voucher program that comes to the state 434 00:23:24.170 --> 00:23:28.539 of Pennsylvania, and then it comes to local communities. So 435 00:23:28.799 --> 00:23:32.680 in our area, this is administered through Adagio Health. And 436 00:23:32.720 --> 00:23:36.490 Adagio Health works with different organizations. So they work with 437 00:23:36.569 --> 00:23:39.369 us at Hillman Cancer Center. They work with Allegheny Health 438 00:23:39.410 --> 00:23:44.069 Network and all different organizations to be sure that the 439 00:23:44.190 --> 00:23:48.549 organizations say, oh, if you're uninsured and you are uninsured, 440 00:23:48.839 --> 00:23:51.819 below Medicare age, you need to have a mammogram, but 441 00:23:51.839 --> 00:23:54.990 you're afraid about paying for it, we have a voucher 442 00:23:55.049 --> 00:23:58.630 program for you. And again, it is completely free of charge. 443 00:23:59.299 --> 00:24:02.720 So they do a really good job of partnering with 444 00:24:03.119 --> 00:24:06.740 community agencies so that they get these vouchers out there 445 00:24:07.119 --> 00:24:10.180 and people are aware of it. So then, for instance, 446 00:24:10.259 --> 00:24:12.859 I work at McGee and we have social workers there 447 00:24:12.940 --> 00:24:16.700 who will help women connect to these voucher programs, but 448 00:24:16.839 --> 00:24:21.019 also get the voucher programs for treatment and then connect 449 00:24:21.039 --> 00:24:25.019 to American Cancer Society for transportation. So there's lots of support, 450 00:24:25.079 --> 00:24:29.390 but this voucher program is just So, so valuable. 451 00:24:29.730 --> 00:24:31.269 And I think we need to spread the word. 452 00:24:31.349 --> 00:24:32.470 Yes, absolutely. 453 00:24:32.990 --> 00:24:35.789 You help lead the Allegheny County Breast Collective. What is 454 00:24:35.849 --> 00:24:37.579 it and what is your objective with that? 455 00:24:37.940 --> 00:24:41.359 We started that through really the University of Pittsburgh because 456 00:24:41.619 --> 00:24:47.069 there was a concern about the disparity in race in 457 00:24:47.180 --> 00:24:51.140 Pittsburgh area so that black women die early. more quickly 458 00:24:51.240 --> 00:24:53.619 with breast cancer than white women do.

And so a 459 00:24:53.660 --> 00:24:56.849 group of people came together and started to say, what 460 00:24:56.869 --> 00:24:58.869 can we do about this? How could we sort of 461 00:24:59.250 --> 00:25:01.769 investigate this and what can we do about it? And 462 00:25:01.809 --> 00:25:06.759 this has lasted now for about 15 years. Um, And 463 00:25:07.400 --> 00:25:10.660 it's so beautiful because it is, we call it non-denominational 464 00:25:10.680 --> 00:25:14.980 in terms of the cancer centers. So Allegheny Health Network 465 00:25:15.079 --> 00:25:18.920 and UPMC work together. The Allegheny County Health Department provides 466 00:25:18.980 --> 00:25:21.160 us a lot of data. We have a lot of 467 00:25:21.220 --> 00:25:25.220 different community people who have their own organizations or their 468 00:25:25.299 --> 00:25:30.309 own support groups. Whatever they have, we will invite, invite, invite. 469 00:25:30.390 --> 00:25:32.490 I meet a lot of people at the walk and 470 00:25:32.710 --> 00:25:35.789 and invite them to join Allegheny County Breast Collaborative because 471 00:25:35.829 --> 00:25:37.930 I'm like, oh, I didn't even know you existed. Come 472 00:25:38.109 --> 00:25:41.490 to our meetings. And then we use data from the 473 00:25:41.910 --> 00:25:46.289 county health department to identify communities where perhaps mammography rates 474 00:25:46.329 --> 00:25:49.289 are low or there's late stage diagnosis. And then we 475 00:25:49.329 --> 00:25:52.190 will go and work with our partners within those communities 476 00:25:52.309 --> 00:25:54.630 to say, Is there something that we can do? Could 477 00:25:54.670 --> 00:25:58.640 we perhaps do a mammography event and get people to 478 00:25:59.019 --> 00:26:01.900 a mammogram suite? What day would be good for you? 479 00:26:02.200 --> 00:26:04.319 We try to work with the people on the ground 480 00:26:04.359 --> 00:26:07.250 in those communities. to try to improve these numbers. 481 00:26:07.289 --> 00:26:08.250 Are you seeing progress? 482 00:26:08.410 --> 00:26:12.059 Yes, we are seeing progress. We see mammography rates in 483 00:26:12.410 --> 00:26:16.579 this area that are exceeding national rates, and we also 484 00:26:17.220 --> 00:26:21.259 exceed the goals for sort of what should be the 485 00:26:21.319 --> 00:26:23.900 mammography rates in your areas. We exceed that, and we 486 00:26:23.940 --> 00:26:25.700 can all, I think, have a pat on the back 487 00:26:26.200 --> 00:26:30.029 to say it is through ongoing, come on, come on, 488 00:26:30.470 --> 00:26:33.250 let's help, let's get this out, that we can sort 489 00:26:33.289 --> 00:26:37.569 of And yell from the rooftops. We've done this. And 490 00:26:37.630 --> 00:26:41.329 black women are very highly screened in the Pittsburgh area. 491 00:26:41.630 --> 00:26:44.089 So I think that's something that we can all be 492 00:26:44.130 --> 00:26:44.509 proud of. 493 00:26:44.589 --> 00:26:46.750 It's an advantage of the community. So we're getting that 494 00:26:46.789 --> 00:26:49.170 word out. And communication is key. 495 00:26:49.250 --> 00:26:52.829 And it is so wonderful to work together. collaboratively. You know, 496 00:26:52.880 --> 00:26:56.519 we have such treasure in this area, and it is 497 00:26:56.779 --> 00:27:00.480 wonderful to work collaboratively. But who's one of the leaders 498 00:27:00.519 --> 00:27:03.700 of the Allegheny County Breast Collaborative is the American Cancer Society. 499 00:27:03.720 --> 00:27:08.140 That's great. Okay. Every time we get together and talk, 500 00:27:08.599 --> 00:27:11.299 time just flies by. We only have a couple of minutes. 501 00:27:12.240 --> 00:27:14.900 So is there anything that you want people to know, 502 00:27:15.420 --> 00:27:18.859 either about early detection or cancer in general or American 503 00:27:18.880 --> 00:27:21.099 Cancer Society? Is there something that you want to add 504 00:27:21.119 --> 00:27:21.759 to the conversation? 505 00:27:21.779 --> 00:27:24.240 I think the American Cancer Society is a gem. And 506 00:27:24.299 --> 00:27:27.299 it's a gem that has been a longstanding tradition in 507 00:27:27.339 --> 00:27:30.859 this area. In any way that you can support or support, 508 00:27:31.309 --> 00:27:38.130 take action against breast cancer is important. It's anything that 509 00:27:38.170 --> 00:27:40.329 you can do. Can you offer to go with someone 510 00:27:41.869 --> 00:27:44.299 and assist them if they're afraid of a mammogram? Could 511 00:27:44.319 --> 00:27:46.880 you sit with them during treatment if they're getting breast 512 00:27:46.920 --> 00:27:51.299 cancer treatment? Could you work within your faith organization to say, 513 00:27:51.640 --> 00:27:55.119 could we do an event here within our church or synagogue? 514 00:27:55.619 --> 00:27:57.700 Anything that you could do to sort of get that 515 00:27:57.740 --> 00:27:59.839 awareness out there I think is really invaluable. 516 00:28:00.039 --> 00:28:00.259 Julie? 517 00:28:00.950 --> 00:28:02.049 Agree, right? 518 00:28:02.130 --> 00:28:03.230 Get involved, right? 519 00:28:03.450 --> 00:28:06.390 And Johnny, you said it a little bit ago, like 520 00:28:06.470 --> 00:28:09.910 everybody knows somebody who's been impacted by cancer, right? And 521 00:28:10.009 --> 00:28:13.390 so as Peg said, take action, right? Get involved, whether 522 00:28:13.450 --> 00:28:17.660 you're volunteering or helping a neighbor or, you know, coming 523 00:28:17.720 --> 00:28:20.559 to a walk, right? Like get involved, help end this 524 00:28:20.579 --> 00:28:23.599 for everybody, right? And you can make a difference. One 525 00:28:23.640 --> 00:28:26.299 person can make a difference. And of course, do not 526 00:28:26.420 --> 00:28:28.329 forget to get your screening, get your mammogram. 527 00:28:28.630 --> 00:28:31.289 Now, Making Sprites is obviously a fundraiser, which, by the way, 528 00:28:31.369 --> 00:28:34.579 is coming up on October 18th at Akershire Stadium. It's 529 00:28:34.619 --> 00:28:36.640 not too late to sign up or donate. 530 00:28:37.480 --> 00:28:38.000 Or volunteer. 531 00:28:38.200 --> 00:28:41.099 Or volunteer. But when thousands of people gather together at 532 00:28:41.200 --> 00:28:46.460 Akershire Stadium, what happens there that you can't measure in dollars? 533 00:28:47.400 --> 00:28:48.319 It's the community. 534 00:28:49.240 --> 00:28:52.559 I mean, it's a very emotional morning, right? I mean, 535 00:28:52.579 --> 00:28:56.930 you'll see people crying everywhere. it really tugs on your heartstrings, right? 536 00:28:57.549 --> 00:29:01.470 But it also, it's emotional, but it also gives you hope, right? 537 00:29:01.569 --> 00:29:04.289 That there's hope that we can end this together, right? 538 00:29:04.390 --> 00:29:09.230 We can do this. And so you can't get that 539 00:29:09.299 --> 00:29:12.259 unless you're there. And to me, there's no better feeling 540 00:29:12.319 --> 00:29:14.859 than hope and ending cancer so that nobody has to 541 00:29:14.880 --> 00:29:15.920 hear the words you have cancer. 542 00:29:16.380 --> 00:29:22.259 Making Strides Walk, go to makingstrideswalk.org slash greaterpittsburgh, October 18th 543 00:29:22.319 --> 00:29:26.289 at Accresure Stadium. Julie, Peg, thank you for your time. 544 00:29:26.329 --> 00:29:27.190 Good luck with your event. 545 00:29:27.430 --> 00:29:30.960 Thank you so much. We'll be walking for your mom. 546 00:29:31.099 --> 00:29:33.539 As always, if you have any comments, a concern, or 547 00:29:33.559 --> 00:29:36.789 an idea for a future program, please email us from 548 00:29:36.829 --> 00:29:39.349 this radio station's website. I'm Johnny Hartwell. 549 00:29:39.549 --> 00:29:39.849 Thank you. 550 00:29:39.960 --> 00:29:40.759 So much for listening.