October 16, 2021 Issue, Page 18 of 18

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18 October 16, 2021 Continued from page 17. someone in my family getting volunteer, because there's lots of Smith a day or two days, and then it time because for one thing she would hit you and your white was away at college and also we it are low, it's rare.” “Well, of volunteer opportunities. “Right just looked at me, not wanting cells would drop and you would had just lost my grandmother to course it becomes a lot less rare now with my kids in school, I to saying anything, not wanting feel bad. That lasted about three, pancreatic cancer and she was when you get it, so now I take haven't had a whole lot of free to upset me while trying to fig- four days. Then you got a week very close to her, so I think it it a lot more seriously. I call my time but I keep telling my hus- ure out if I was upset or crying.” where you were kind of on the was just a lot for her to take in. sisters and remind them to get band, that would be something Smith says that very day she upswing and started to feel re- I would love to do, just to give shaved her head. ally good, especially that last day My youngest took it really well. their mammograms every year, back just a little bit of what they Smith says that they sent her before you had to go back in. My I do think that she kind of in- not even just that but any kind did” home with the Neulasta pod (a office worked really well with ternalized it as well. She was the of health testing. Smith shares that she strongly medication that helps keep your me, though.” one who just kind of wanted to I don't put off medical things encourages women to get their white blood cell count up after Smith explains that when she keep things light and be funny anymore and I don't let my mammograms and make sure to chemo) She described it as a “lit- was first diagnosed, she was and make me laugh.” family do that anymore either. tle rectangular plastic thing that go somewhere that has a good worried about everybody else. Smith says she credits her 1 think you get a sense of your reputation for it. goes in your arm and kind of “I was worried about the kids, family for their support, “and vulnerability. I think everybody smarts a bit but the thing ticks She also encourages women I was worried about my hus- specifically my husband, he was kind of walks around thinking to do their self-checks. She also all the time. band and about my dad.” As for awesome just all the way around. that they're bulletproof. Until urges that you pay attention to For like 72 hours it beeps un- how her kids handled the news, My dad and my mom also came you come to find out you're not your body as well, “I think one til that it starts to speed up and Smith says, “I think my son - he's into play.” She says that her and then it kind of hits you.” of the only symptoms that I had then it beeps and it does an in- jection. just so laid back and cool. He in- church was “very positive” but Smith also explained that she that I didn't tie to it at the time ternalizes and just kind of deals she said the most surprising thinks a lot of women, especially You're always bumping it, too, was extreme fatigue.” To those and the bone pain was terrible.” with things on his own. Howev- source of support came from the those that are younger, don’t do just diagnosed Smith says, “I'd ‘Thankfully Smith says her office er, he became very, very protec- moms of her son’s football team- self-checks because they think, get all of the information you Teresa Smith is seen here was “really good.” She explained, tive and wanted to take care of mates as well as Merritt Schools statistically, that it won't be can to pick your treatment place. as she receives chemothera- py for stage two breast can- “Usually it was, you'd get the me and be attentive. I think my in general, “I was pretty happy them. Don't let yourself be led to a cer- cer. Courtesy photo. chemo, you'd do okay for maybe oldest daughter had the hardest with just sitting in the back- Smith says that she often tain place, do your research into ground but the football moms thinks about the little things who specializes in your type of and just the parents and the fac- that the survivors at the cancer cancer. Mind center would go back and do, Different doctors will try dif- OPEN BY ) ulty, Merritt was just amazing, honestly. I mean, they did fun- “Little things they would think ferent things and are open to dif- APPOINTMENT draisers for me, they recognized about, because there's a lot of ferent things. Find a place that For all your costume needs!!! me whenever they did their little things when you're go- works really well for you.” ing through treatment that you 104 N. Main ‘wear pink day’. We had so many don’t think about, like, there was To her fellow survivors, Smith : Ens meals delivered.” has this to say, “appreciate it. We Elk City, OK 73644 a lady who would make seatbelt all know, every survivor knows, She continued on to say that cozies, because seatbelts hurt BTSCOSTUM ca on her good days, “they wouldn't after surgery. You would never there's a statistic out there for (580) 210-0150 us that says it can come back. let me just sit at home, they think about something like that. My particular kind, five years is had me going to football games, ‘That's what this lady does. they had me wanting to do my She's a survivor, but she goes ais a ‘yay’ and ten years is the goal. If we can get to ten years daughter's soccer games. There back and she makes these simple without a reoccurrence coming were always phone calls just to things for people. There’s an- back, our odds improve, it looks check and see how I was. I was other lady that makes these corn alittle better for us. really surprised at how awesome bags that heat up and she'll just Just appreciate and enjoy life they were for not knowing me, go out there maybe once every month or two and hand them to the fullest, you don't know up until that point. We became when it might come back. Make out to people that are in the che- very good friends after that. It sure you're an advocate for mo room. was my son's junior year, I be- ‘There's hundreds of little dif- somebody else. That’s really my lieve, and his senior year, I felt ferent things like that. You'd be biggest thing, appreciate the like Ihad best friends; they were sitting there getting chemo and second chance and never waste amazing” somebody will just come by with it” “You know,” Smith said, “you a blanket or pillows, It's kind of ‘This December will make five hear about it and you always neat.” Smith says that she would years that Smith has been cancer think okay, well the odds of like to do something like that or free. Month OPE CURE In honor of all the breast cancer survivors, we want to debunk some common myths MYTH: Using underarm antiperspirant can cause breast cancer. FACT: There is no evidence of a connection between underarm antiperspirant and breast Hylton’s Flowers cancer, but the safety of antiperspirants is 701 N. Main St, Elk City, OK still being studied. 580-225-1265 Baptist Village of Elk City Goes Cancer Move in before Oct. 31 for $500 OFF Each Month For Three Mont! (Assisted Living) eae FACT: For women in the U.S., breast cancer death rates are 1500 W. Country Club Blvd. higher than those for any other cancer, besides lung cancer. (580) 225-5555 110 Access Road, Elk C ity, OK 73644 baptistvillage.org 80-225-0132 CHEVROLET