During the month of October we are sharing stories from women whose lives and experiences have been shaped by a breast cancer diagnosis. We hope these stories will help provide comfort and courage to others whose lives have been touched by cancer.

My name is Ginny Urbanek and I would like to share a brief story with you and others regarding my breast cancer experience.

First let me say, years back my elderly mother-in-law was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 80 and a year before me. My husband and I had just relocated to Central Illinois and started to build our own log home. We made every effort to return to the Chicago area where his mom resided, to be by her side every step of the way. My mother-in-law had a mastectomy and some radiation at that time and lived three years longer. But, during this period of diagnosis, surgery and her recovery, I think the Lord had blessed me with experiencing all of this with her. It would later seem like a trial run. Soon I would be diagnosed with breast cancer myself, and I also required some of the same medical treatments and procedures. As I have said, I was blessed to have been given what I call the “the practice run” with my mother-in-law. What better way to prepare me for what was ahead. I often said to my mother-in-law, the strength she had shown at her age of 80 and how she handled her breast cancer made me realize I could handle it too. I miss and thank her everyday for being my mentor.

I’m presently 59 years of age. I was diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer at the age of 48. It’s been 11 years now and I’m still cancer free! As I mentioned above, my husband and I had just moved to Central Illinois from the Chicago area when I was diagnosed and his mom was still going through her own treatments. My husband had retired, and I had retired early. We both previously had careers within emergency services at a Chicago suburban police department. When I was diagnosed, we were in the beginning stages of building our own home and we had not yet made contact with any doctors in this area. So I began my journey to fight this disease with doctors I knew from the Chicago/Indiana area, which consisted of many trips back North, but they were ultimately worth it.

My cancer began with finding a lump on my breast from a self examination. After an ultrasound test, it was determined that I actually had two separate lumps within two different areas of one breast. A subsequent biopsy confirmed that both lumps contained cancerous cells. So the process began with more testing, consultations with my surgeons, and ultimately, the surgery for a mastectomy was scheduled. In my mind I couldn’t get the breast removed fast enough. I wanted the cancer to be out of my body as soon as possible! Loosing a part of my body was very tough, but compared to keeping my life there was no hesitation. Now the new “norm” of my life had begun.

I began my journey by letting all my medical personnel know that I would be aggressive with my health. What I meant was that I would play a major role in making my medical decisions along with each one of them. What I did next I’m not sure to this day if the medical field has tried this process with breast cancer patients yet, but I did. After I researched all my options regarding a mastectomy, breast reconstruction and treatment, I wanted to try something that was relatively new. I spoke with both my breast cancer surgeon and the plastic surgeon, and explained my request, which was this – to immediately begin the first step in breast reconstruction after my breast was removed while I was still in surgery for the mastectomy. After more discussions between them and myself, everyone agreed and they then coordinated their schedules, and as I called it “My Build A Boob Surgery” (haha) was also scheduled. The plan was that, immediately after the mastectomy was completed, the plastic surgeon would step in and perform his surgery and insert a tissue expander, the first step in the breast reconstruction process.

Did I take a chance with this? Of course I did, but I did this to help improve my mental state and attitude. I knew that in doing it this way, I would immediately know that when I woke up from that procedure that my recovery process had actually already started. When I woke up from the surgical procedures, I at least had a lump and I know that it helped me to cope better mentally. Was my oncologist happy about my decision to begin my breast reconstruction so soon? Not a bit, because I was due to begin chemotherapy treatments soon after my mastectomy. But did it all work out? Yes it did. Throughout this process I always involved all of my medical personnel as much as I could and I also made it clear at the beginning I was going to be aggressive with all of the decisions regarding my body’s health and recovery. I told my docs I had a house to build and I was a busy lady! (haha). But, as I still say, it’s my body and I want to be very involved in all my medical decisions, along with the expertise of the medical staff. We did just that and I think it made a better team! I believe the results speak for themselves.

My health has done very well since I had cancer. I’ve been very blessed. After the beginning stages of my breast cancer, I continued my healthcare with very good doctors in this area. My elderly mother relocated to this area and she has had a cancerous blood disorder for over 12 years now and is doing very well. I can’t help but know that it’s due to the excellent medical care that she’s received from her doctors at Sarah Bush Lincoln Cancer Center.

But, like I’ve always said, staying positive and having some humor during scary times like cancer is just so important. After working emergency services for over 20 years in an area like Chicago, a person can have a different perspective on life. I know how much worse life can be and I looked at my cancer as a challenge that could be beatable, so I went to work on that. I still enjoy sharing my story and hope if anyone reads this, it will provide a calm feeling to a scary thing like cancer. I’ve tried to help others that I know who also have struggled with being diagnosed with breast cancer and hoping my experience can help them.

Within this personal story, I want to thank all the personnel who are a part of any cancer patient’s life. Beginning with the personnel that may greet us every day in the office with their smiling and comforting attitudes. To the hardcore medical staff that continue to help us all make a plan of recovery, relax our tension and anxiety. You are definitely a special group of people! Bless all of you and all present cancer patients, survivors and those we’ve lost to cancer – and most all, the cancer researchers. It’s amazing, how the cancer testing, treatments, and recoveries have progressed just in the 11 years since I was diagnosed.

Thank you sincerely, just for reading my story.  I’m so happy to be a survivor and to be able to tell you my story!