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Feature Story
by Carol Breidenbach
printed in
The Fulton County Expositor
30 May 2002 |
Delta Atlas
28 May 2002 |
The Fayette Review
23 May 2002 |
Archbold Buckeye
5 June 2002 |
Judy Warncke never worried about getting breast cancer even though her mother the late Anna Bell Osborne, had had it. She took really good care of herself and assumed her good health would follow her through life. In July of 1996 during a routine mammogram, the technician kept coming back and taking more pictures. This was followed immediately by a sonogram. A week later she was in Toledo for a biopsy. The results came back malignant. Further surgery to remove 13 lymph nodes indicated that it had spread to one node.
The tumor was too small (less than ½ centimeter) to be detected by breast self exam. That mammogram saved her life. Judy was referred to Dr. Roland Skeel at the Rainbow Oncology Center in Wauseon. She opted to be part of a cancer research program with The National Cancer Institute in Baltimore, Maryland. Her hope was to be part of helping to find a cure so others in her family would never have to face this journey.
Treatments are randomly picked by the computer and she received the strongest protocol. It consisted of four treatments of adriamycin and cytoxan followed by four treatments with taxol. After each adriamycin and cytoxan treatments she received daily injections for ten days to bring up her blood counts. She finished up with thirty-two radiation treatments at M.C.O. Hospital in Toledo.
Judy is Assistant Vice President and Marketing Director at the F & M Bank. A real trooper, through her four surgeries and treatment, Judy only missed 20 days of work. A co-worker, who is also a cancer survivor, suggested she get a wig before she lost her hair. This really made the transition easier and she is grateful for the good advice. Along with a wig that closely matched her natural hair, Judy got an auburn one just for fun. She always wanted to be a redhead.
Feeling it was important to foster a positive attitude, a routine developed to get ready for treatments. She packed favorite music, a journal for writing feelings and something up lifting to read while sitting through treatment. Driving back and forth to MCO for radiation treatments, she listened to books on tape provided by her son, Tony.
Judy felt supported the whole time by her husband, Howard. "The caregiver goes through so much with you. They see everything, not just the positive face you show to the outside world. They need support too." Judy and Howard found that support in the "I Can Cope" program sponsored by the American Cancer Society. She is grateful for the people that included her husband's name on cards of encouragement.
Another strong supporter was her nine year old nephew, Sean. He visited a lot and brought bouquets of hand picked flowers. Three years later when he was doing a science project on breast cancer he asked her to speak to his class. He introduced her as his aunt and friend. One of the most difficult times was right after all the treatments were finished. It was scary being on her own and wondering what the future would hold. For Judy, the future has held many good things. Shortly after she started treatment, her first grandson was born. She now has four grandsons !
Judy credits the faith passed on to her by her parents and grandparents with helping her to cope. She was always taught that no problem is too big if you turn it over to God. At her lowest times, something would always happen to encourage her. The angels were looking out for her. An example is her daughter Kristine Ritter suddenly appearing behind her in the mirror as she was getting the final fitting for her wig.
Judy is honorary chairman of this year's Relay for Life. Judy participated in her first Relay in 1995 when her mother ordered all of her children home with their checkbooks to participate on her team. It was small then, but her mother was sure that it would grow and raise lots of money for research. Her mother was right, last year the Relay in Fulton County raised $146,000.00 and had 49 teams participating.
Along with being involved in the Relay, Judy is always happy to talk to newly diagnosed cancer patients and encourage them. She is however, more careful about her priorities and how she uses her time. Life needs to be savored.
The 2002 Relay for Life will be held June 7 and 8 at the Fulton County Fairgrounds. It begins at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, June 7 and runs through Saturday, June 8 at noon. Cancer survivors will walk the first lap on the track and then teams of volunteers will walk the rest of the laps through the weekend. The Luminary Ceremony will take place at 9:30 pm Friday evening, with the lighting of the luminaries and the reading of the names of cancer victims, survivors, and patients. There are many fun activities and the relay is open to everyone.
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