Bosom Buddies: Breast cancer survivors speak out

Splashes of pink accented the clothes, jewelry, nails and hair of the women who, one by one, shared stories of grief, hope, courage and survival. They talked of shopping for wigs, recovering from mastectomies, unexpected relapses and coming face to face with mortality.

“We have lost several members over the years. It’s always painful, so very painful. It reinforces what we already know: We are never cancer-free. We are surviving and living with a chronic disease,” Jean Permenter said.

That disease, breast cancer, will claim the lives of 40,610 grandmothers, mothers, aunts, daughters, nieces and sisters in America in 2017, according to the American Cancer Society. More than 300,000 women in the U.S. will join the fight this year — a fight each of the members of the Bosom Buddies faced.

Morgan County’s oldest breast cancer survivor group, the Bosom Buddies formed in 1997, a time before football players donned the disease’s signature pink color, before firefighters wore pink shirts and before walks, runs and fashion shows raised awareness about breast cancer.

Twenty years ago, women battled the disease in silence.

“No one was talking about breast cancer at the time. You just didn’t talk about it. You didn’t know of anyone else who had it. This was before pink pretty much replaced orange as the color of October,” said Pauline Taylor of Somerville, a 17-year survivor.

Over the past two decades, Bosom Buddies has provided dozens of women with camaraderie, understanding and a safe place to discuss the physical, mental and emotional effects of breast cancer.

The Decatur Morgan Hospital Foundation will honor the Bosom Buddies at the eighth annual Lee Lott Power of Pink Walk on Oct. 29. Last year, the foundation’s Power of Pink Walk, which attracted 900 participants, raised more than $50,000 for the hospital’s breast health and cancer services. This year, proceeds will go to funding a 3D mammography machine.

Beyond raising funds, the 1-mile walk through downtown Decatur increases awareness of the disease, which affects 3.1 million women in the U.S.

“This is such a good walk for a number of reasons. It is affordable, it is a 1-mile walk everyone can participate in and it builds awareness all over the county about women’s health and the need for mammograms,” hospital foundation President Noel Lovelace said. “It also is a time to fellowship, to celebrate life and remember those that lost their battle with breast cancer.”

As the walk’s honorees, the Bosom Buddies, a mix of grandmothers, teachers, government workers and engineers, will bring a face to the statistics recited every year. They are the one in eight women who experience breast cancer.

There is Patsy Runager, diagnosed 20 years ago at the age of 49, after a mammogram revealed the beginning stages of breast cancer.

“The doctor called me the same day my granddaughter was born. When I heard the word, ‘cancer,’ I just knew I wouldn’t have the opportunity to see her grow up. Back then, cancer felt like a death sentence,” the Decatur woman said.

There is Barbara Hardy, diagnosed 12 years ago with Stage 4 HER2, at 57 years old. According to the American Cancer Society, the five-year survival rate for women with Stage 4 breast cancer is 22 percent. The retired Decatur teacher takes a maintenance drug every three weeks and will continue the medication for the rest of her life.

“I was shocked when I found out I had cancer, but I had a peace about it. I was leading a Bible study the week I found out and the verse was Joshua 1:9 — ‘Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.’ I knew God was with me and would be with me every step of the way,” Hardy said.

Designated the “baby” of the group, Taylor was a 32-year-old mother of two young children when doctors diagnosed her with cancer. The medical community recommends women get mammograms starting at 40.

“What would’ve happened if my husband never found my lump? I was 32, I had eight years to 40. I wonder if I would’ve even made 40,” Taylor said. "I had no history of cancer, so I wasn't looking for it. One of the most important things I was told was, 'A family history has to start somewhere.' You can't think just because cancer has never been in your family, it won't ever be in your family."

There is Permenter, diagnosed 12 years ago at the age of 64 with Stage 4 triple negative inflammatory breast cancer. The Hartselle woman underwent four months of chemotherapy, a mastectomy, four more months of chemotherapy and six weeks of daily radiation.

“I consider myself a walking miracle. If I had had it five years earlier, I probably would not be here today. That is what the doctors told me,” Permenter said. “Mine started out as a small red spot. I thought it was a tick bite. By the time I got to the doctor, it had ballooned up and was very painful. I tell every woman, if you’ve got a red spot on your breast, get yourself to a doctor immediately. It is a matter of life and death.”

There is Willie Mae Shelton, a 19-year survivor, who was diagnosed at the age of 54.

“I just found out my daughter has breast cancer,” the Danville woman said. “My daughter having cancer is the worst thing. I would rather have it 10 times than have her go through it once.”

Other members of the group include JoAnn Robbins, a 27-year survivor from Danville; Shelia Hood, an eight-year survivor from Moulton; Doris Crowe, a 20-year survivor from Decatur; and Marja Morris, a five-year survivor from Decatur.

The women found strength in their families, friends and faith.

“I would never want someone to go through breast cancer, but I can see how it’s been a blessing on my life. It’s a blessing because of the people I have met, these women specifically. They are more than my friends, they are my family,” Hardy said.

Bosom Buddies meets the third Monday of every month at 6 p.m. at Decatur Morgan Hospital for food and fellowship. This month, Dr. Sammy Becdach with the Clearview Cancer Institute will be the guest speaker.

“Being honored at the Power of Pink Walk gives us recognition, so hopefully others will know that they can come and join us and get the support they need as they go through this battle. There is no reason to go through it alone,” Hardy said.