With breast cancer awareness month right around the corner, local breast cancer support group, Pink Ribbon Network shared their mission with the Hopkinsville Kiwanis Club at their Thursday meeting.
Ann Isom with the network highlighted the history of the organization and how it helped her during her own battle against breast cancer.
Isom says she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007 has been a part of the network since. Now Isom has been cancer free for nearly 16 years.
As a member of the network, Isom reaches out to those who have been diagnosed with cancer to help and connect with them with resources and other people that may have gone through the same thing.
Isom says unlike other cancer related organizations funds raised for the network stay in the area to help those who may not have a support system.
Kiwanian Angie Strader shared how cancer has affected her life, the lives of those around her and how the network supported her during her fight against breast cancer.
Strader shared that her father’s side of her family has a history with cancer, and when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, she also underwent genetic tested and found that she had the same BRCA2 gene mutation as her uncle.
BRCA2 genes serve to protect the body from allowing cancer to spread, but mutations can cause the gene to not work properly. After the gene testing Strader had a double mastectomy in 2017.
As she was going through this process, Strader says she felt as though she did not have anyone to talk to, but one day a gift basket from the network was on her door step.
Beyond sharing her cancer journey and how the network has been a resource to her, Strader emphasized the importance of getting tested early.
More information and ways to support the network are available at the organization’s Facebook page, Pink Ribbon Network.