K6 WEDNESDAY,APRIL 1, 2009 1ST AN ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR
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Photo:
Nadia Miller and her daughter,Danaasia Grundy, look through ascrapbook that includes photos of relatives who had breast cancer.
Survivor profile: Nadia Miller
Frightening knowledge was alife-saver
●By Shari Held For Custom Publicat ions
adia Miller, an honorary “Tolook my parents in the face and tell them
chair for the 2009 K omen that Iha dthe same disease that took their Aproactive
Indianapolis Race for other daughter a way from them was almost too
the Cure, was only 28 decision
years old when she much at the time.”N
found a1-centimeter According to the National Cancer—Nadia Miller
Institute, more t han 192,000 Americanlump in h er left breast. She made breast cancer survivor
women are diagnosed with breastan appointment to see her primary
cancer each year. Five to 10 percent o fcare physician the n ext day and
like,” she said. “And Iknew what to take that chance.” these women have ahereditaryform ofsubsequently saw two specialists
Iwould probably have to endure. Miller got through h er treatments the disease. I nherited alterations of thebefore being diagnosed with
BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes place womenIwas scared, but Iwas also glad with the help of her friends, familybreast cancer.
at increased risk for developing breastthat Iknew,because by any means and partner,who is the father of her“The first thing Ithought was,
and ovarian cancers at an early age.necessary Iwanted t olive.” then-2-year-old d aughter.She was‘I am going to die,’”Miller said. “It
In terms of lifetime risk, 13.2 percentnever alone during t reatments andhadn’teven been two years since I
of all American w omen are expectedappreciated knowing her extendedlost my sister.Tolook my parents Choosing p revention
to develop breast cancer.Th ose oddsfamily was “in her c orner.” She alsoin the face and t ell them that Ihad After Miller had amastectomy
go up to 36 to 85 percent in womenfound comfort by grounding herselfthe same disease that took their and began chemotherapy,her
with altered BRCA genes.While not allin prayer.other daughter away from them was oncologist sent her to ageneticist
women who inherit altered BRCA genesalmost too much a tthe time.” to see if she was BRCA positive, a
develop breast cancer,the increasedIndeed, breast cancer was no genetic indicator that she could be Alife-changing e xperience
odds have led manywomen, especiallystranger to Miller’sfamily.Besides at risk for cancer i nher other breast. Being abreast cancer survivor
those alreadydiagnosed with cancer
her sister,two a unts and her When she proved p ositive, she had changed Miller’s life. Last December in one breast, to undergo double
grandmother had b een diagnosed the second breast removed as a she chaired the S usan G. Komen for mastectomies and removal of the
with the disease. Miller calls prior preventive measure. the Cure –Indianapolis Affiliate’s adjacent lymph nodes.
knowledge of the disease adouble- “I don’tthink it was an option,” inaugural Circle of Promise. The
edged sword. she said. “If you want to be here, event is afaith-based educational
“I am using my voice and“Every survivor’s case is this is what you’ll do. If you want symposium on breast cancer for
my story to speak to them anddifferent, but Iknew what cancer to gamble on your life, you’ll wait African-American women, agroup
encourage them to take control oflooked like, what chemotherapy and see what happens in the disproportionately a ffected by
their health care,” she said.●looked like, what radiation looked next couple of years. Iwasn’tready breast cancer.
Survivor profile: Adrienne Harlow
Young survivor relishes normal life
●By Holly Wheeler For Custom Publications
drienne Harlow was like Returning to school last fall
any other college student came with mixed emotions. Harlow
when, during the summer wanted her life to get back to
between her freshman normal, but she wasn’tsure how
and sophomore years, people would react when theyA
she discovered —quite saw that all her hair was gone.
by accident —alump in her breast. Fortunately,asshe got to know
Surprisingly,she wasn’tdiagnosed other students, she found them to
with breast cancer until the be supportive and friendly,which
following February.She was 19. made it easier to assimilate.
“I saw four different doctors At the same time, Harlow
and was misdiagnosed twice,” became aspeaker for the Susan G.
said Harlow,anAvon native and Komen for the Cure –Indianapolis
honorary co-chair of the 2009 Affiliate, traveling to other
PhotoKomen Indianapolis Race for the universities to speak to students
Cure. “Two doctors said Ihad about breast cancer.Her goal is to
fibrocystic disease, which is really start afoundation so she can reachSubmitted
common in younger women my more people.Adrienne Harlow(left) and friend Kate Ripberger attended Big Man on Campus, abreast
cancer fundraiser at Indiana University whereHarlowwas the keynote speaker.age. Ilooked up the symptoms But these activities are only
of fibrocystic disease and Ididn’t part of Harlow’slife right now,andbegan afive-month schedule Life goes on
have any of those, but Ihad some she’shappy to be aregular collegeof chemotherapy and radiation
Despite the rigorous treatments,symptoms of breast cancer.Ikind student again.therapy,which, she said, were a
the Purdue University publicof knew it all along —like Ihad a “It’sdefinitely been the mostphysical and mental challenge.
relations and advertising majorgut instinct that it was something normal since I’ve been diagnosed,”“It was along process, it seemed
continued taking classes.more than fibrocystic disease.” she said. “It took along time tolike,” she said. “I just thought, ‘If I
“I felt like it would be awasteOnce diagnosed, doctors get here, but now I’m not reallyget through the first treatment, then
just leaving school,” Harlow said.removed the lump and six lymph worried about cancer anymore. I’mIhave two weeks until the second
“I actually made honors thatnodes, which were clear of more worried about going out fortreatment.’”
semester.”cancer cells. After that, Harlow my 21st birthday and having fun.”●
Young women and breast cancer
● ●Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths Breast cancer in young women tends to be moreThe number of women aged 40 and younger
in women aged 15 to 54. aggressive and detected at later stages.who develop breast cancer is higher than you
might think —and the incidence is on the rise. ● ●More than 250,000 women under 40 in the U.S. The survival rate for this agegroup is 82 percent —
alreadyhavebreast cancer. lower than for older women.Learn more at www.youngsurvival.org.
● More than 11,100 women younger than 40 will
Source:Young Survival Coalitiondevelop breast cancer this year.
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