October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and with that, comes an annual reminder of just how often cancer in its many forms affect those in Star Valley. As one way to help face the battles that many face, the Star Valley Lady Braves Volleyball team organizes a fundraiser for a home match each October with a bake sale and silent auction that has proceeds benefiting a local resident facing a cancer diagnosis. Residents are highly encouraged to plan to attend this year’s Pink Night on October 1 at 4 p.m. and wear their pink in support of the cause.

Seniors Camryn Mackey and Ruby Hill spoke with SVI about the importance of Pink Night to the Lady Braves’ program.

This year’s recipient is Susan Loveland, a teacher at Afton Elementary, who detailed her fight up to this point:

“This cancer journey began shortly before Thanksgiving last year when I was diagnosed with Endometrial Cancer. Dr. Howser sent me to Salt Lake City to see a gynecologic oncologist. The doctor told me she does surgery twice a month in Idaho Falls. Knowing it might be a long journey I decided to have my surgery in Idaho Falls. During the surgery preparation, I had many tests and scans and was in and out of the hospital with some complications.

Finally, in February I had surgery and they discovered cancer in my lymph nodes. After I healed from surgery, I started radiation and chemotherapy. For six weeks, I drove five days a week to Idaho Falls for radiation. There was also one chemo treatment each week.

At first I thought I could do it all by myself. I didn’t want to bother anyone. But I was so tired after the treatments, I had to pull over and sleep for a while. It became evident, I couldn’t do this on my own anymore.

That’s when some wonderful friends stepped up and helped me. They took turns and drove me to those long, daily appointments. It was truly a blessing to me!

After six weeks of radiation and chemo I started a stronger chemotherapy in June and finished it the end of August. During chemo I was exhausted all the time. They gave me a shot after each treatment for my bones. That shot was extremely painful! For several days afterwards every bone in my body ached.

As a result of the treatments, I got neuropathy in my feet and cannot feel them very well and lose my balance. I am hoping that gets better now that the chemo is finished. I just started Immunotherapy which uses your body’s own immune system to fight cancer. These treatments will last two to three years as well as lots of doctor appointments and checkups.

After all this there is good news, they couldn’t find any cancer in my most recent checkups! I am trying to be optimistic for the future!”

In 2013 I had Medullary Thyroid Cancer. With this latest cancer the doctor had a genetic test done and found I had MEN2 (Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 2). This is a rare inherited disorder that causes tumors and other types of cancer. Several family members as well as distant relatives also have this genetic disorder. There is a possibility I may develop other kinds of cancer over the years.

Having cancer is something I wouldn’t wish on anyone, and don’t want to go through it again. But it has brought many blessings and has been a learning experience for me. My church family, work family, and friends have been very supportive and helpful. They have made sure I have food, money for gas and essentials, rides to Idaho Falls and many other things.

I have felt the love of my Savior as he has comforted me and placed people in my path to help me. This experience has opened my heart to all the wonderful things He has done for me. I have more gratitude for the good things in my life. No one is perfect, and through this I have come to know we should try to love others unconditionally. And I am truly amazed by the love and kindness everyone has shown to me and I am very grateful.”