Breast cancer mentor now finds herself seeking support

By THERESA HOGUE
Gazette-Times reporter

Although Patty Seim was a nurse with years of experience working with breast cancer patients, nothing fully prepared her for her own diagnosis five years ago.

Seim’s breast cancer didn’t show up in a mammogram, although she faithfully had one every year. Instead, she found it during a self-exam. An ultrasound confirmed that something was going on.

When a biopsy revealed that the lump was indeed a cancerous tumor, Seim was ready to do whatever it took to eliminate the cancer. But in addition to the lumpectomy, chemotherapy and radiation she underwent, Seim sought out the support of women who’d lived through breast cancer. In her case, she came to depend on the advice and support of fellow Suburban Christian Church member Kathy Warnock, who had gone through breast cancer two years previously.

“Kathy is more apt to look into things,” Seim said. “A lot of people just depend on what their doctors tell them.”

“It’s nice to know (the resource) is available,” Warnock said. “It takes some of that scariness away.”

Two years ago, the Corvallis Clinic’s breast cancer outreach program, Project H.E.R. (Help, Enlightenment, Resources) contacted Seim and asked if she’d be interested in mentoring women who had recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. She immediately agreed, and is currently working with eight women who are undergoing treatment. One of those women is Warnock, who is now dealing with a second bout of breast cancer.

“We had to switch positions,” Warnock said.

Warnock, who had become a breast cancer mentor for the American Cancer Society’s Reach to Recovery program, said the best thing about pairing up survivors with current patients is the trust and support built into the relationship.

“That’s been a really nice thing with the mentor program,” she said. “Sometimes people will hold things back from their doctor” that they’re willing to discuss with their mentor.

For Warnock, being a mentor came naturally.

“I knew where to go to get some answers,” she said. “I was anxious to talk to Patty (during her treatment). If you can take any of that fear away by giving them some knowledge,” it’s a good thing.

Now that she’s back on the receiving end of support, Warnock is grateful to know that Seim is ready and willing to talk at any time.

“I still have questions and concerns, especially because it’s the second time around,” she said. “There’s comfort in knowing that there’s somebody there connecting with me, checking in on me.”

She’s also grateful to the help of other church members, who do everything from help her clean house when she’s exhausted from chemotherapy treatments, to preparing meals if she needs them. With two young children, and even with the full and unconditional support of her husband, Warnock appreciates any assistance she receives.

She and Seim are both grateful that awareness is growing about breast cancer, and feel that Project H.E.R. is a good way to provide newly diagnosed women with voices of experience and compassion.

“When you’re knowledgeable,” Seim said, “you feel much more comfortable.”

Project H.E.R. is the beneficiary of this Saturday’s second Puttin’ on the Pink Style Show at the CH2M Hill Alumni Center. The 6:30 p.m. event features a fashion show with cancer survivor models, as well as wine, desserts and a silent auction. A few tickets remain and can be purchased for $75 by calling 758-2747. For more information, go to www.puttinonthepink.com.