One Story Can Touch Millions

By Christopher Miller

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The story below has been written to raise awareness of breast cancer and to inspire others who may know somebody who is attempting to conquer breast cancer, or if the reader of this article is somebody who is on the receiving end of treatment. You are not alone.

Traci Fotorny is a fighter. Traci, the wife and mother of two boys, was diagnosed with stage 2B Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (breast cancer) in between her regularly scheduled appointments. “If I would have waited another month or two for my scheduled appointment, it could have been stage 3,” Traci explained in an interview with The Record.

“I was shocked,” she exclaimed. “I did not have a family history of breast cancer, but in another way I was not shocked because somehow I already knew.”

“Three days prior to getting the official diagnosis,” Traci explained, “I knew that God was going to allow me to walk the road of breast cancer because someone would come to know Him through my journey…I knew that my journey would have an impact on people.”

With a very positive outlook on life and her journey through breast cancer, Traci went on to explain how she learned of her diagnosis. “I originally found the lump myself and went for the mammogram and ultrasound right away…the doctor did not like the way the lump looked on the imaging,” she explained.

“Suddenly the office turned into a blizzard of activity because they knew by the looks of it that it was not good.”

In a matter of days surgery was scheduled and held to remove the lump. “The doctor put a rush on the pathology report which she said she normally does not do immediately,” Traci explained. “They called me 3 days later to inform me that I had cancer.”

“I sought treatment at the UPMC Williamsport Divine Providence Campus and the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center.” In fact there is a special shout out that Traci would like to make to Nurse Janelle – “you were awesome, definitely something special.”

The treatment plan that Traci selected was aggressive, because the Oncologist highly recommended it due to expectations of survival and living a long life after cancer. “The first aspect of treatment was surgically removing the tumor, then I spent 5 months going through the grueling chemotherapy treatments which contained a medicinal cocktail of 3 different medications, and then 2 additional months of daily radiation treatments,” Traci explained.

To be completely honest and transparent about her experience battling breast cancer, Traci explained that treatment was not fought without the occasional obstacle. “I had to get a second surgery to get clear margins to make sure that they got all of the cancer – I had my port clog a few times, and of course there was the loss of hair and nausea.” In fact as she explained, most of the obstacles happened after treatment, such as neuropathy, and digestive issues that she still struggles with years later.

Throughout the treatments, what kept Traci going the most was her faith. “I knew it was all under God’s control, and that He was going to use my cancer to help others in the future.”

As well, the support she received from family and friends was something that played a huge part in getting through the diagnosis and treatments. Also, humor. “I laughed at a lot of things that I really wanted to cry over – laughter was cleansing for the soul…the Oncology nurses said they never saw anyone smile as much as I did through treatment.”

“I wanted people to look at me and see Jesus, and the hope that He provides.”

Traci went on to talk about her support system. “I had a fantastic support group, my husband and two sons took excellent care of me…my boys were very protective of me,” she exclaimed. “My family, including my mom and sisters, and some friends from church drove me to chemo treatments, my church also provided meals for the 5 months that I spent in chemo, which was a huge blessing for my family and I!”

After treatments, as Traci explains it, “ringing the bell when I was done with treatment may seem like a small thing, but for me, I did not expect to be so emotional…it has become a tradition among cancer patients.”

In fact the ringing of the bell is a tradition only as recently, where in 1996 a rear Admiral in the Navy purchased a bell to ring to signify the end of his treatments. It is Navy tradition to ring a bell to signify when “the job is done.”

But the job had only begun for Traci.

In a major effort to spread the hope that so many people look for when going through breast cancer treatments, she started a ministry called Boxes of Hope.

“Boxes of Hope is meant to try to encourage other women who are currently going through breast cancer treatments…I want to provide them with chemo hats, fabric face masks, mastectomy pillows, and drain aprons all that I have sewn,” Traci explained. “I also send fabric face masks that I sew to cancer centers and children’s hospitals to give out to their patients.”

Boxes of Hope started out when a friend of Traci’s was also going through breast cancer treatment. She made it known to Traci that she was to the point of giving up on treatment until she received a special gift from Traci of items that helped her through treatment. “It was a care package in a pink box, with all of the items in it and a handwritten letter from me,” she explained. “She was amazed that a stranger would do all of this for her – she said it was a box of hope.” And the ministry was born.

In fact, Traci has sent over 60 boxes to patients in 16 different states so far, all with gifts and a handwritten letter, a “blessing in a box” where Traci keeps in touch with the recipient to let her know that she is not alone.

If anybody would like to donate to Boxes of Hope, they are welcome to email Traci at boxesofhopeministries@gmail.com or to contact her through Facebook at www.facebook.com/PinkBoxesOfHope.

If you, or someone you know is going through breast cancer treatments or diagnoses, Traci wants you to know that you are certainly not alone. “Gather a strong support group, and find people who are always available to chat,” she suggests. “Seek help, because it can be overwhelming, counseling if necessary – remember that there is always hope no matter what the prognosis is.”

Early detection saves lives.