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Schwebach is Relay for Life honorary survivor
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By ELISA SAND, Staff Reporter
| 02/05/2010 |
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Robin Schwebach is this year's honorary survivor for the Lake County Relay for Life.
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Schwebach is this year's honorary survivor for Lake County's Relay for Life. Scheduled for June 5-6 at the 4-H grounds, the event raise money for the American Cancer Society.
Team captains gathered for a kickoff on Wednesday at Pizza Ranch to pick up information and start fund-raising efforts. It was there that Schwebach shared her story, which began in August when she started feeling pain in her breasts.
At first, she said, she blamed it on stress and the fact that she was drinking coffee. But the pain didn't improve when she quit the caffeine.
Her routine mammogram showed no concerns, but during her annual physical, Physician's Assistant Jeanne Rud suggested an ultrasound, which can sometimes pick up something a mamogram won't.
That ultrasound, said Schwebach, picked up on one small spot in each breast. She consulted with Dr. Robert Summerer, who assured her that 80 percent of these spots don't amount to anything, but he did suggest a biopsy. The results showed cancer on one side.
Schwebach said that she had lots of questions, none of which could be answered.
"What bothered me the most were the unanswered questions," she said.
Schebach got an appointment with an oncologist, who suggested a double mastectomy. That procedure worried her at first when she thought about the cost of plastic surgery that would follow. Her doctor said that federal regulations were passed in 1996 requiring insurance companies to cover the cost of replacing anything doctors have to remove.
Following those procedures, Schwebach said, doctors suggested a test called oncotype Dx because of the size and limited scope of the cancer to determine the best course of treatment. Results below 14 mean the doctor can treat with oral medication. Above 14 means chemotherapy. Schwebach's results came back at 7 and doctors immediately started her on oral medication.
There was another hurdle, however. Because Schwebach's type of cancer was estrogen fed, doctors suggested having her ovaries removed and then advised her to have a hysterectomy.
Since then, Schwebach has continued to receive oral medications, which will continue for the next four years.
"I'm very blessed that I had the dream team," she said. "Each doctor made me feel like I was the only one, and they'd go out of their way to make sure I was OK. There were a lot of times I was alone, but I wasn't," she said.
Schwebach said that support for Relay for Life is important because new diagnostic tests continue to be developed.
"With all the advancement they have made with technology and research, we'll have a better way of detecting it earlier," she said. "I do feel research plays a key role in finding new treatments."
Looking back, if Schwebach hadn't had pain and discomfort, she probably wouldn't have been concerned enough to ask for additional tests. She believes that pain was a sign of something that she shouldn't ignore.
"I really feel the good Lord was tapping me on the shoulder," she said.
Through it all, said Schwebach, her family was her reason to get up in the morning and her job at the elementary school was a blessing in disguise.
Now, she has a different outlook.
"It puts such a different perspective on life," she said. "I've learned to make the best of each day."
She's saddened by those who are facing a tougher road ahead, though.
"I wish everyone's story was my story," she said.
Teams interested in signing up for this year's Relay for Life can go online to www.relayforlife.org/lakecountysd.
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©Madison Daily Leader 2010
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