The Rambler (Fort Worth, Tex.), Vol. 93, No. 21, Ed. 1 Wednesday, October 27, 2010 Page: 3 of 8
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The Rambler I www.therambier.org
Campus
October 27, 2010
Wesleyan faculty and stalF share struggles with cancer
Melissa Bates
mdbafes@mail. txwes.edu
Three women in the Wesleyan office
of admissions have encountered breast
cancer.
Pati Alexander, vice president of
enrollment and student services, is a
breast cancer survivor.
Alexander said she gets annual
mammograms and has done so for 25
years. During a routine mammogram
in February 2009, she was diagnosed
with ductal carcinoma in situ, a non-
invasive cancer. Alexander got the
news in an unexpected way.
"They kind of flubbed up telling
me," Alexander said. "Solis [Women's
Health Breast Care & Screening]
thought my doctor called. My doctor
thought Solis called."
Three days after the mammogram
her doctors nurse called asking if shed
picked a surgeon. No one told Alexan-
der about the diagnosis before the call.
Alexander, who was 55 at the time,
said she felt apprehensive, especially
after the miscommunication over the
mammogram results in 2009,
"I chose to get a double mastecto-
my' Alexander said. "My doctor told
me if I got a [bilateral] mastectomy I
would basically be 98 percent cured."
A bilateral mastectomy is the surgi-
cal removal of both breasts.
Alexander said she spent the next
year undergoing reconstructive sur-
gery, and the cancer is completely gone
now.
Alexander said she recommends ev-
ery woman do her own research and
take time for herself after a cancer di-
agnosis.
"I think you need to take time to
make your decision," Alexander said.
"Talk to your family. There are some
instances where you don't have the
luxury of taking time to think through
it, but I think what's helpful is to find
the positive aspect of things."
Alexander said she is blessed to have
been diagnosed with the particular
cancer she has.
"I think God has a plan for all of
us," Alexander said. "I've always had
a very strong faith. I truly believe God
has a plan and a purpose. My very
first thought once I started doing the
research was 'Oh my gosh. I'm so
blessed. This could have been so much
worse.' I still feel that way today''
The families of breast cancer sur-
vivors feel just as blessed, said senior
admissions counselor Melissa Weeks.
Weeks' mother, Cynthia, is also a
breast cancer survivor. Cynthia was
diagnosed Nov. 1997 at age 45.
"I was 14 at the time," Melissa Weeks
said. "So, many of my memories are
repressed from it because it was really
hard on me."
Melissa said Cynthia is a really
strong lady and she always had the
mindset she was going to beat the can-
cer.
"Cancer is awful, period," Melissa
Weeks said. "But we've done a lot of
neat things, too, because of it. It is kind
of nice to know that you're promoting
that awareness from something that
you unfortunately had to experience.
But you're able to spread the word so
that others, hopefully, don't have to ex-
perience it."
Cynthia is a registered nurse at the
Plaza Medical Center. Her gynecolo-
gist noticed an odd mass in her chest
and sent her for a mammogram, and
she was diagnosed with an invasive
cancer known as infiltrative lobular
carcinoma in situ.
Cynthia said she was shocked at the
diagnosis because she thought she had
taken good care of herself.
"When most people hear the word
cancer they assume death is immi-
nent," Cynthia Weeks said.
She chose to take the bilateral mas-
tectomy route in hopes of a different
ending.
"I had reconstruction surgery 10
days later," Cynthia said.
Now, Cynthia said she is elated to be
a 13-year survivor of breast cancer.
"I hope that I'm able to offer hope
and encouragement to other people,"
Cynthia said. "I want people to know
that you can live beyond a diagnosis of
breast cancer."
Cynthia said after receiving a breast
cancer diagnosis, the little things are
not important anymore.
"There are some instances where you don't
have the luxury of taking time to think through
it, but I think what's helpful is to find the posi-
tive aspect of things."
Pati Alexander (left)
vice president of enrollment and student services
(Top left) Senior admissions counselor Melissa Weeks and her
mother, Cynthia, said fhey learned important lessons after Cyn-
thia battled with breast cancer in 1997. (Top right) Assistant
director of operations for the office of admissions Denelle Rodri-
guez lost her mother to breast cancer when Denelle was 8 years
old. "I think it's hard to give words exactly because it's such an
emotional journey," she said.
"I think you don't take life for grant-
ed," Cynthia said. "You have to ap-
preciate your family, your friends and
your job. There's so much to be grate-
ful for."
Not all breast cancer sufferers are
breast cancer survivors.
Assistant director of operations for
the office of admissions Denelle Ro-
driguez's mother, Ruby Brewer, did
not survive breast cancer. Brewer was
diagnosed in 1981 at age 41 and died
months later.
Rodriguez was 8 years old when her
mother was diagnosed. She said she
is unable to remember what type of
breast cancer her mother had. Rodri-
guez's mother chose a unilateral mas-
tectomy, which is the removal of one
breast.
"It wasn'tuntil afewyears afterwards
that [doctors] believed [the cancer]
started in her lungs," Rodriguez said.
"It started when she was pregnant with
my [younger] sister, and it then spread
to her breasts."
Rodriguez could not describe her
family's reaction because she was too
young at the time.
"I think it's hard to give words ex-
acdy because it's such an emotional
journey" Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez also lost her maternal
grandmother to breast cancer a couple
years after her mother's death. Rodri-
guez also has a cousin who is a cancer
survivor on the same side of the family.
Because of the amount of breast
cancer sufferers in Rodriguez's family,
she and her sisters are at high risk for
contracting breast cancer as well, ac-
cording to studies.
There is an option for women who
may be at high risk for breast cancer.
The BRAC Analysis Test can deter-
mine if a woman carries the breast
cancer gene.
"I've had the blood tests done; the
blood was sent to the lab but my insur-
ance denied it," Rodriguez said. "My
doctor and I are appealing it."
Rodriguez said her sisters don't want
to take the BRAC because they fear the
bad news. She said the older she gets
the more it impacts her.
"I think [losing a loved one to can-
cer] makes you appreciate life and liv-
ing more," Rodriguez said. "For me, it
really hit home when I had my daugh-
ter. She's about to turn 5."
PRESIDENT continued from page 7
the Presidential Search Com-
mittee and Vice Chairman of
the Board of Trustees, said
the finalists will meet with
the faculty assembly, Student
Government Association and
Provost Council. The finalists
will also meet with the execu-
tive vice presidents, Alumni
Board and Board of Trustees
after touring the historic, law
and Burleson campuses.
"We've got a lot to pack
into two days," she said.
Volkman-Powell said the
finalists' leadership qualities,
level of experience and ex-
pertise kept them in conten-
tion for the university's presi-
dency among the more than
80 applications.
"It was a very qualified pool
of candidates who brought
any number of fabulous
work and life experience to
the university," she said. "In
the end, I think the search
committee did a fabulous job
of understanding which of
our candidates would be the
best fit for our university."
Although committee mem-
bers have stressed the impor-
tance of fundraising during
numerous interviews, Volk-
man-Powell said fundraising
isn't the only important as-
pect.
"The fundraising talents
that [Wesleyan's] looking for
in our next leader are no less
important than the ability to
drive the academic side of
our house," she said. "You're
never looking for one thing
over the other. It's important
that those two things work in
tandem."
COACH continued from page 7
there were some hardcore ac-
cusations going on."
Martinez said he expected
to meet with a committee at
a school the size of Wesleyan's
before a decision was made
regarding a person's liveli-
hood.
"That's part of my prob-
lem with Wesleyan," he said.
"They want to be a big school
and want to act like one, but
it seems like it never ends.
It seems like it will always
be that little school in Fort
Worth."
Martinez said he still keeps
in contact with several of his
Wesleyan players through
text and e-mail and lets them
know he still believes in them.
The final decision to fire a
member of the athletic staff
is ultimately up to Kevin Mil-
likan and human resources,
said Dean of Students Gary
Poole, who was not involved.
"I can't and won't com-
ment on details regard-
ing personnel decisions or
disciplinary issues," Millikan
said. "I can confirm that we
have a vacant position, and we
will begin a search very
soon for a new head
men's soccer coach, with
the intention of filling the
position without any undue
delay."
Millikan said an abrupt
head coaching change is dif-
ficult for everyone involved,
especially the players.
"It is my intention to make
the transition as smooth as
possible to give the program
the best chance to be success-
ful moving forward," he said.
Jody Ellsworth, assistant
coach for both men and
women soccer programs, will
serve as head coach until a re-
placement is found.
"The loss of our head coach
affected the team in different
ways, but we have support
from all over the school, fans
and our families," said junior
forward Ricardo Aguilera.
"We plan to make the confer-
ence tournament and move
forward to nationals."
Director of Human Re-
sources Kristi Taylor said in-
formation regarding reasons
for dismissal and disciplinary
consequences cannot be re-
vealed to the public, accord-
ing to institutional policy.
Major firms now hiring
Part-time/Full-time positions and internships
Marketing Internship
Must have
60-90 credit hours
and be currently
enrolled in college.
20 hours per week.
Compensation is
competitive!
Local social organization seeks:
Mentors, Case Workers,
Project Coordinators
and Teaching Assistants
to work with
underprivileged children
currently in the
juvenile justice system.
Educators and Coaches
needed ASAP!
Fort Worth ISD is now hiring for
after-school programs:
Kinesiology, Science, Math,
English, and Business students...
PLEASE APPLY!
Brought to you by Texas Wesleyan's Career Services
Stop by our office located in the West Library Room 124 or call 817-531-6552
or find us online at careerser\'ices(g}txwss.edu or
Linked Qj].
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Resendez, Jonathan. The Rambler (Fort Worth, Tex.), Vol. 93, No. 21, Ed. 1 Wednesday, October 27, 2010, newspaper, October 27, 2010; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth201310/m1/3/?q=Lamar+University: accessed June 4, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas Wesleyan University.