Stories of Strength: Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States, except for skin cancers. It accounts for about 30% (or 1 in 3) of all new female cancers each year. According to The American Cancer Society, about 310,720 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women in 2024.
With so many women and Sisters affected by breast cancer, we are honoring Breast Cancer Awareness Month by sharing stories about our Sisters who have bravely faced breast cancer head on. This month is a great reminder to advocate for your health, schedule a mammogram, and perform your monthly breast self-exam. Knowing the signs and symptoms of breast cancer is important.
Jessica Zellermayer, Kansas ’94, was first diagnosed with breast cancer in April 2016. As an award-winning journalist for several local and national news organizations, it was natural that she documented her life and journey with cancer on her blog, theworldaccordingtojaz.blogspot.com.
“April 22, 2016. I’m at work. My cell phone rings. It’s my radiologist. I leave the newsroom to go into the hall and sit on the floor. Why? I know I’m about to learn some life changing and breaking news. I take a breath. “You have cancer,” says the doctor. David Muir walks by as I sit on the floor. “How ironic,” I think, as I try to process what the radiologist is telling me. I hear him say something about surgeons…that the tumor was small… that I should be okay. Everything else is just white noise. I hang up feeling numb and not surprised. Cancers of all kind run in my family. I knew this was the likely diagnosis. I just wasn’t expecting it… after my first mammogram (which I randomly decided to have following a visit to my gynecologist)…at 40.” Read the full blog post here.
In April 2017, she shared about her one-year anniversary from her cancer diagnosis. “One year later I am done with surgery. I am done with chemotherapy. I am done with radiation. I am done with physical therapy. I have two more Herceptin infusions to go and many years of hormone therapy ahead, but I Wished Upon a Star and now I See The Light.”
In June 2020, Jessica moved from New York City back to Chicago to pursue a new opportunity with News Nation on WGN America. That same month, she found out the cancer was back. She wrote, “Bad news. The cancer was back. I legit couldn’t believe it. I partly didn’t believe it because my team gave me a 5% chance of recurrence. Then I freaked out. Now, on top of all the blessings of moving to Chicago, a new job and a new apartment… this nasty thing called cancer had to show up uninvited to the Welcome Home party.”
Her second diagnosis was Stage 4 Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC). In October 2021, she wrote many blog posts detailing life with MBC. She wrote, “If you have been following my journey you know that I am a very positive person… but let’s be real. MBC can be a daily struggle and is glossed over sometimes (I feel) in the breast cancer community. Somedays I crush it. Other days I don’t. That’s okay. That relates to everyone. Sometimes you have an amazing day and other days you just don’t. I hope my entries will inspire you to share your stories. To realize that no matter what you are going through you are not alone. I hope you recognize yourself in my diary entries. You are okay and there is hope, love and light.”
Sadly, Jessica passed away in 2023 after a long, courageous fight against cancer. Her parents, Sherwood and Marlene Zellermayer, along with friends and family have remained dedicated to keeping Jessica’s memory alive.
“Jessica was an amazing person, and her legacy of kindness and generosity was unmatched. She lived her life to achieve her dreams. It is evident to me that she knew her life was precious, and she had to experience everything she could in the short period that she was alive. I think Jessica embodies all the characteristics that Alpha Xi Delta taught us so many years ago. Her mother and father, especially her father, is dedicated to reminding anyone who will listen about her legacy,” wrote Heidi Peirce, her friend and Alpha Xi Delta Sister.
To read Jessica’s blog, click here.
Photo: Jessica's parents, Sherwood and Marlene, honoring her at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
Marion Hughes, Illinois ’87, was featured in the winter 2024 issue of The Quill. Marion was in peak physical shape as an IronMan athlete.
She wrote, “In 2017, the culmination of all my hard work and possibility of qualifying for the IM Triathlon World Championships was coming true for me. I was healthy and physically fit. As I was putting on a jog bra to do my last 18 mile run before my race day, I saw it. I had lost 22 pounds leading up to this race. So, it hadn’t been visible to me until now, at this very exact point in my training, racing, and my life. As large as a quarter, just under the breast nipple, there was a lump. I knew it was something I needed to explore, but I had a race in two weeks. So, I foolishly decided not to do anything until after that race. I ended up placing sixth in my age group 50 – 54 at that IM finish. I was on a high. Believing that winning my age group and clinching that long awaited championship slot was well within my reach. So not doing anything about the lump turned into not doing anything at all. As I regained some weight in the off season, the lump disappeared. Out of sight, and now out of my mind. However, February 2018 rolled around when I needed to have my annual mammogram. At that visit, the technician delayed my departure. The radiologist wanted to speak with me. I had an area of suspicion, and the radiologist recommended a biopsy. I explained that I just completed an IM triathlon, and I was in fantastic shape. But the radiologist was persistent. So, I reluctantly scheduled the biopsy. On March 21, 2018, I received the phone call informing me of the unthinkable diagnosis…I had breast cancer.”
Today, Marion is cancer free. Early detection was instrumental in her survival, so she has partnered with Prevent Cancer Foundation to globally increase awareness and inspire support for their vision – “Stop Cancer Before It Starts!” She urges everyone to be proactive and get your yearly screenings. You can read Marion’s full story in The Quill here.
Photo: On September 26, 2021, in Chattanooga, TN, Marion competed in her first IM triathlon race after battling breast cancer. She placed third in her age group; her highest standing to date in a full distance triathlon.
