Conquering breast cancer has a lot to do with the “4 Fs,” Daffodil Days fundraising kick-off luncheon speaker Kristy Zane told a room full of campaign volunteers Wednesday at Doctors Hospital of Manteca.
Zane – a retired elementary school teacher – has been cancer-free for over four years now, saying recovery has much to do about the attitude of the patient.
“Those Fs are so important,” she said. “It’s all about faith, family, friends and fun.”
She said she continued to teach after being diagnosed giving her a chance to tell her students about cancer and how they could best interact with a mother, grandmother or even an aunt who they learned had the disease.
Even when she lost her hair, she continued to be light-hearted in her classroom. Zane remembers the children learned to comment in a light-hearted way with her as they understood how well she was standing up to the disease.
“When I was bald, the kids wanted to see me bald. So, I taped two googly eyes to the back of my head – put on my wig – went up to the front of the class and ripped the wig off, turned around and said, ‘See I always told you I had eyes in the back of my head’.”
She laughed and they laughed together in something of a magical moment in making her point on attitude and fun needed in everyday life.
Zane was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004 after having a mammogram while working as a sixth-grade teacher. She retired just last May from her 26 years in the classroom.
She remembered missing 19 days of school followed by three months of post surgery when she and her husband spent time vacationing on a beach in Australia celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary.
“Life went on as normal and I got involved with the Cancer Society. I had always been involved in Relay for Life, but now it had a whole lot more meaning,” she said.
After 26 years in teaching, her district offered a “golden handshake” retirement for those 55 and older. She had just reached her mid-50s and chose the early retirement offer.
“I said, thank you very much – and so long,” preparing to pack up her classroom.
She became a REACH to RECOVERY volunteer for the Cancer Society. When women are diagnosed with cancer, that service group attempts to match them up with women who have had the same treatment or are of the same age – you give a call, you visit – it’s a support group for women, Zane explained.
The vibrant guest speaker noted that she is also an active member of the women’s cancer support group at a Stockton hospital.
Two years after her initial diagnosis, she found another lump on the same side of her chest.
“This time it was in my lymph nodes – went through chemo and radiation and missed six months of school that time. Both times it was diagnosed in October – it’s a great month, if you’re going to have breast cancer – October is it,” she chuckled.
“I was on year-round school at the time and school began in July. October is Breast Cancer Month,” she noted. “It really gave me the opportunity to reach kids in a way that I hadn’t been able to before. Every year after my diagnosis somebody had a mother, an aunt, a grandma that had been diagnosed with breast cancer and it gave me an opportunity to help kids (try to understand.)”
She said a person still has to keep their sense of humor about them. “I lost a boob, but I’m married to one – so I still have two,” she joked, adding that she has a wonderful husband who has stayed with her throughout the process of diagnosis, surgery and recovery.
Zane agreed that a woman can’t let depression take over after a cancer diagnosis – having to guard against it.
“I’ve always had a bit of an off-kilter sense of humor anyway. People ask how I can laugh about something that is so serious. If you’re not laughing, you’re crying,” she admitted.
She knows her husband “is sticking around in sickness and in health” adding that when a woman loses a breast a lot of men can’t handle it. “I know he’s been through it twice with me and he’s going to be there.”
Zane said a PET scan was clear in December and she has taken on the job of coordinator for REACH for RECOVERY program in San Joaquin County.
She and her husband have been traveling, going to Japan in June, the Mediterranean in October – and all the places she taught about for years in the classroom.
“I’m going to see those Pyramids – I’m going to see the Coliseum. Going to Kauai in June. We’re just going and doing – it’s expensive though,” she again chuckled.
“This is my calling though – mentoring women – even though I always felt it was teaching – that I was a dedicated teacher. This is where I feel God wants me to be,” she said. “That’s my story.”
Daffodils can be ordered by calling 1-877-642-4982 or 1-800-227-2345 or online at daffodil.scsevents.org/ca. A bouquet of 10 daffodils is $10; a Sunshine bouquet in a half liter clear glass carafe is $20 donation. For $35 two bouquets arranged as you wish come in a six-inch glass vase.
A “Gift of Hope” donation of $25 to $100 funds cancer research and education in local patient service and advocacy efforts. It also promises bouquet deliveries anonymously to cancer patients in hospitals and medical centers.
The $25 Bear of Hope will send young cancer patients the limited edition of Boyds, by Enesco, Bears to children in the community who are currently under medical care battling the disease.
Zane – a retired elementary school teacher – has been cancer-free for over four years now, saying recovery has much to do about the attitude of the patient.
“Those Fs are so important,” she said. “It’s all about faith, family, friends and fun.”
She said she continued to teach after being diagnosed giving her a chance to tell her students about cancer and how they could best interact with a mother, grandmother or even an aunt who they learned had the disease.
Even when she lost her hair, she continued to be light-hearted in her classroom. Zane remembers the children learned to comment in a light-hearted way with her as they understood how well she was standing up to the disease.
“When I was bald, the kids wanted to see me bald. So, I taped two googly eyes to the back of my head – put on my wig – went up to the front of the class and ripped the wig off, turned around and said, ‘See I always told you I had eyes in the back of my head’.”
She laughed and they laughed together in something of a magical moment in making her point on attitude and fun needed in everyday life.
Zane was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004 after having a mammogram while working as a sixth-grade teacher. She retired just last May from her 26 years in the classroom.
She remembered missing 19 days of school followed by three months of post surgery when she and her husband spent time vacationing on a beach in Australia celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary.
“Life went on as normal and I got involved with the Cancer Society. I had always been involved in Relay for Life, but now it had a whole lot more meaning,” she said.
After 26 years in teaching, her district offered a “golden handshake” retirement for those 55 and older. She had just reached her mid-50s and chose the early retirement offer.
“I said, thank you very much – and so long,” preparing to pack up her classroom.
She became a REACH to RECOVERY volunteer for the Cancer Society. When women are diagnosed with cancer, that service group attempts to match them up with women who have had the same treatment or are of the same age – you give a call, you visit – it’s a support group for women, Zane explained.
The vibrant guest speaker noted that she is also an active member of the women’s cancer support group at a Stockton hospital.
Two years after her initial diagnosis, she found another lump on the same side of her chest.
“This time it was in my lymph nodes – went through chemo and radiation and missed six months of school that time. Both times it was diagnosed in October – it’s a great month, if you’re going to have breast cancer – October is it,” she chuckled.
“I was on year-round school at the time and school began in July. October is Breast Cancer Month,” she noted. “It really gave me the opportunity to reach kids in a way that I hadn’t been able to before. Every year after my diagnosis somebody had a mother, an aunt, a grandma that had been diagnosed with breast cancer and it gave me an opportunity to help kids (try to understand.)”
She said a person still has to keep their sense of humor about them. “I lost a boob, but I’m married to one – so I still have two,” she joked, adding that she has a wonderful husband who has stayed with her throughout the process of diagnosis, surgery and recovery.
Zane agreed that a woman can’t let depression take over after a cancer diagnosis – having to guard against it.
“I’ve always had a bit of an off-kilter sense of humor anyway. People ask how I can laugh about something that is so serious. If you’re not laughing, you’re crying,” she admitted.
Cancer isn’t the worst thing
“Cancer is not the worst thing that ever happened to me. Some people lose their lives – don’t get me wrong, it is a very serious thing. But, it has enhanced my life. Every day is so much sweeter. And, even though I have thought I was blessed and had a great life – so much more now,” she said.She knows her husband “is sticking around in sickness and in health” adding that when a woman loses a breast a lot of men can’t handle it. “I know he’s been through it twice with me and he’s going to be there.”
Zane said a PET scan was clear in December and she has taken on the job of coordinator for REACH for RECOVERY program in San Joaquin County.
She and her husband have been traveling, going to Japan in June, the Mediterranean in October – and all the places she taught about for years in the classroom.
“I’m going to see those Pyramids – I’m going to see the Coliseum. Going to Kauai in June. We’re just going and doing – it’s expensive though,” she again chuckled.
“This is my calling though – mentoring women – even though I always felt it was teaching – that I was a dedicated teacher. This is where I feel God wants me to be,” she said. “That’s my story.”
Daffodils can be ordered by calling 1-877-642-4982 or 1-800-227-2345 or online at daffodil.scsevents.org/ca. A bouquet of 10 daffodils is $10; a Sunshine bouquet in a half liter clear glass carafe is $20 donation. For $35 two bouquets arranged as you wish come in a six-inch glass vase.
A “Gift of Hope” donation of $25 to $100 funds cancer research and education in local patient service and advocacy efforts. It also promises bouquet deliveries anonymously to cancer patients in hospitals and medical centers.
The $25 Bear of Hope will send young cancer patients the limited edition of Boyds, by Enesco, Bears to children in the community who are currently under medical care battling the disease.
