Cancer in the Platte Valley

Editor’s note: This is the last in a series of stories about Michelle McWain. She is a wife, a mother, a Carbon County School District No. 2 employee and a breast cancer survivor.

Michelle’s McWain’s hair was gone. Her breasts had been removed. She had lost 30 pounds.

Breast cancer took many things from Michelle. But for everything she lost, she gained even more.

When Michelle was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012, her life had instantly changed. She spent days driving back and forth from treatments; fighting the illness caused by chemotherapy.

She was fighting for her life­­—but never once did she think she was fighting alone.

In a small, tight-knit community like Saratoga, it does not take long for news to spread. After she was diagnosed, support from community members and friends flooded her mailbox with cards of support.

“People you don’t know come out of the woodwork to help you out,” Michelle said.

It was wonderful, she said. Just the number of people who came up to her, the cards she got in the mail saying they were praying for her, the flowers people sent; all of it was overwhelming.

To this day, she keeps a binder filled with cards which wish her a speedy recovery.

A kind word made Michelle feel better than any medicine could.

Yet, there was specific group of people who made her feel at ease: cancer surivors.

Michelle was approached by several people who survived cancer. Sharing their experiences and struggles gave Michelle comfort through her difficult times.

Michelle was not part of an organized group, but she and other survivors bonded through a common experience. They knew what it was like to endure chemotherapy, to lose their hair, to lose part of their body.

“When you have cancer, what ever type of cancer it may be, we are kind of in a club that none of us wanted to be in,” Michelle said.

***

That club extends much further than the Platte Valley, and there are always people available to lend a hand.

One of those people extending a hand to cancer survivors is Deborah Bassett.

Bassett works for Wyoming Cancer Resource Services (WCRS), a non-profit group out of Evanston, Wyo. that aims to link cancer survivors up with programs and information.

WCRS’s goal is to educate the the general public, support all those with cancer and help those with cancer survive.

There is nothing more powerful than information, Bassett believes. Information can prevent cancer, it can save the lives of those with cancer.

Though she covers five different counties, her mission is to get information out to even the most rural communities in Wyoming.

“Everyone, everywhere deserves equal access to information,” Bassett said.

There are many programs that help with almost any cancer; programs for young adults, a camp in Dubois for children with cancer, financial assistance with gas and groceries.

While undergoing chemotherapy, Michelle used several programs. Michelle received gas money from an organization in Casper to help costs assisst with traveling back and forth from treatment. She had received wigs to cover up her shaved head.

It was comforting to Michelle. Having help from anyone while she was battling cancer was a huge relief.

“Any little bit helps,” Michelle said. “Trying to fight cancer is hard enough, but having to fight cancer and pay for it is difficult.”

The important thing to note Bassett explained, is there is always someone to help.

***

In January 2013, Michelle’s went in for a check-up. The doctor drew her blood, and got back to her with the results: her cancer was in remission.

She did not believe it at first. “Are you sure,” was the only thing going through her mind.

But the doctor was sure.

“Today I am cancer free,” Michelle said, while knocking on a wood table.

Michelle’s cancer could still come back, but after five years, there is little chance it will matastisize. To this day, she goes in every three months to get checked.

Instead of counting down the chemotherapy treatments she had left as she once did, Michelle now counts the visits to the doctor she has left; three months at a time until she hits that five year mark.

“Every time I go in, I am one step close to survival,” she said.

Over the months, her hair grew back, her breast have been reconstructed. Michelle is once again healthy and back to feeling normal.

But Michelle’s fight with cancer left an impression on her that will last a life-time.

After cancer, her personality changed with her priorities. She did not care as much about a clean house or a precise job. Not everything had to be in its place anymore. There were more important things to worry about

“My kids are important, my family is important,” she said. “The little things in life: stopping and smelling the flowers, looking at a sunrise. Just the little things you take for granted every single day.”

Michelle had gone through hell and back. If it had not been for her friends encouraging her to get through a few more chemotherapy treatments, or her family driving her to and from her doctor’s appointment, she might not have made it.

***

Through her story, Michelle wishes to help those who may be at risk. The key to cancer prevention is to be proactive-- get checked before it is too late.

Getting checked saved Michelle’s life. It might save yours.

“Get the tests that you need to catch these things,” Michelle said. “If something doesn’t feel right in your body, get it checked right away.”

Cancer was not easy for Michelle, nor is it easy on anyone. But there is light at the end of the tunnel, Michelle said, and don’t ever give up.

“To those fighting, keep fighting … you can’t give up.”