In Her Words...

Patient Story by
Cindy Ayure
The Rose Sponsored Patient

Until recently, cancer, like crime, was something that happened to other people and breast cancer, like strokes and Alzheimer, something that happened to older folks. I found out the hard way that neither holds true and we are all susceptible to what is a very real part of life for many families.

My personal experience with cancer began on October 15, 2008 when I felt a lump on my breast. That day, I was confident that it would be an inconsequential inflammation. After all, I was only 31 years old. I set up an appointment a few days later to visit a doctor at The Rose at my husband’s insistence believing that the results of my exam would be normal.

My first visit to The Rose for a mammogram and ultrasound was in itself an experience. I did not know what to expect, but knowing that it was a clinic for breast cancer that offered financial assistance to women like me had given me a vague notion that the level of care and compassion would be less than I could expect in high paying facilities. I was astonished to find that I was wrong and with the passage of time extremely grateful for the personal attention I have received during each and every one of my visits, particularly from my navigator, Sally to whom I owe the excellent medical attention I have received at both The Rose and MD Anderson.

The results of the mammogram and the ultrasound were not clear so the doctor recommended a biopsy. On Dec. 5, 2008 I was told that I had breast cancer, but more importantly I was told that I would receive the assistance I would need, from wigs and advice to the coordination and the transfer of my care to MD Anderson.

Since then, I have been on Chemotherapy, with all that it implies. My hair is gone, my stomach too often rebels, and there are days when it is a challenge to get myself moving. And yet, I find that I am very grateful for what I have and what this journey has brought to my life.

I am often in awe of the amount of support I have received from everyone, even strangers who stop me in stores and public places to give me hope by sharing their own experiences with me. I am the focus of multiple prayer groups and the beneficiary of countless acts of kindness from co-workers and friends, all of which have made a tremendous difference for me and my family. The prayers, I have no doubt, have given me the determination that I need to go on with my treatment and the acts of kindness serve as a constant reminder that I am not alone even through this difficult part of my journey. I have found that as disheartening as it can be to face the realities of cancer, there is a tremendous amount of support that gives me strength and hope.

I know that the road before me is difficult and long and at least for me the hardest part is the unknown. No matter how much medicine has advanced and how much people want to help me, I know that every case is different and there is no way for anyone to truly know what tomorrow holds. Still, I feel strong; I know I am not alone and I know that there is a future that awaits me beyond this illness. I have a husband, two sons, family, work, and countless things I want to do. For now, I just need to take it one step at a time knowing that God is with me every step of the way.

Your Mammogram is a Gift to Another

A note from our CEO, Dorothy Weston Gibbons...
In these economic times, when we all must watch our budgets and expenses, there is one gift that you can give…it doesn’t cost anything…you were going to do it anyway…it’s having your annual mammogram at The Rose. Yes, it’s true…every “paid” mammogram helps us care for a woman who doesn’t have insurance… or money to cover even our low $85 cash discounted fee.

Having a mammogram with us ensures you’ll receive the personal attention that The Rose is famous for and the highest quality imaging, read by physicians who are dedicated only to breast imaging and breast disease. All this and you are helping other women receive that same level of care – women who have no where else to turn.

And if these economic times have left you without insurance or cash, please do not post-pone your annual mammogram. All the research shows that we have our best chance of finding a cancer in its earliest stage when women return between 12 and 14 months. Even a few more months can make a difference, in some cases a tragic difference and that is something you do not need to chance. You have The Rose to turn to.

We have all faced financial difficulties at one point or another. We know that asking for help is difficult especially if you’ve never had to before. But that is why The Rose exists—to provide access to care for every women regardless of ability to pay.
Any woman who has ever discovered a lump in her breast knows the fear that accompanies it. Noone needs any barriers to stand in the way of having the tests needed for a diagnosis—insured or uninsured.

Some women will qualify for full sponsorship, others take advantage or our payment plan. Whatever it takes, we’ll get you through our services...that’s our promise to you.

The Hyphen Lives No More!

In the past, The Rose could be found on-line at www.The-Rose.org. Lots of people expressed that the hyphen made it hard to find us on the web. Thanks to Karen Black, The Rose now has a new home on the World Wide Web. Our website can now be found at www.TheRose.org.

Ms. Black, a cancer survivor herself, gave up the domain she had long dreamed to use for her own umbrella non-profit organization. “TheRose.org suits me well but your clients/patients will immediately benefit from the increased access to your site and services, “ she said.

Ms. Black has extensive family history of breast cancer and decided that the domain name meant more to our patients than to herself. "My mother had breast cancer twice (two separate mastectomies) and my grandmother and aunts died of it. It is hard to find a person who has not been touched personally by this horrible disease,” she said.

We cannot express how deeply we appreciate this gift from Ms. Black. This will surely increase awareness and access to our little place in cyberspace. Please look for major changes coming soon to The Rose.org.

Student Project Seeks to Save Lives

Last October, Deer Park High School teacher Heidi White talked to her students about breast cancer in an attempt to raise awareness. She did much more than that. After hearing about breast cancer, the Deer Park High School Student Council was inspired to “do something about it,” says White. The students made and sold pink ribbon pins for $.50 each to students, staff and faculty. The grand total reached $310.00, which will be put toward The Rose’s Empower Her® Sponsorship Program. This program provides breast cancer detection services to those who cannot afford the costs of these potentially life saving procedures. The generous acts of these young men and women will not soon be forgotten, especially by the women who will be directly impacted though The Rose’s services. Their generosity translates into three mammograms for women who would not have been able to afford care. Three lives, three families... touched in an extraordinary way by these extraordinary teens.

Randalls Reach Stretches from Rosenberg to The Woodlands

Houston-area Randalls locations raised $225,000 to benefit The Rose’s Mobile Mammography Program. The Mobile Mammography Program serves both insured and uninsured women. The unit travels throughout Harris and surrounding counties and may be booked by corporations, organizations, churches and clinics. The goal of mobile mammography is to eliminate some of the obstacles that women face.

Our generous funders and collaborating partners made it possible for us to take mammography into neighborhoods and office buildings to help eliminate some of the barriers, like transportation and time off work.

Last year, 3,714 women were served by The Rose’s Mobile Mammography Program. Of that number, 2,744 women were uninsured and 6 were diagnosed with breast cancer. The van went to 98 sites for a total of 241 visits in Harris and 5 surrounding counties.

Women 35 and older who are not experiencing any breast symptoms or problems can be screened through the Mobile Mammography Program. Those who are under 35, have been diagnosed with breast cancer within the prior two years, are pregnant or nursing, have implants or are experiencing symptoms cannot be screened on the mobile unit and need to schedule their imaging at one of The Rose’s facilities.

Randalls has been a long-time supporter of The Rose, donating nearly $637,000 since 1997.

(Left to Right): Leslie Nelson, Randalls Vice President of Finance; Dorothy Weston Gibbons, CEO and Co-founder of The Rose; and Tom Schwilke, President of Randalls