Survivor Spotlight: Kathy Sikes

After a suspicious mammogram and ultrasound, then an attempted needle breast biopsy that was stopped after the physician realized how close the tumor was to her chest wall, Kathy Sikes remembers coming home, frustrated and scared.  For the second time in her life, she was facing a cancer diagnosis.

“I picked up the phone and called the Komen Helpline and received excellent information on the diagnostic and treatment process and where to begin,” Sikes recalls. 

The phone call to Komen helped remind Sikes the two things she would depend on to help her through this journey, humor and finding the positives in life.  Using research and recommendations of friends and local breast cancer survivors, she put together a health provider team she could rely on through diagnosis, surgery, and adjuvant therapy.  Now a two year survivor, Sikes continues to work with new additions to her “survivorship team”.

“Physical therapy, exercise and nutrition changes have helped with post surgery and treatment side effects,” adds Sikes.

Humor has also played a huge role in Kathy's life.  Her sometimes irreverent look at being a breast cancer survivor has led to opportunities to speak and write.  She is also involved as an advocate, hoping to continue to impact policy for cancer survivors and their families.  This new path in life allows Sikes to put to good use a background in communications and theater. 

“When facing any cancer diagnosis, we all begin with ‘Why me?’, Sikes said.  “Then I thought, why not me?  I have great support through family and friends and at fifty, I could use a new hair style, weight loss plan, and a boob job.”