Saturday, June 17, 2006
The only treatment in 1956 was radiation.
By JEANNE STARMACK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
AUSTINTOWN -- Dorothy Bailey's victory lap began around 7 p.m. Friday at the track at Fitch High School.
She began earning her right to take that lap, however, in 1956. That year, at 41 years old and with two children aged 11 and 6, she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
It was different back then. People just didn't talk about breast cancer, or any cancer for that matter, said Bailey, 90, of Canfield. There weren't as many treatments available -- no chemotherapy, and no lumpectomies. Bailey, who lived in Youngstown at the time, had a radical mastectomy in which a surgeon removed her left breast, cutting into her arm.
"After surgery, you got radiation, no chemo, and you were burnt raw," she said. Every day for a month and a half, she went to the old South Side Hospital for her treatments.
Back then, there were no prostheses, so you stuffed your bra with Kleenex, Bailey said. It took a long time, too, before she was able to use her arm again.
But it worked. The cancer never came back, and this year is a milestone: She's a 50-year survivor. That's why the Lewis Connection, a team of between 20 and 30 family members that raises money for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, wanted her as a special guest Friday. She was with the team's cancer survivors as they and about 100 others took the lap around the track to open the relay.
All related
The Lewis Connection members are all descendants of Gomer and Irene Lewis, who lived in Austintown. Team member Lucile Bartelmay of Canfield has been friends with Bailey "for a zillion years." When she realized the significance of this year, she asked Bailey to join in.
Near the track in the sun that was still hot late in the day, all the teams gathered under tents before the relay began. The Lewis Connection had a spread of food and drinks, and members chatted amiably. Some of them would camp overnight as the relay continued for 24 hours. Each team member had already raised $100 in donations. The money goes toward cancer research and education.
Bailey is not new to victory laps at Relays for Life. She led the Naples, Fla., relay this past winter.
"These relays are a wonderful and supportive thing," Bailey said. "I've always supported the Cancer Society through the years because I believe in it. It's why I'm alive."
Cheering her on
Bailey's own family came out to watch her take her lap. Her granddaughter, Beth Ann Guilkey of Youngstown, was there with her husband, James, and their son, Jimmy, 19 months. James' sister, Haley Wilhelm, 10, of Youngstown, also came out to cheer her on.
Daughter Donna Brocker of Naples, Fla., is also a breast cancer survivor. She was only going to watch, but at the last minute, she decided to join her mother to offer her arm.
They took their places and the lap started. Before, Bailey had joked that she hoped she would make it the whole way around the track.
But just like the last 50 years, she made it just fine.