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‘YSU Seven’ join in fight against cancer
The Vindicator (Youngstown)
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YSU students Courtney Gobel, left, and Lesley Anne Roddy recently participated in a breast cancer study in which they donated blood and breast tissue.
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YOUNGSTOWN
In their fight against breast cancer, the “YSU Seven,” like the heroes in “The Magnificent Seven” Western movie, put the welfare of others ahead of their own comfort.
The “YSU Seven,” all Youngstown State University women students, recently motored to the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center to donate blood and breast tissue at the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Tissue Bank.
“Our biggest goal in telling our story is to raise awareness about breast cancer and to encourage other women to take a stand and be part of the cure,” said Courtney Gobel.
The others who made the trip to Indiana besides Gobel are Alyssa Krumpak, Emily Hudak, Erin Hall, Nicole Horvath, LesleyAnne Roddy and Emilie Hall.
Researchers with the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Tissue Bank collect and share healthy breast-tissue samples with researchers around the world to help further understanding of how breast cells become cancerous.
The tissue bank has samples from more than 7,000 women. By collecting blood and tissue from women with and without breast cancer, researchers will be able to determine the differences between these populations, which could lead to a better understanding of the disease, said Cancer Center spokesman, Michael Schug.
During the donation process, the area is numbed with a local anesthesia and a tissue sample taken from one breast with a needle. The amount of tissue taken is about one gram, or the size of two peas, Shug said.
The procedure itself took less than 30 minutes, said Roddy, who organized the trip.
She said it was not a Zeta Tau Alpha-sponsored event, even though all the women are members of the sorority.
“It was something I brought to my sisters because I knew if I was to find women with the interest in the project, it would probably be in that room because of our national philanthropy, which is breast-cancer awareness and education,” she said.
Roddy, who is collegiate coordinator for Zeta Tau Alpha’s annual Pink Ribbon Cheer Classic that raises money for breast-cancer awareness and research, said breast cancer always has been a cause close to her heart because there is a history of the disease in her family.
“Being involved in this definitely solidified my passion for educating women and striving to find the cure for breast cancer. And, since women can donate breast tissue only twice in their lives ... I felt it was my obligation to do this,” said Roddy.
Interviewed primarily via e-mail, the women wrote about how and why they participated in the research project; the donation experience, and how they feel about it now.
“People are dying from this disease every day, and all we have to do to help is lay on a table and give some blood and tissue. I think it’s the least anyone of us can do,” said Erin Hall.
“After having the procedure done, it really makes you see how easy and relatively painless it is to do something good. If every woman would donate just twice in their lives, the results would be unbelievable,” she said.
Gobel was very nervous before the procedure, but she said the doctors made her feel very comfortable and told her step-by-step what was going to happen.
Horvath said partici-pation in the project reaffirmed her desire to stay involved and help work toward a cure for breast cancer, and she plans to donate again in April.
“I would really recommend this to any woman, because it goes toward an fantastic cause,” she said.
When Roddy announced at a sorority meeting that the next donation date was the following weekend, Krumpak said she knew immediately she wanted to make the trip.
“I just knew this was something important that I needed to do. I don’t think that my Zeta Tau Alpha experience ... would be complete if I didn’t participate in things like this. It was an excellent way for my sisters and I to help spread the word about breast-cancer research, education and awareness,” she said.
Though she has no family history of breast cancer, Emilie Hall said many of her friends and sisters have lost loved ones to the disease.
“As a member of Zeta Tau Alpha, I have had the opportunity to participate in countless service projects focused on breast-cancer awareness and education. Donating my time and breast tissue was just one more way I could contribute to the search for a cure,” she said.
Hudak said she was scared about the actual procedure, but knowing her sisters were going gave her courage.
“It is not an immense amount of tissue, and for such a small act, it could really be important in the long run. It was a great experience, and I would encourage other women to get involved,” she said.
The Cancer Center is an awesome place and the doctors and volunteers that work there were welcoming and good at their work, Roddy said.
“I felt in safe hands. All of us were done in just over an hour. I hope to return in April, hopefully with more people, to donate for my second and final time,” she said.