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Local breast cancer survivors bond at Pink Ribbon Tea
By Kalea Hall
YOUNGSTOWN
Judy DeSalvo couldn’t believe it when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011.
A year later, her niece, Patricia Barber, had the same shock.
And a year after that, DeSalvo’s niece and Barber’s cousin, Susie Koval, received the same shocking news.
“I had no idea,” Koval said.
All three had one another to lean on for support, and three years ago they expanded their support system by attending the Junior League of Youngstown’s Pink Ribbon Tea.
Wearing some pink – the breast-cancer awareness color – they were among about 400 guests Monday inside Stambaugh Auditorium at the 21st annual Pink Ribbon Tea to celebrate breast-cancer survivors.
This year, Denise DeBartolo York was the honorary chairwoman.
Some guests have been coming for years, and others just started, but all of them were there for the uplifting support of being with others who have been through the same ordeal.
“It just gives them hope and encourages them,” said Patricia Greene, co-chairwoman of the Pink Ribbon Tea Committee. “Once you know that someone else has it and know that someone is understanding what you went through, there is an automatic bond.”
Each woman has her own story to tell.
DeSalvo, 74, of Howland, had surgery and 35 radiation treatments. The day she was done with treatment in 2012 was the day Barber was diagnosed.
“I found it myself,” Barber said. “The minute I touched it I knew it was breast cancer. I was ready to fight.”
Barber, 60, of Austintown, had two surgeries, four rounds of chemotherapy and 37 radiation treatments. Barber battled the rare and aggressive triple-negative breast cancer.
“If it comes back it is incurable,” she said.
Koval, 54, of Youngstown, was by herself when her biopsy came back positive for breast cancer in 2013, and she almost passed out. In March 2013, she had a double mastectomy and has been clear since.
DeSalvo, Barber and Koval all had a similar message to those recently diagnosed with breast cancer that is along the lines of making a connection with other fighters.
“Take a deep breath and don’t do anything for a day,” DeSalvo said.
“And fight,” Barber added.
This year was survivor Gloria Silva’s first year at the event.
Silva, 66, of Youngstown, finished her radiation in February after she was diagnosed last September. She also had to have surgery, and she will take chemotherapy pills for the next five years.
“If you catch it in the early stages, you can get it done,” she said. “You can’t be afraid of it. You just have to be thankful you are here alive and hope it doesn’t come back. You just have to be positive.”