When Jennifer Bricking learned that her mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer, her first thoughts were similar to many upon hearing that a loved one has cancer.
"All I heard was the word cancer and I thought, 'Man, my mom's dying,'" said Bricking, who was a high school student at the time. "That's all I could focus on."
This year, Bricking's mother has been cancer-free for 17 years, a success story that serves as Bricking's inspiration to devote her professional life to increasing the number of breast cancer survivors in her home state. Bricking was recently named executive director of the Susan G. Komen Lexington affiliate, after serving as the organization's mission director since February 2010.
In addition to organizing fundraising and outreach events like the October Race for the Cure, the Lexington affiliate of Susan G. Komen provides funding to local organizations in the 58-county area that it serves, in the categories of education, outreach and screening, and treatment services. We spoke with Bricking, who lives in the Glasford subdivision with her husband and two children, about her new position and her personal experience with breast cancer.
How does your personal experience with breast cancer play into your day-to-day work?
I thank God every day for a healthy mom, but I also want to make sure that other people are able to make the same prayer. I look at my nieces and pray they won't have to worry about this awful disease. Susan G. Komen was founded not only to find a cure for breast cancer, but to give breast cancer survivors guidance, alongside raising awareness and funding to continue the fight. I want people in our area to know that Komen is here for them and can guide them to resources they might need to beat the disease.
How has your perception of breast cancer changed since you first encountered the disease?
When my mom was diagnosed, all I can remember thinking was, "My mother is not going to make it." Now I know that a breast cancer diagnosis does not have to mean a death sentence. Statistics show there is a 98 percent survival rate if it is detected early. This is one reason Komen has stood their ground on recommending women start self-awareness checks monthly at age 25 and yearly mammograms at age 40.
What
are some of the biggest challenges that people in your service district face as far as the disease is concerned?
There are still many obstacles for people in rural and/or low income areas. It is easy for us to encourage yearly screening, but people are worried about where their next meal is coming from, or if they are going to be able to pay their bills this month, the last thing they are able to think about is getting a mammogram or doing a self-check. Others simply might not have accessible transportation. Some people in rural areas still depend on word of mouth for education, and therefore might not know much about breast cancer and the risks. Although social media is the wave of the future for some, we have realized it is not that way for everyone and it is so important for us to continue face-to-face communication throughout our area. We need to educate and encourage people to share what they learn.
If some of our readers want to be more involved with Susan G. Komen, what are some opportunities that are available, and how should they go about pursuing these opportunities?
Komen would not be successful without our amazing volunteers. There are opportunities to help with events throughout the year, education and outreach, as well as internships. Our Race for the Cure that will be happening Oct. 6, 2012, takes about 250 volunteers to pull off. If anyone is interested in finding more information about volunteer opportunities they can e-mail vols@komenlexington.org or call the office at (859) 368-7133.