The ugly

cyst
Anderson grateful
to cyst that lead
to early diagnosis
B
r
e
a
s
t
cancer
Sunday, Oct. 27, 2013
Eastern Idaho Regional
Medical Center presents
The Pink Pages
2 Sunday, Oct. 27, 2013 Breast Cancer Awareness Post Register
To schedule an appointment
at the EIRMC Imaging Center
Call 227-2612
Womens
Health
Check
Detect life-threatening cancers
early! Uninsured women with limited family
income can take advantage of the Womens
Health Check program to screen for breast and
cervical cancers.
If cancer is found, women under 65 whose
cancer is detected through Womens Health
Check will be enrolled in Medicaid to cover
the cost of treatment.
Many doctors participate in Womens
Health Check. Appointments are set up by
Womens Health Check, or a doctors ofce
may determine that a woman is eligible and
may get her enrolled during her regular exam.
Breast Exams. Women who are between 50
and 64, dont have insurance or whose insur-
ance doesnt cover mammograms, who fall
into the income guidelines listed below, can
receive breast cancer screenings.
Pap Tests. If you are over age 40, have not had
a hysterectomy, or if you did because you had
cervical cancer, and fall within the guidelines,
you can receive a Pap test.
For complete information about
Womens Health Check,
please call Eastern Idaho Public Health District at
533-3209
Phone:
Income Guidelines for Womens Health Check:
Family Size Yearly Income Monthly Income
1 person $22,980 $1,915
2 people $31,020 $2,585
3 people $39,060 $3,255
4 people $47,100 $3,925
$8,040 $670
for each additional
person add
6
2
0
E
A
S
1
0
2
7
By Casey Archibald
carchibald@postregister.com
G
ratitude and anxiety cannot coexist. Tat
was the thought that helped Nadene An-
derson through her journey with breast
cancer afer she was diagnosed earlier this year.
Anderson, an RN Case Manager at Eastern Idaho
Regional Medical Center, heard that statement during
a seminar that was given by Jana Allen at EIRMC. It
was something that stuck with her throughout all of
her surgeries, treatments and radiation.
Te moment Ander-
son tied the signifcance
of that statement to her
experience with cancer
happened on a beautiful,
sunny, Saturday afer-
noon in Island Park, just
two days afer she was
diagnosed. She took her
grandsons to the play-
ground and was pushing
one of them on a swing.
Ten the thought hit her
gratitude and anxiety
cannot coexist.
Anderson said the
thing she was most
grateful for afer her ex-
perience was the ugly
cyst that had grown in-
side her lef breast. She
explained that if it hadnt
been for the cyst, doctors
may have not found the
cancer that was locat-
ed at its entrance until a
year later during her next
annual mammogram.
Because of the cyst, the
cancer was caught early
and Anderson said she
realized she had a lot to be grateful for.
On that sunny day in Island Park, Anderson remem-
bers thinking to herself, I just need to be grateful for
this cyst. Instead of seeing this cancer as this ugly thing
growing inside me, I need to see it as a warning sign.
As Anderson enjoyed the blue skies, cool mountain
air and the creaking of the swing while she pushed her
little grandson, she continued to think about the things
she was grateful for.
I loved being with those little kids and being in that
area surrounded by the mountains, said Anderson. I
had an automatic peaceful feeling; it was an emotional
shif. I was with someone I loved and I wanted to have
a future with him and be there for him.
Te experience helped Anderson replace her anxiety
and fear of the unknown with peace, gratitude and a
deeper love for members of her family. Troughout her
experience with breast cancer, Anderson tried to recall
the moment with her grandson in Island Park when
she began to feel anxious about things.
Te cyst was originally found near the end of Octo-
ber 2012 when Anderson went in for her annual mam-
mogram. She had been diligent with her mammogram
appointments since the age of 35. She started early
because both her mother and sister are breast cancer
survivors.
At frst, the cyst was something Anderson wasnt too
worried about. Her doctor drained it and told her not
to worry unless it came back, which is exactly what it
did.
After further examination and an open breast
biopsy, it was determined that the entrance to the
cyst contained cancer, which is what caused it to fill
up with fluid. The
tumor itself was 1.1
centimeters when it
was found.
Anderson has been
a nurse at EIRMC for
11 years and deals
with cancer patients
on a regular basis. She
said she knew exactly
what it meant when
she got a call from
her doctors of ce
and they said Just a
minute. Doctor Jones
needs to talk to you.
When she heard
those words, her heart
sunk.
I really didnt be-
lieve that I had cancer
at frst I didnt want
to believe it about
myself, which is why
I tried to deal with it
emotionally by seeing
it in a more clinical
way.
Anderson endured
two surgeries to re-
move the cyst and ex-
tend the margins to remove the cells that the doctors
were concerned about.
Part of her determination to replace anxiety and
fear with gratitude and courage, was her desire to
be strong for her family, even when she felt trapped
in the unknown, wondering if she would have to go
through chemotherapy.
I tried to be brave for my family and my spouse
and I said I would be okay with whatever happened,
said Anderson. I told them I can do this, I can get
through this. I also felt like I needed to be strong for
myself.
Anderson said the only problem with her willpower
to stay strong was that she wasnt always allowing her-
self to be human.
As women as mothers and professionals a lot
of times we feel like we have to be strong and we have
high expectations for ourselves, said Anderson. In
some ways we see ourselves as superwomen. Some-
times we think that things will be fne because we are
doing all these things for everyone else in our lives. A
lot of times we march through life getting things done
and taking care of people and we ignore the things that
shouldnt be ignored and refuse to take the time to take
care of ourselves.
See Anderson, page 3
Casey Archibald/carchibald@postregister.com
Nadene Anderson, right, talks to Demaree Rangel, an RN Clinical Team Leader on the Medical/Oncology oor at EIRMC about patient care.
Gratitude
... and the story of the ugly cyst
Anderson grateful to
the cyst that lead to
early detection and
treatment of her cancer
I loved being with those
little kids and being in
that area surrounded by
the mountains. I had an
automatic peaceful feeling;
it was an emotional shif. I
was with someone I loved
and I wanted to have a
future with him and be
there for him.
Nadene Anderson
Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center Breast Cancer Awareness Sunday, Oct. 27, 2013 3
EIRMC Imaging Center
1670 John Adams Pkwy,
Idaho Falls, ID 83404
Call 535.4556 to book your
mammogram today!
Mammo Mondays!
Girls Day Out for Education and Early Detection.
October 7, 14, 21, 28

Bring you and your friends for complimentary:

Enter to win a $500 giftcard to East Falls Plastic Surgery.


Education and
information about
breast cancer and
self-exams
Lip waxing
Skin care and
make-up consults

Giveaways
Submitted by Eastern Idaho
Regional Medical Center
Celia McKenzie, BS, RT (R) (M)
has 24 years expe-
rience as a regis-
tered radiography
and mammogra-
phy technologist.
She received her
Bachelor of Sci-
ence degree in
Radiographic Sci-
ence from Idaho
State University.
Celia has worked
for EIRMC for 15
years, currently
as the Radiology and Imaging Center
Supervisor. When not working, Celia
enjoys spending time with family and
any outdoor activity.
Wendy Mick-
elsen, MHE,
RT(R) (M) has
been an EIRMC
employee and reg-
istered technolo-
gist for over twen-
ty years. She has
a Masters Degree,
has published pro-
fessional articles,
and also teaches
in the ISU Radio-
graphic Science Program.
Cari Medeiros, BS, RT (R) (M)
achieved her Bachelors Degree from
ISU in Radiology in 1991 and ob-
tained her certif-
cation in Radiology
and Mammography
shortly thereafer.
She has worked at
EIRMC in radiol-
ogy since 1990.
Currently, she is at
the Imaging Cen-
ter specializing in
Ma mmo g r a phy.
She has been in this
position since 2001.
On her days of,
Cari enjoys biking, skiing, and camp-
ing with family and friends.

Breezy Bird, BS, RT (R) (M) be-
gan her career at
EIRMC after ob-
taining her Bach-
elor of Science
Degree in Radio-
graphic Science
from Idaho State
University in 1999.
While working as
a radiologic tech-
nologist, she began
training in mam-
mography and be-
came a registered
mammographer in 2001. When
Breezy isnt working at EIRMC as
Clinical Coordinator for 13 aspiring
ISU Radiographic Science students,
she loves to spend time with her hus-
band and two children.
Rebecca Christensen, BS, RT(R)
(M) has been doing mammography
since graduating
from the ISU Ra-
diographic Science
Program in 2008.
I enjoy the oppor-
tunity to visit with
women from year
to year and know
I am helping them
stay healthy.
Kristie Ander-
son, AS, RT(R)
(M) obtained
her degree in
Radiologic Sci-
ences at Utah
Valley State Col-
lege (now UVU)
over 30 years ago.
Shes worked at
EIRMCs Imaging
Center since Jan-
uary 2000, but has
performed mam-
mography exams
since 1981. Kristie enjoys the amaz-
ing people she works with every day,
both patients and co-workers.
Meet the mammography
team at Eastern Idaho
Regional Medical Center
Provided by the American Cancer Society
For American men this year:
About 2,240 new cases of invasive
breast cancer will be diagnosed.
About 410 men will die from breast
cancer.
68 years old is the average age when
men are diagnosed.
Te lifetime risk of getting breast
cancer is about 1 in 1,000
Te number of breast cancer cases in
men relative to the population has been
fairly stable over the last 30 years.
Risk Factors:
Risk factors dont tell us everything; hav-
ing a risk factor, or even several, does not
mean that you will get the disease. Some
men with one or more breast cancer risk
factors never develop the disease, while
most men with breast cancer have no ap-
parent risk factors. Even when someone
has a risk factor, there is no way to prove
that it actually caused the cancer.
We dont yet completely understand
the causes of breast cancer in men, but
researchers have found several factors
that may increase the risk of getting it.
Age- as with women, risk increases
as men get older.
Family history of breast cancer-
about 1 in 5 men with breast cancer have
a close male or female relative with the
disease.
Radiation exposure- men whose
chest area has been treated with radia-
tion (such as for another cancer) have an
increased risk.
Alcohol- heavy drinking increases
risk.
Liver disease- men with severe liver
disease like cirrhosis have a higher risk.
Obesity
What you need to know about male breast cancer
Provided by the American Cancer Society
Theres been plenty of talk late-
ly about when and how often to get
screened for breast cancer. The
American Cancer Society remains the
authority on such recommendations,
and they advise:
Yearly mammograms starting at
age 40 and continuing for as long as a
woman is in good health.
Clinical breast exam (CBE) about
every 3 years for women in their 20s
and 30s and every year for women 40
and over.
Breast self-exam (BSE) is encour-
aged for women starting in their 20s.
Women should know how their breasts
normally look and feel and report any
breast change promptly to their health
care provider.
Some women because of their
family history, a genetic tendency,
or certain other factors should
be screened with MRI in addition to
mammograms. (The number of wom-
en who fall into this category is small:
less than 2 percent of all the women in
the U.S.) Talk with your doctor about
your history and whether you should
have additional tests at an earlier age.
McKenzie
Mickelsen
Medeiros
Bird
Christensen
Anderson
Guidelines
for the early
detection of
breast cancer
Continued from page 2
One of Andersons human moments
happened when she found out that a ge-
netic test confrmed that her tumor was
low risk and that she didnt have to have
chemotherapy.
It was a moment of such emotional
release, said Anderson. I didnt realize
how much anxiety I had built up until
then. I had been trying to be so strong
for my family and myself but it was such
a release to just put my head down on my
desk at work and cry. I had tears [about
having cancer] before, but that was the
frst time I really cried about it.
Anderson explained that since her ra-
diation treatments she has not felt back
to normal quite yet. She and her family
love to travel, go camping, kayak and go
on outdoor adventures, but she has had
to learn to give herself time to heal.
From this experience I have learned
that I have to give myself permission to
be human. I still struggle with this, said
Anderson.
Anderson had her last day of radia-
tion on Aug. 23 of this year, but she is
still feeling the repercussions.
On Labor Day we went camping and
I had just fnished treatment and I had
just gotten some kayaks for my birthday.
I was so excited to ride them down the
river, but I just did not have the strength
to climb in and out of that kayak. It was
really hard to give myself permission to
be ill.
Another part of her experience with
breast cancer that helped Anderson get
through was her participation in Re-
lay for Life. Before she even knew she
had cancer, she was team captain for
a team called Jodys Bulldogs in honor
of one of her coworkers who was also
recently diagnosed with cancer.
When I signed up it was to honor
her and to support her, but I never
thought I would be a survivor on that
team rather than a participant. By the
time the Relay for Life event happened
I was definitely on the survivor side,
said Anderson. To be a part of the
fight against cancer was something
that was really meaningful to me.
Anderson explained that she has three
other reasons to get involved in the fght
against breast cancer, in the form of her
three beautiful daughters.
The female members of my imme-
diate family all ended up with breast
cancer, including myself. We are all
survivors, it was all found early and it
was all easily treatable, but I still worry
about my daughters. I dont want them
to have to go through having breast
cancer.
Anderson said the most important
lesson she gained from her experience
with the ugly cyst was her perspective
and her gratitude for life. She sees the
cyst as a warning sign of a problem she
needed to do something about.
My last day of radiation was Aug. 23,
2013 and marks [the moment] I was can-
cer-free, but I feel like I became a survi-
vor when I remembered to be grateful.
Anderson
Thank You: You Saved Lives!
Over 400 screenings for skin, breast, oral, prostate, colon, and
gynecological cancers were completed at EIRMCs 13th Annual
Community Cancer Screenings.

Thanks to the participation of the following medical professionals,
who worked with our guests to educate, inform, and save lives!
Thank You!
www.eirmc.com
Christopher Allphin, M.D.
Joseph Anderson, PA-C
Tom Anderson, D.D.S.
Clint E. Behrend, M.D.
Stacy Cooper, PA-C
Mark Hinkson, D.O.
Michael Lemon, D.O.
Brandon Miner, D.O.
Tait Olaveson, D.O.
Lindsay Sewell, M.D.
Terry Thompson, RN, NP-C