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Friday, October 7, 2011

Breast Cancer Patients Take Stress Off From "Sense Of Security" in California : article Oct 2011

A local nonprofit is giving a sense of security to breast cancer patients going through treatment. The group, Sense of Security, helps those patients pay everyday living expenses while they are undergoing treatment for up to six months.

The idea is to alleviate one stress factor so the patients can concentrate on getting better.

Heather Dreesen, 41, knows that firsthand. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001.

"I went in the shower and found a lump about the size of a dime and I just knew," said Dreesen.

Dreesen said her doctors at the time told her it was nothing to worry about. She was persistent and in seven months it went from a stage one to a stage three cancer. Her biggest concern wasn't herself. It was her daughter Savana.

"When I found out she was 7 months old. When I had double mastectomy, she was 14 months old, so happy I had made it a lot longer," said Dreesen.

Dreesen lost all her hair during treatment. That was a minor setback compared to what was to come.

Dreesen's cancer came back eight years later. This time it spread to her liver and her bones, ultimately breaking her back in seven places.

"I was devastated," said Dreesen. "At the same time I was thinking, 'Oh my gosh, again?'"

Dreesen had to quit work and that brought on the stress of not being able to pay bills and keep up with her mortgage.

"You're like, 'My mom has breast cancer and she has bills to pay,'" said Savana, Dreesen's daughter.

That's when they turned to Sense of Security for help.

"We will pay their rent, mortgage, utilities, transportation, if they need childcare. We'll help pay any bill they send to us," said Rity McCoy, executive director of Sense of Security. "They can calm down with their bills and concentrate on getting to doctors appointments, and their healing process."

"Had they not helped me I would not have a home," said Dreesen.

Dreesen is still getting chemo treatments every week, but she's also going back to school to get a degree in nutrition. She wants to help others like her live a better, healthier life. Dreesen said she's thankful for Sense of Security's help and for her daughter. She said Savana is her biggest cheerleader.

"She'll make it. There's no question because my Mom's just that huge of a fighter," said Savana.

Sense of Security is holding its biggest fundraiser event of the year, Champagne and Diamonds on Oct. 22. For more information, go to senseofsecurity.org.

#Source: TheDenverChannel.com By Christine Chang, 7NEWS Anchor
October 5, 2011
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/health/29400046/detail.html

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