Woman was thought to be too young to have cancer, she says

Related Photos

“Live, laugh, love” serves as Shannon Summer’s motto, even after beating breast cancer two years ago. Globe | Roger Nomer

Discussion

October 12, 2012

Woman was thought to be too young to have cancer, she says

By Debby Woodin dwoodin@joplinglobe.com The Joplin Globe Fri Oct 12, 2012, 12:56 PM CDT

Shannon Sumner felt a lump in her breast.

It was April 2009 when she noticed it and called for an appointment with her gynecologist. But it was September before she could get in.

When she did, the doctor told her it was a fatty tumor. After all, at age 33, it was unlikely it would be cancer. But the tumor persisted.

“It felt like it got bigger and smaller,” Sumner said. She called for another appointment and got in again in April 2010. The doctor ordered an ultrasound.

“They knew before I got my clothes on I had cancer,” she said of the test results. It was invasive ductal carcinoma, but she didn’t know the extent yet.

The weeks followed in a whirlwind. One week it was a biopsy, the next a surgery consultation.

“It went so fast,” she said. “It seems like everything happened on a Tuesday when I first started going through everything,” she said in regard to the time that passed between her diagnosis and her mastectomy.

“They didn’t know until the day of the surgery,” that she had jumped one hurdle. It was found to be contained in the breast and had not invaded her lymph glands. One doctor described it as Stage Zero. Another diagnosed it as Stage 1. Either way, there were still more hurdles to jump.

While her cancer was determined to be the most responsive to treatment of its variations, she still had more to go through.

She had reconstruction surgery, then drug treatment.

“With my age, I ended up having to do chemotherapy,” Sumner said of the process that ran from July until September 2010. She had six treatments. “Actually I did really well,” with the treatments. “By the time I had my second appointment, I had lost all my hair. The only time I felt really sick was around the fourth appointment,” but after that her treatment went well.

Her cancer diagnosis bothered her less than the impact it would have on the rest of her life, she said.

“The only thing that really upset (us) is we weren’t sure if, going through the treatment, we could ever have children,” she said of her and her husband’s thoughts.

“But I have a motto that I follow: ‘Put your big-girl panties on and do what you have to do,’ and that’s what I did.”

She had the support of family and friends to help her, said Sumner, an employee of Downstream Casino.

“I was loved by my mom, my dad and my husband,” she said. “I had some support at Downstream. There were three of us women going through it at the same time.”

Since going through her treatment and reconstruction surgery, she now receives follow-up treatment that includes having blood tests every three months. She will go through hormonal treatments for another three years, which includes an uncomfortable shot in her stomach periodically.

She is grateful that the cancer was detected when it was, but says she learned that sometimes taking care of one’s self requires persistence.

“Don’t always believe what your doctor says if you feel something is wrong. Just because you’re young, doesn’t mean you can’t have cancer,” Sumner said.

Text Only

Breast Cancer Awareness

Burkybile dies of breast cancer, but leaves legacy for others
One of Joplin’s most vocal supporters of breast cancer awareness, Sarah Burkybile, died of the disease Aug. 30 after a five-year battle. She had served as president of the Hope 4 You Breast Cancer Foundation, through which she had launched a survivor-run support group.

October 12, 2012 6 Photos
Carthage woman fights 20-year cancer battle; now her daughter diagnosed with disease
The lump isn’t what started it. Kathi Jones has been waging a war with cancer most of her adult life.
She was 25 when her grandmother died of cancer and 28 when her Aunt Mary lost a battle to breast cancer.

October 12, 2012 2 Photos
Woman was thought to be too young to have cancer, she says
Shannon Sumner felt a lump in her breast.
It was April 2009 when she noticed it and called for an appointment with her gynecologist. But it was September before she could get in.
When she did, the doctor told her it was a fatty tumor. After all, at age 33, it was unlikely it would be cancer. But the tumor persisted.

October 12, 2012 1 Photo
Breast Cancer Awareness Calendar
October 13
JOPLIN: Muffins and Mammograms, 8 a.m. to noon, Women’s Pavilion at Freeman Women’s Center, 1532 W. 32nd St. Call to schedule an appointment. Details: 417-347-7777.

October 12, 2012
Women reach out
When Shirley Frerer called Tisha Lolley for first time, she said it was just to reach out and offer her support.
“I didn’t know her, but I wanted to tell her that I cared and I was there for her,” said Frerer.

October 12, 2012 1 Photo
Caregiver launches Project Pink Flamingo
Sheryl Gorman knows how difficult life becomes once a loved one has been diagnosed with a deadly disease. She also understands the hardships families must endure — ranging from emotional to financial support.

October 12, 2012 1 Photo

FACES OF RECOVERY: 176,869 volunteers help put Joplin together again

Breast Cancer Awareness

Search Results

Related Photos

Discussion

Woman was thought to be too young to have cancer, she says

Parents could give up their babies without legal consequences up to 45 days after birth under a bill sent to Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon. The “safe harbor” extension from five days to 45 days could prevent child abuse, say supporters. Should Nixon sign the bill?

Site Map

Contact Us