As October begins, get ready to see pink.
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, pink becomes a popular color this time of year. Athletes wear pink under their uniforms, and runners and walkers cover themselves in the color as they move for a cause all in support of the fight against breast cancer.
Candy Koons and Debbie Graham sat side by side in the Vernetta Smith Chehalis Timberland Library Tuesday morning clad in pink to discuss breast cancer as awareness month kicks off. Before they could start, they found themselves speaking of the best way to help another community member in her battle with cancer, deciding between a gas card, a gift card to Safeway or a third option. It was clearly second nature.
The duo is experienced in the fight against cancer. Koons is the founder of the Lewis County Breast Cancer Support Group and Graham is the group's first member. Thursday, Oct. 2, marks the group's 19th anniversary.
Since the creation of the group, Koons and Graham have never wavered in their support. Through ups and downs and changes in their personal lives, the two have always come back to the group to help organize and lead fundraising efforts to support others battling breast cancer.
For both Koons and Graham, the fight started with themselves. Candy was first diagnosed in 2002 and leaned on a support group in Longview near the hospital where she received treatment. After beating cancer, Koons decided those battling cancer in Lewis County deserved the same type of support. It helps that Providence Centralia Hospital now has its own treatment center, lessening the travel for some.
The first meeting of the group in 2006 brought Koons, Graham, Graham's mother and two nurses together. Graham attended that meeting the same day she was diagnosed with the life-threatening illness. She was grief stricken at the time, but now says it was the first sign that the support group was needed.
“Well, it was literally the day. Hours after I was diagnosed. I could do nothing but cry,” Graham said. “I don't even know if I thought of it as being a support group or just as someone to talk to. You know you get a phone call, they hang up and then what? Candy had prayed for confirmation that she was doing the right thing, and I confirmed it.”
After Debbie attended that first meeting, the group grew to support her and others. According to Graham and Koons, the group now welcomes between 15 and 20 people each month. Mostly women, but not always. Some husbands have been avid attendees with their spouses.
While the group doesn't keep an official count, Koons said the group has helped hundreds of people and their families in Lewis County over the last 19 years. Graham added solemnly that they have lost some, but relatively few. Just one to breast cancer in recent memory while some have lost their own battle in other ways, whether from COVID-19 or to other types of cancer.
Currently, those who participate gather at Ramblin Jacks Rib Eye on Rush Road in Napavine. The group convenes on the first Monday evening of each month from 5 to 7:30 p.m., although Koons and Graham will say the group finishes when they’ve decided they’re done talking.
The group is free and open to new members at all times. Graham and Koons said the group often welcomes new members by doing roundtable introductions and sharing their diagnoses and important dates in their battles with cancer.
The group can offer advice or support, but the two emphasized that it has become more of a social group than how most would think of a support group.
“You know ours is a support group, but it's also just a bunch of ladies BSing, like a social group.” Graham said. “You think (of) support like you’re going to go there and someone's going to hold your hand. No pity parties.”
Koons and Graham say it's a place where those with cancer can be more candid and talk about what they are going through openly without bringing up the often anxiety-inducing subject without worrying how it might affect family and friends. It's also a way to show by example that the fight is possible, such as Koons, who has survived 23 years after an initial cancer diagnosis and survived a second bout with cancer years later.
“If you’re somebody that walks in there and you’ve got cancer and you can look at me and say ‘She survived 23 years,’ this is not a death sentence,” Koons said.
As the group has grown over the years, it's not just the location or the people that have changed. In all those years, group members have also led fundraising efforts to pay for gift cards and other financial help to members when it's needed. Koons said the group has even paid for an ambulance bill in the past.
According to Koons, it's not just the medical bills that can pose a challenge for those battling cancer. Women who have been diagnosed and are in treatment miss work and may lose their jobs. They often have to travel long distances and may have to pay for travel and lodging out of pocket if they can't find others to help them.
“That's why we raise money,” Koons said. “It’s to help people. And so many of them are proud and don't ask for help. So through different sources we find the needs.”
In the past, the group has found a myriad of other ways to fundraise, as well. At times Koons, Graham or other group members would take on the job of selling coffee at a rest stop to raise money for the group. They’ve also put on other events. Currently, they are considering putting on a tea time event with a fashion show featuring members of the group.
Graham, a cosmetologist, is also involved with a national organization called Look Good Feel Better, which gives women battling cancer a makeover with makeup and wigs and more.
However, one fundraising source has already been found. The Lewis County Breast Cancer Support Group will benefit from 100% of the proceeds from the Lewis County Breast Cancer Poker Run/Walk next week on Oct. 7.
Koons said she hopes one day the group could help start the process of creating a sunshine house in the area. A sunshine house offers free lodging for those who travel for treatment. While treatment is now more accessible in the Centralia and Chehalis area with a treatment center at Providence Centralia. Koons added that those in east Lewis County still face the challenge of commuting hours a day for treatment.
“Five days a week for radiation, it takes you longer to dress and undress than it does for radiation,” Coons said. “So if you don't have some place to stay down here, that's a long way to drive. And mind you, your radiation makes you very tired and you're sick.”
“I don't know how many people a day go through the radiation,” Koons said. “Then, if you're super sick from chemotherapy, and you have to go back to the doctor in two days and you live far away. There you are. Traveling is hard when you're sick like that.”
