Dorothy: [00:00:00] Today we interview well known community volunteer and philanthropist Nancy Strohmer. She is adamant about why we need to think pink and shares what her surgeon said was the number two defense against breast cancer. When we think about defenses and things that we need to do to avoid having breast cancer or to prevent it. We usually think about healthy eating or having our annual mammograms, which are all important, but her surgeon’s recommendation may surprise you.
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Let’s Talk About Your Breast. A different kind of podcast presented to you by The Rose, the Breast Center of Excellence, and a Texas treasure. You’re going to hear frank discussions [00:01:00] about tough topics, and you’re going to learn why knowing about your breast could save your life.
This year alone, he won the 2024, what was it, the top Most Inspiring Woman Award.
Nancy: The, uh, the Houston Top.
Dorothy: Top.
Nancy: Impact makers in
Dorothy: Oh yes.
Nancy: Awards.
Dorothy: Yes. Yes. Say that again for us. Yeah.
Nancy: I was one of the 20 Houston top impact makers.
Dorothy: And that’s because of all the many things that you have done in this community.
Nancy: Yes.
Dorothy: Recognizing your, uh, gifts, your volunteerism, all of the community support. I mean, it’s pretty incredible. And I know, I know you have a little bit of a, uh, love for healthcare because you, actually one of your first experiences in life was as a candy striper, right?
Nancy: True, but going back to my teens, right, that was [00:02:00] an interest for me.
Dorothy: Yeah.
Nancy: Helping others and working in a hospital was just perfect. That fit me perfectly.
Dorothy: Oh, I bet.
Nancy: Yeah. So.
Dorothy: That was such a, a great, uh, entry for so many, especially women at the time to say, Oh, I’m not going to do something else in this world. So now, As you’ve been through so many different, uh, types of organizations, education, health, tell me a couple or three others that you, you’ve supported over these years.
Nancy: So, health related, of course, is a big part of my contribution and activity in Houston. And it’s, my work has been, it’s been now over 40 years for the, uh, the things that I’ve done in Houston. Um, also the arts and then women advancement. Those are two areas that are very important to me as well.
So in each of those three areas, I’ve either served on the board, been [00:03:00] president, been very active, so not just a member, but actively leading and participating in those organizations.
Dorothy: What has always motivated you? Have, did you come from a particularly giving family or?
Nancy: I did. My parents were very philanthropic. Um, they, they gave of their time, they gave of their money. Um, when I became a candy striper, that was the only thing I could do at the time to really give back. So I’ve always led my life, and the purpose I have in life is to give back where I can. I had a business for 20 years, a manufacturing company here in Houston. I sold it. So even during that time, one of my priorities outside of family was participating in some organization and being able to make a difference. Um, I’m more of a leader than a follower, but I’m a good [00:04:00] follower as well. Good worker. But, uh, that’s always been something, I’ve had a, a huge need to do.
I continued to when I sold my business in, uh, 2001. That gave me even more time. So, uh, I, we traveled a lot and anytime I was home it was family and probably chairing some gala or family community and faith as well.
Dorothy: Yeah. Very important. Yeah. And recently now, you’ve been introduced to another world. And, uh, one I’m, I suppose you never expected to be a part of.
Nancy: True.
Dorothy: Tell us about your diagnosis.
Nancy: So, my breast cancer journey has been really recent. Eight months ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. So that’s how recent. So that was during my annual mammogram. So I [00:05:00] go for my annual mammogram, and the, the, the ultrasound machine was broken, and they said I need an ultrasound, so they call me back the next day.
Very typical for me because I have fibrous breasts. So, this is nothing unusual. Nothing alarming whatsoever. So I go the next day and get my ultrasound. The radiologist comes in. And just, just very straightforward, says, where would you like your breast cancer treatment? And I, and first I’m thinking, How do you know that from an ultrasound?
But, you know, all, it was very evident. So, I, I was in shock, but I knew where I wanted to go immediately. Because, eight years ago, my daughter was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 41. So, I was 74 this past, you know, in September. So, I had done all the research then and knew that I [00:06:00] wanted my daughter to be a bailor.
Because the, uh, Dr. Kent Osborne, uh, I adore. He’s a friend and I just admire what he’s done in breast cancer research so, so much. And then the surgeon was going to be Dr. Bonefas. I did my homework then. So my daughter, of course, eight years later, is, is living a healthy life and cancer free at this point, which is wonderful news.
So, um, Uh, they, uh, immediately I schedule my biopsy at Baylor and I’m still thinking they’re wrong. How can this be? You know, they, they don’t know. So I have my biopsy done and yes, they confirmed I had breast cancer, uh, stage two, HER2 breast cancer. So, and [00:07:00] which Dr. Osborne happens to be one of the world renowned HER2 researchers, which by luck. So, call my husband, then I’ll call my daughter, uh, from when I was leaving, you know, after my biopsy and I said, you know, I have breast cancer.
So what was ironic that, that evening we were to go to my daughter and son in laws to babysit their eight and 12 year old sons. So that evening we’re driving there, we, you know, knock on the door and my grandsons, Immediately ran up to me and gave me this card. Oh. And it was get well, well I’m, I’m looking with the hearts and I’m looking, looking at this thinking, I, I don’t have breast cancer and I feel so guilty taking this.
So I really still was in denial, even after the biopsy. So I went [00:08:00] in, we played some games and about 15 minutes later, my eight year old grandson says Nana, you don’t act like you have breast cancer. I was like, oh, I mean, I could, I could, you know, I had to laugh out loud. So I said, well, I feel fine, Bryce.
But I need to get the breast cancer taken out. And I’m sure I’ll be fine after that. So, reality did set in because another funny thing that my, uh, happened that my lumpectomy was scheduled on Halloween. So I thought, oh, that’s just perfect. And my line, of course, for the week was, uh, I’m gonna get this little witch off my chest this week on Halloween, how appropriate.
So, uh, I had the lumpectomy on Halloween. Within two weeks, I started radiation. So, 10 days of radiation and, [00:09:00] uh, I was, I was finished. And from beginning September to November, 8 weeks later, I had completed the whole process, which is remarkable and amazing. I was on the fast track, which couldn’t have been a better gift because any time you have to wait for procedure or wait for a diagnosis all that is so stressful. So it was minimal for me, and I’m was very fortunate that that it was.
Dorothy: Look at you I mean yeah.
Nancy: I mean I feel great. Yes, and I had my six month visit yesterday with the oncologist and um, and the surgeon and actually I told them I was coming here today and all, all is well, all is perfect. So um.
Dorothy: See that is such an incredible story and one that needs to be shared over and over again because, [00:10:00] and you know this, there was a time when you said the word cancer and it was a death sentence. I mean, it, it meant you were going to die of cancer. And here you were eight weeks. I mean, this is incredible. And you know, And again, found on your, your annual mammogram.
Nancy: Right, right.
Dorothy: Now you didn’t feel this.
Nancy: Zero. In fact, my oncologist, Dr. Osborne, when he was examining me, he didn’t feel anything. So he said, it has to be small. I mean, he put me at ease at the beginning and he said, I’ll be very surprised if it’s, you know, not stage one. It was stage two, but you could not feel it. So. It had to be caught by a mammogram.
Dorothy: Right.
Nancy: So that tells you how critical that is.
Dorothy: It would have taken years before you could have felt it.
Nancy: Right, right.
Dorothy: And then it would have had time to do a whole bunch more damage and spreading and all those things we don’t want to have happen. But that’s such an important story for [00:11:00] women to hear and for our listeners to hear. It doesn’t matter what age you might have. And how, and you know, right now there’s a very big push on that women our age shouldn’t have mammograms anymore. I’m sure you’ve heard that. It’s the latest recommendation.
Nancy: Yes.
Dorothy: Out of the United States Preventive Services Task Force, which has, uh, and I’m going to say this out loud, done more to confuse women than anything else that we’ve ever had. You know, they either hear you don’t need a mammogram, or you don’t need it but every other year, or you can stop it in your 70s. And, you know, women in their 70s are vital.
They’re, they’re moving. They’re going. They’re not, life isn’t over.
Nancy: Right.
Dorothy: And so, it’s like, why, why even put that out there? It is so difficult for, for most of us to understand, because we want to feel like we’re following what the [00:12:00] experts tell us. But you and I both know in the real life world,
Nancy: Right. It’s going to happen.
Dorothy: So, get that annual mammogram. That is so important.
Nancy: And to add to that annual mammogram, So, as I mentioned, my daughter had breast cancer eight years ago. So she had just turned 41. Uh, during that time. So we’re coming up on nine years in October. So they said, no, no, no, you don’t need a mammogram to her.
Well, one of her high school best friends had died in her 30s of breast cancer. So my daughter was very proactive in getting tested for anything and everything, but particularly breast cancer. So she insisted on having a mammogram that was October. Her birthday’s September, so, I mean, yeah, September. So, she had just turned 41, she had her first mammogram, and guess what?
Dorothy: There it was.
Nancy: There it was. Cancer. [00:13:00] Breast cancer. Yes.
Dorothy: Another huge message for folks to hear.
Nancy: Yes.
Dorothy: It is your body.
Nancy: Right.
Dorothy: You are important. Don’t take no.
Nancy: Right. You are responsible for your body.
Dorothy: And you know, we’d love to see that age lower. But we’ll, we’ll, we’ll take 40. It’s better than a few years ago when it was 50.
Nancy: Right.
Dorothy: Can you imagine how many women we would have lost?
Nancy: Ugh.
Dorothy: In that time if we had, if we had adhered to it. The Rose’s never adhered to that. But it’s, it’s just, it’s um, once again, You have to be your own advocate.
Nancy: You do.
Dorothy: And, uh, you know, I just am always amazed at the number of women even within our organization that we find on that first mammogram.
Nancy: Yes.
Dorothy: You know. Yes. And, and.
Nancy: It’s amazing. It’s scary.
Dorothy: Breast cancer, yes, is so insidious. You know, you don’t have to have a symptom going on. You can be healthy. [00:14:00] Like your grandson said, you don’t look like you have breast cancer. Well, what’s that supposed to look like? I mean, you know.
Nancy: Right, right.
Dorothy: Breast cancer just happens.
Nancy: Yes.
Dorothy: And then when we want it to happen is when we can catch it early and you have options. Obviously, your treatment options were huge just because of the earliness.
Nancy: Yes, and it was, it was very, I was very fortunate on the timing.
Dorothy: And you know, uh, Dr. Osborne and Dr. Bonefas have both been in our history.
Nancy: Oh.
Dorothy: They were the ones that, that, honest gosh, took care of our uninsured when nobody else would.
Nancy: Oh, really? Oh.
Dorothy: I.
Nancy: And that for me is one of the best parts that I’ve learned about The Rose is caring for the access to care for those who can’t pay for it and can’t have that treatment and don’t have the resources or the knowledge to, to go and [00:15:00] get those, take advantage of those resources. And that’s why The Rose is so critical and that’s part of its mission. And to me, that’s. Probably the most important part.
Dorothy: Oh, it is. I say this often, you know, our mobile units, they, or the coaches, those big ol bus looking things, they probably do our mission better than any other service we offer. They’re the most costly, the most difficult to maintain. Equipment is always first class. But it’s just when that coach drives up to a church or a business or a school and that woman can take 15 minutes and be done with it, you know, she’s going to do it.
Nancy: Right.
Dorothy: And if we were not there, how many women would we have missed just because? I mean, it’s, it’s, um. Women are busy. You are busy, but you still made that time.
Nancy: Right.
Dorothy: To.
Nancy: [00:16:00] But some won’t. And those vehicles do make it easy to say, yes, I’ll go ahead and
Dorothy: Right, right.
Nancy: Get my mammogram.
Dorothy: So, I know, uh, when I first met you, you said, I am just passionate about this now. I want to, I want to talk about it. So, what other messages would you have for women who are at any age? Well, I I mean, your daughter’s story is huge.
Nancy: Yes. Yeah. Yes. Yeah. Well, at any age, um, and now this is one of my new passions will be to help with awareness of breast cancer in, in every way. Um, I know when I first found out within, well, maybe a couple of weeks, I finally found got over the shock. And the first thing that I bought, this was after my biopsy, I guess, yeah, and my treat, no, it was after my treatment.
So I purchased a license plate cover, uh, holder, and it says, [00:17:00] Think Pink. And I can’t tell you how many people have commented on that since it’s been on my car. And it’s got the pink ribbons around. And. For me, that’s one of many ways that you create awareness. And I think two critical messages that you can talk about when someone, you know, chuckles about the plane and says, Oh, I love that. Um, is it’s a reminder that Annual mammograms save lives. That’s like huge in my mind and as you can see why, because I’ve experienced it twice in my own family. Um, another area that’s I think important to emphasize, and this is what my surgeon said to me yesterday because I would say, well, what do you think’s really important?
What are the messes messages that should go out there? So obviously number one, annual mammogram. [00:18:00] Hers was, which was not what I expected because usually I hear, um, eat healthy, um, watch your alcohol consumption. But Dr. Bonefas said, no, my number two, and it’s huge, is exercise. And she said, exercise is good for your mind, it’s good for your body. But she said this, that it’s been proven to help prevent breast cancer. So she said, 180 minutes a week is what you should try to achieve, um, or something near that. But she said, just keep moving. That’s what her message was.
Dorothy: Right. And that is so true. You know, I, uh, people ask me all the time, what causes it? What’s different now? But if you get right down to it, it is the stress we live with, in my mind. My opinion only, no, no scientific proof behind this, but [00:19:00] we don’t have a way to relieve that except by exercise.
Nancy: Correct.
Dorothy: And, and it does, like you said, so many other good things for us. And it doesn’t have to be go to the gym and work out for an hour. No, no. It can be walking.
Nancy: And she said walking.
Dorothy: And walk to two miles every day.
Nancy: Yes.
Dorothy: Five days a week, three days a week.
Nancy: Yes.
Dorothy: Just. Like you said as long as you’re moving.
Nancy: And you’re right. She said walking is the best thing for you. And she’s not talking about weights and this and that everything else just walking just walking. Yeah, so never one can do that.
Dorothy: Everyone. Yeah, it’s just like let’s don’t make it more complicated. We don’t need the additional stress. You know, that’s that’s the thing that I I Just really object to when I hear women preaching, or the, you know, the preaching that goes on to us, you should, you should, and I think, let’s make it as easy as we can for them, because you don’t know what that woman is [00:20:00] dealing with the rest of that day.
Nancy: Exactly.
Dorothy: You know, and that can make such a difference. Great, great advice. I have to send her a note. Tell her thank you. Yeah.
Nancy: She was all excited. Of course. You know, and I forgot to tell Dr. Osborne, because, uh, you You know, he’s always interested in what’s, what’s going on in the breast cancer world on, on this side of it.
Dorothy: Yeah, right. Oh, he, his studies were incredible. His studies showed that it’s, we could almost have a mammography center on every corner. and still not have enough access for all the people that need it. And I don’t think, uh, if you live in Houston, you think, oh, it’s a big city. But I think very, I’m not sure very many people understand the percentage of uninsured that we have right here. And they’re working three and four jobs. I mean, these aren’t, these aren’t people that just don’t want to work. These are [00:21:00] people trying to make a living, get by, take care of their family. You know, but you can’t afford health care. And so, health care has just become unattainable, even for many small businesses. So, I trust someday we’re going to see a change in that.
Nancy: I hope. But that’s why The Rose are so critical. Because you feel that need. You know, it’s, but, uh, I don’t know the numbers, but I can’t even imagine in a city of this size, probably a lot.
Dorothy: It’s more like 30 percent of this city is without health coverage. Of that, the majority are women and children. Now, remember, the state has a program for children, as long as you continue to sign up for it every six months, which drives many of our uninsured, uh, up a wall because they change things all the time. [00:22:00] But the woman just doesn’t. There’s really no Medicaid in Texas for women. And so you either have to be birthing, have a child, uh, be disabled, or make less than 4,000 a year. That’s the only.
Nancy: Shocking.
Dorothy: I know. I know it is. Uh, so the things that you do and helping us to share this has so many far reaching impacts. I can see why you’re one of the impact women. Because you’re saying to every woman, go get that mammogram.
Nancy: That’s a priority.
Dorothy: Yes.
Nancy: No matter what your, uh, if, I’d say no matter what your age, when they allow it.
Dorothy: Well, even if they don’t. Yeah.
Nancy: Right. It is number one. It is definitely, it, mammogram, annual, not mammogram, annual mammogram save lives. That’s right. There’s no doubt about it.
Dorothy: And that’s when we want to catch it. And the other thing is that there are resources there in this city. Uh, of course we cover 43 counties with those mobile [00:23:00] units. There, there are resources, but we need women like you. We need help from the community to continue to do that. Now go back to your time, you know, eight weeks, I wasn’t quite ready for that.
Because I usually talk a lot about, you know, tell us about your treatment, tell us what happened with that. But it still applies. So, tell us what was the kindest thing, now your card, of course, is up. So precious. What wathe kindest theeing anyone did during that? Just like you said, you were having your own problems there.
Nancy: Right, right.
Dorothy: Even accepting it.
Nancy: And I was. I was in denial. There was no doubt about it. But after the biopsy, the week after the biopsy, two of my friends texted me. And one had been diagnosed the month before me. And she was also at Bay, she had chosen Baylor. Uh, Dr. Osborne was her oncologist, but she had a, a different surgeon.
So, the two of them text [00:24:00] me, and the other is one of my best friends, and said, why don’t we, why don’t we meet for coffee? And, uh, And we can talk about things that, you know, will cheer you up or whatever. And so I get the text, so I didn’t get the call, so I could think of this, and I was like, Oh, no, I really, no, I am not ready to talk about this, and I don’t want to talk about it.
It’s too depressing, you know, and it means that it’s true, too, you know, so I really, I really didn’t want to, so I, I sat on it for a day and I thought, no, no, okay, one’s my best friend and the other is trying, you know, trying to be supportive and loving, so it takes it back and I said, sure, okay, we will. So, we meet for coffee and, um, the one who had just been diagnosed brought a book that helped her.
Uh, kind of process all this and all these [00:25:00] goodies, both of them of, you know, like pink things and, you know, you know, like things that, and maybe in spiritual things as well, you know, to, you know, keep all this in mind and keep positive and we love you, we’ll support you and you’re not alone. So, you’re going to do just fine.
Well, that was light. And I will tell you, I mean, I almost have tears in my eyes thinking about it because I did. Oh, I was crying, you know, crying because it was so sweet. And, um, And I had accepted it by then, you know, that I had breast cancer. So that was very meaningful for me and something I didn’t think I needed, but I really did.
It was the best thing and the best timing for me, you know, to accept it and, and, and also know I’m not alone. And there are a lot of people out there that have had breast cancer. And [00:26:00] my friend, who had been diagnosed before, hers was much more, had progressed much more, much further along. And I, I think she had found hers on the mammogram, but I think she had missed a year.
So, which goes back to, How critical the annual mammogram is. It is just critical. So, that was, that was probably, other than, you know, my grandsons, um, those, what they, how they reached out, and, and they kind of pushed to make sure it happened, because they probably realized I, I wasn’t quite ready. But I was, and I didn’t know it.
Dorothy: And you know, that, that’s so important. Because so many times I hear folks say well, what can we do your friends did something? That they had you there and they had things to give you and a lot of folks just don’t [00:27:00] even think about that, or, or they think, oh, that’s just kind of corny, but it’s not.
You know, we miss the cards. We, I, I love this electronic age, but sometimes you just need a card in your hand that someone sent you and said, you know, your grandson, we love you, get well, we care about you. These things. We can’t forget how much our human nature needs that contact. And probably, even though we’re strong and we mentally know all the things about it, we all need a hug. You know, and that’s what that was, a huge hug. And it was for you.
Nancy: Yeah. And, and they did. It was all hugs and group hug when we all left and, you know, tears of joy and, and support. You know, it was. It, it was just, I, I never would have dreamed that, that would mean so much to me. And like I said, because I really didn’t think I was ready [00:28:00] for that.
But after that, after having coffee with them and talking about all the things that we can do to help prevent other things, you know, healthy eating and so forth, I was ready the next week to tell everyone. And then make it my mission that this is my responsibility. I, I know various things that can help others as far as awareness, uh, resources.
And so that’s very important to me now and it was immediately and that’s my nature as well, you know, but this one is personal, obvious, obviously different than some of the other, uh, organizations that I’ve supported. And I’ve supported because I just believe in that, whatever their, their mission is. Right. But this one is personal, so.
Dorothy: Yeah, when it’s personal, it’s different. The difference in major and minor surgery, if it’s being done on you.
Nancy: Yes. [00:29:00] Yes.
Dorothy: Uh, first thing I, I heard one of our oncologists tell his residents, I thought, that’s brilliant. You know, there is no minor surgery when it’s being done on you.
Nancy: It’s true. That’s true. Boy.
Dorothy: Nancy, close this up with telling us how important your faith was during this time.
Nancy: My faith is everything. And this was what I would consider, you know, a crisis, not, not, not, it could be a life changing crisis, but it wasn’t. It was, but it was a crisis in my life. And I told you the first calls, uh, two calls I made my husband when I was coming from my biopsy and my daughter. And my first meeting with anyone was the next day with a, my friend, retired pastor. Jim Jackson, actually, you know, he’s someone in Houston that was the preacher for Chapel Wood Methodist and I’m not Methodist, but I [00:30:00] love and adore.
Um, I did meet him at that church through other means, but, um, Jim really walked me through, um, in other words, this is, this is just a hiccup in the road, a bump in the road and you, you are strong, you can handle this. God is in your, in your corner and he, so that was the, I think within 12 hours of actually diagnosis I was, had reached out to him and we had communicated and then met.
But um, my faith is number one. That is, you know, it’s faith, family and community. I mean, you know, that’s probably in that order. So, um, no matter what, he’s there for us. And he’ll get us through everything.
Dorothy: In your corner.
Nancy: He is.
Dorothy: I love that. Great advice. [00:31:00] Great. Great reassurance. Thank you so much for being with us today. My gosh, the, the messages and your stories are so great. Thank you for sharing.
Nancy: Thank you for having me.
Dorothy: Of course.
Post-Credit: Thank you for joining us today on Let’s Talk About Your Breasts. This podcast is produced by Speke Podcasting and brought to you by The Rose. Visit TheRose.Org to learn more about our organization. Subscribe to our podcast. Share episodes with friends, and join the conversation on social media using #Let’sTalkAboutYourBreasts. We welcome your feedback and suggestions. Consider supporting The Rose. Your gift can make the difference to a person in need. And remember self care is not selfish. It’s essential.
