Volunteers survive cancer, give back to new patients

CHILLICOTHE — Frieda Barnhart had just come from a round of golf Tuesday morning, but was ready to spend the afternoon volunteering for the American Cancer Society at the Adena Cancer Center, decking the place in pink and visiting with the patients receiving treatment that day.

"It's October, that's what we do," Barnhart said. "We kind of get crazy."

Still in her spikes, Barnhart ran around the center, toting her personal ladder and a bag of decorations, looking to grab a good friend, fellow volunteer, and "partner in crime," Anne Campbell.

Their positions allow them to share information with patients and connect them to everything from treatment options to nutrition and transportation assistance programs. Between the two of them, they know who or what agency to contact for nearly any situation, and are ready and willing to share their wealth of knowledge to anyone who asks. Campbell and Barnhart even call the patients they see on a regular basis "family."

Barnhart has been volunteering through the American Cancer Society since 1993, and at the Adena Cancer Center with Campbell since for nearly three years. The women said their job there is to make sure patients know everything about how to get better and cope.

But the two women have more in common than just their passion to to volunteer. Both have battled breast cancer themselves, their cases were each detected in their first mammograms, and they have seen first-hand the effects the disease has on its victims and their families.

Barnhart, who is a 20-year survivor, was first diagnosed when she was 51. She defeated the cancer, but only four years later, it returned. Barnhart said both diagnoses came around Christmas time.

"It feels like they have to scrape you up off of the floor," Barnhart said of hearing that she had cancer.

Twenty years ago, things were different. Barnhart and Campbell said it used to be that there was one "cookie-cutter" treatment option for every breast cancer patient. Now treatment plans are created to suit each individual patient.

"When I was diagnosed, everyone I knew who had it had passed away," Barnhart said.

"At the time it was a death sentence, but now it's not at all," Campbell said.

In addition to her two personal battles, Barnhart's mother and sister have also been diagnosed with cancer, and her son passed away last fall from the disease.

Still, Barnhart is an upbeat, cheerful woman, and for her, that is no act. Beating cancer twice has taught her not to sweat the small stuff.

"After just a few treatments, it changes the way you look at things," Barnhart said.

Even her group of friends grew because of her diagnosis. If she had never had cancer, she would have never been in the support group where she met Campbell.

Campbell has fought her own battle with cancer. She was diagnosed at 47, and the day she learned that she had breast cancer is still fresh in her mind.

Barnhart and Campbell say that their past experiences with cancer have helped them connect with the patients they see going through treatments and the side effects of treatments today. They said they are able to read the patients' feelings and notice subtle signals from those that need help better, having gone through similar things themselves.

"It sparks inspiration in some people," Barnhart said. "We're sensitive to their needs and and we can relate to them. We've all heard the words you have cancer."

Campbell and Barnhart urge women to get mammograms. It was after their mammograms that they were diagnosed. They want women to know how important the procedure is to detecting the cancer. They are living proof that detection can save lives.

"There are millions of cancer survivors, and we're two of those," Barnhart said.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Today, the Gazette’s pages turn pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, in an effort to raise awareness.

In addition, we’re asking the entire town to wear pink in honor of those who have fought against breast cancer. We’d love to see the whole town turn pink that day and invite you to join us by wearing pink and dressing up your business or home in pink, too. Share your pink photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with the hashtag #pinkchillicothe.

We’ll pick the best to share with our readers and we’ll honor the best pink business and individual with special recognition.