Courtesy Photo | Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Demetrica Jefferis comforts fellow breast cancer...... read more read more
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WASHINGTON - Every year, breast cancer awareness is magnified during the month of October as a national observance, but for survivors, breast cancer is an everyday battle.
For Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Demetrica Jefferis, breast cancer awareness means providing a support system that meets every third Tuesday of each month throughout the year at Malcolm Grow Medical Clinic/Surgery Center.
With a mission to educate, encourage and support breast cancer patients and their caregivers, Jefferis has organized Together in Pink, a support group for both military and civilian families living in the national capital region.
“Whether you’ve been a survivor for one month or for over 40 years, or even if you were just recently diagnosed, we want people to know they have a support team right here,” said Jefferis.
It wasn’t until after undergoing a battle of her own that Jefferis realized the importance of having a solid support system for what she had experienced - and for what was yet to come. During the last month of a one-year tour at Osan Air Base, Republic of South Korea in October of 2013 - on her birthday – Jefferis discovered a lump on her breast. She immediately went to the nearest medical clinic (an hour away in Seoul) for a diagnostic mammogram. The doctors informed her of the possibility of breast cancer.
“They couldn’t determine right away if it was cancer, but the chief radiologist there said that it was probable,” Jefferis explained. On the hour-long ride home, amongst a bus of strangers, the possibility of cancer had begun to sink in and Jefferis shed a few tears before she quickly gathered her thoughts and said, “God, I’m going to trust you and I’m going to keep living my life.”
Without any family nearby, Jefferis was surprised to find she had support right there, one she never would have imagined having.
“Luckily I had a small support system there in Korea,” she said.
Jefferis explained that her squadron superintendent at the time happened to be a survivor of cancer himself and was able to provide the understanding ear she needed. She also had the support of her commander and his wife, who had been dealing with a recent loss in their family from cancer.
“I had this support system I didn’t know I needed until that time had actually happened. They’re like my family now and I still keep in touch with these people to this day. I’m so glad I had them there,” she said.
It was the following month, when Jefferis relocated to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, that she underwent several more diagnostic tests which ultimately led to her diagnosis of DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ) in both breasts.
According to www.breastcancer.org, DCIS is the most common type of non-invasive breast cancer. DCIS is called “non-invasive” because it hasn’t spread beyond the milk duct into any normal surrounding breast tissue.
“It’s not just having breast cancer, but it’s what kind of breast cancer and what stage that makes the difference,” Jefferis explained.
With a family history of breast cancer, a disease she lost her mother to at a young age, Jefferis had always kept her doctors informed and regularly performed self-examinations throughout her career - allowing her to detect the disease early on. She wasn’t surprised to discover that her form of breast cancer was hereditary.
At the beginning of the next year, 2014, Jefferis was faced with a life-changing decision of how she would choose to treat the cancer. She chose to have a bilateral mastectomy with reconstructive surgery, a procedure that would remove both breasts. With the support of a very dear friend - also a breast cancer survivor - Jefferis was able to reach out and seek advice when it came to making those really difficult decisions.
“Just talking to her gave me that extra boost and at that point I realized that through my journey the one thing I was really able to learn was perspective.”
Just a few weeks after the surgery, Jefferis received great news. The cancer had been completely removed. Overjoyed by the news, she went to work on organizing the support group’s first meeting.
“Realizing that there was such a large populous here at Andrews, and I know I’m not the only breast cancer survivor, I thought to myself, ‘why not start up a group here on base, for people who live close by, or for those who live at Belvoir, JBAB and even the Pentagon,’” Jefferis explained with excitement. “I wanted something that’s close for people living or working on this side of Maryland, so those people can get the support they need and not have to travel very far.”
She expressed her idea for the group and was quickly connected with two women who were already working as counselors at the outpatient medical center on Andrews. One of the counselors, a breast cancer survivor herself, and another counselor, an avid supporter of survivors, were eager to join in and bring the group to life.
“I did not start this group by myself. I had other people to help me,” she said.
Together in Pink held its first meeting May 21, 2014. During the monthly meetings participants share a part of their story covering anything from when they were diagnosed to how many years they have been a survivor. The diverse group provides professional counseling for its members in addition to having a nurse present who is also available for advice.
“Each woman is at a different phase in their journey. Some have been survivors for over 20 years and it has come back; whereas others have just discovered theirs,” Jefferis explained.
The group is composed of both civilians and active-duty service members; men are encouraged to attend as well.
“I don’t want anyone to ever feel like they have to go through this alone,” Jefferis said, “because there are so many people out there who don’t have anyone to talk to who has been where they are at, that can help them along the way and lift them up when they’re down. It’s important to have.”
“Why not have a breast cancer support group? I know I’m not the only one,” she concluded.
The breast cancer support group meets every month on the third Tuesday in the Global Reach Conference Room of Malcolm Grow Medical Clinic/Surgery Center located at 1050 W. Perimeter Rd., Joint Base Andrews, MD 20762.
For more information about the group, please contact Master Sgt. Demetrica Jefferis at 240-857-3795/3097.
| Date Taken: | 01.23.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 01.23.2015 09:25 |
| Story ID: | 152547 |
| Location: | WASHINGTON, DC, US |
| Web Views: | 148 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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