Loretta

Loretta and her husband Jeff have been married for 45 years. They have two adult children, Joshua and Jessica. Loretta is retired from the Children’s Department of Wadsworth Public Library. In her free time she likes to read, garden, and create pressed flower art. She has even won awards in international competitions!

Loretta was being closely monitored for a year and a half for breast cancer. In 2009, between tests, she discovered a lump, underwent a lumpectomy, and cancer was detected in most of the removed lymph nodes. She underwent chemotherapy, radiation, and hormonal therapy for ten years. At that time, insurance denied genetic testing. In 2022, another lump was found in her screening mammogram, and with this recurrence, genetic testing discovered that she had the BRCA 2 gene. She elected to have a bilateral mastectomy.

Loretta wanted to have a one-time, lifelong reconstruction, and elected to have a DIEP Flap reconstruction with Dr. Cody and Dr. Diulus. Her reconstruction was very successful, with no post-surgery problems. “I got my old shape back – the final puzzle piece in my cancer journey.”

Loretta advises other women to do their research using several sources. “Ask questions about what you do not understand. During your treatment, listen to your body. During recovery get your strength back by doing one more step each day. Do the things you like to do, spend time with those you love, and just keep going! There are a lot of options, pick the one that is right for you!”

Loretta chose to walk the Pink Runway to honor her mother. She had breast cancer at age 41 in 1972 when the five-year survival rate was less than 50%. She modeled moving on from breast cancer, and lived to 92! She also wants to encourage her daughter, her son, and other women, because breast cancer treatment and reconstruction has come a long way. Life is a journey and breast cancer is just a bump in the road!