Service
PLUS Flat Glass Services!!
“Bringing the Tools to You!!”
Page 2 - OCtOBer 27, 2016 - martensville messenger
Email [email protected]
•Automotive Repair Specialists or call 361-4527Monday to Friday 7:30-5:30
•Advanced technology & diagnostics
facility
Visit www.JAGplus.ca today!! 801 Centennial Dr. North
Martensville SK
306-244-4950
KEEPING YOU SAFE & ON THE ROAD
Martensville Women Know How to ‘Fight Like Girls’
Ciara O’Reilly, Martensville Messenger
Every year, one in nine Canadian women are
diagnosed with a complex disease known throughout the
world as breast cancer. In Canada alone it is estimated
that 25,700 women will be diagnosed with the disease
during this very year, and 4,900 women will die from it;
according to the Canadian Breast Cancer Society. With
numbers as shocking as these, it is important for all to
be knowledgeable of the disease, and with October being
internationally known as Breast Cancer Awareness Month;
there is no better time to be informed of the risks that this
disease may strike upon women everywhere.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an annual
international health campaign organized by major breast
cancer charities every October to increase awareness of
the disease and to raise funds for research into its cause,
prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure. The campaign
also offers information and support to those affected by
breast cancer. Being involved and taking action as well
as gaining knowledge about the disease cannot be stressed
enough. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer
death in women (only lung cancer kills more women each
year). Simply being a female puts all women at risk. The
cancer is not only hereditary as believed by many. In fact,
more than 75% of women with breast cancer have no family
history of the disease at all. Every day families are being
brutally affected, of those families, one of Martensville’s
own, Jo Osczevski, has her story to tell.
Jo Osczevski, wife, mother, friend, and valued
community member recently went through a journey
regarding her health that totally changed her outlook on
life. Osczevski was diagnosed with breast cancer during
July of this year. After the diagnosis, Osczevski took the
time to ponder her treatment options and agreed to have a
bilateral mastectomy in hopes of avoiding future disease.
In having a family history of breast cancer, Osczevski
Deanna Ratzlaff of Martensville also shared her breast
cancer diagnosis and journey with the Martensville
Messenger:
When were you diagnosed?
I was told I had cancer at my mammogram April 30, 2015.
This was confirmed by biopsy a few weeks later.
Can you talk a little bit about your journey – surgery,
chemo?
After I had my mammogram and was told I had cancer my
world as I knew it instantly changed. I was thrown into
a world of biopsies, ultrasounds, MRI's and appointments
with surgeons. It was very overwhelming. When you hear
you have not just one tumour but multiple tumours you
are thrown into a world of unknowns. The time between
your initial diagnosis and when you come up with your
treatment plan feels like an eternity. I opted to have a
bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction.
This surgery took place June 16, 2015. I started 4 rounds
of chemotherapy on Aug 20 and I had my last treatment
on Oct 22. I was hospitalized after my 3rd treatment. The
drugs had wiped out my immune system and I couldn't
fight any infections. I started a drug called Tamoxifen in
November and will continue to