CELEBRATE … Beale rings the bell at the University of Michigan Cancer Center signifying the end of chemotherapy treatments. (PHOTO PROVIDED)
By: Amy Wendt
It has been announced that breast cancer survivor Denise Beale of Metamora, has been selected to serve as the Fulton County Relay for Life (FCRFL) Honorary Chair for the non-profit’s 2023 season.
Beale was asked to represent FCRFL to share her story of resilience and offer hope to others who are currently battling cancer.
With no family history of the disease and a clean mammogram in the fall of 2021, Denise’s May 2022 cancer diagnosis came as quite unexpected news.
Beale credits her granddaughter, who she refers to as her “Little Angel,” for unknowingly alerting her to the health issue.
Denise remembers one evening while babysitting, her granddaughter was sleeping on her chest. When Beale proceeded to move her granddaughter to make her more comfortable, she noticed a sharp pain in her chest that she had never felt before.
Denise initially thought the discomfort stemmed from scar tissue from a prior surgery in the same area.
Just to be safe, she went to the doctor to have the soreness checked out. Medical professionals from the VA referred Denise to the University of Michigan for another mammogram in an attempt to get to the bottom of things.
Denise suspected there was something wrong when the normally routine procedure took over four hours.
The delay was due to technicians comparing the previous mammogram results from the fall of 2021, with what they were seeing only nine months later in the spring of 2022.
From there, Beale was referred for a surgical biopsy. The tumor that was removed was identified as a very aggressive Stage 2 Ductal Carcinoma.
Denise remembers receiving a call from her doctor with the alarming news while she was at work.
“I guess I kind of had an idea that it was going to come back that way, just because of how quickly they were rushing me through things.”
“But there’s always that part of you, that glimmer of hope, that’s like, ‘it’s gonna be nothing.’”
Immediately, while still at work, she called her husband to fill him in on the diagnosis, when the call had to be abruptly cut short due to the first of many healthcare providers calling Denise to line up a plan of action.
After talking over initial treatment options with her husband and healthcare staff, Denise decided that having a double mastectomy was her best option.
“I’m not going to walk around the rest of my life scared about when it’s going to happen in the other breast,” Beale told her husband.
Following Denise’s double mastectomy, and immediate reconstructive surgery, she initially thought that she was cancer-free, and no further treatment would be necessary.
However, after additional testing on the tumor that was removed, it was determined that because of the type of cancer Denise had, chemotherapy would be necessary to eradicate any other rogue cancer cells present in her body to lessen the likelihood of cancer showing up elsewhere in her body.
As with most chemo patients, Denise had to adjust to hair loss and having virtually no immune system to fight off bacteria and viruses that a healthy individual would not have to worry about. Even the smallest things such as a minor paper cut took much longer to heal.
“I felt like a human pin cushion,” Denise recalls of her treatments lasting from September 2022 to December 2022.
Following each treatment, she had what she referred to as her “eight to ten days of death,” where she felt terrible from head to toe.
“It was horrid, but…no matter how horrible I felt, I made sure that every day I would get up out of bed.”
Because her employer allowed Denise to work from home, the only day of actual work that she missed was the day of her mastectomy earlier in her cancer journey.
Beale, who also serves as the stunt coach for Evergreen Schools cheerleading, admits that she missed a couple of practices.
However, her cheerleaders understood, and on those occasions, they called her on Facetime to get their instructions.
When she did have the energy to make the practices, the girls always made sure there was a chair waiting for Denise so she could sit while she coached.
“I think it helped me get through everything. I think if I wouldn’t have had those two things, I probably would have just laid in bed and felt sorry for myself.”
Today, Denise’s immune system is slowly rebounding. While she is on her way to healing, it is too soon for her to receive a definitive clean bill of health.
To keep any possible remaining cancer cells from forming, Denise must take medication until her white blood cell count has stabilized.
She also must take a drug that keeps her estrogen dormant since the type of cancer she had feeds off of estrogen. Side effects of the latter medication cause intense bone and joint pain.
The early stages of Denise’s illness were a whirlwind that didn’t allow for much time to dwell on the situation.
With keeping track of the numerous procedures and treatments, she didn’t have much time to think about anything other than fighting back and getting herself well again.
Beale shares, “Now, I am going through the emotional part. I have really bad days.” Her oncologist assured her that she will get past that phase in time as well.
“I have to live under a whole new norm,” Denise shared. Much care must be taken when choosing what to eat, what supplements to take, and even what personal care items to use to not elevate her estrogen levels.
Throughout her ordeal, Denise’s husband was her rock. “My hero was my husband…He had to deal with me at my worst, he had to transport me back and forth to appointments and had to basically do everything for me when I was not having good days.”
Beale had tremendous support every step of the way from many others as well. Her family held various fundraisers for the extra expenses that came along with the cancer treatment.
Her husband, son, and brothers-in-law even surprised Denise by shaving their heads as a sign of solidarity.
Denise is also incredibly thankful for the support of her employer, Evergreen Grease in Adrian, MI. “My company is amazing. They’re like a work family,” Denise shared.
While they admired and appreciated her determination in her work duties, they would constantly remind her to not overdo it while working from home and insisted that she get plenty of rest whenever she needed to.
The Evergreen cheerleaders showed their love and support for their stunt coach by sporting pink ribbons, bows, and pom poms at games.
One of her senior girls even made her a blanket that Denise could take with her to chemo treatments.
The girls also kept in frequent contact with Beale to help keep her spirits up when she was down. “It was very, very special, I had an amazing group of girls,” Denise expressed.
In reflecting on her journey thus far, Beale shared, “I’m grateful that obviously, God had a plan for me. I’m lucky that it was caught when it was. I’m lucky to wake up every day.”
The 2023 Fulton County Relay for Life Event will be held on Friday, June 9 from 4:30 pm to Midnight at St. Caspar’s Catholic Church in Wauseon.
At 6:00 pm, Survivors and Caregivers will be honored in a recognition program. As Honorary Chair for 2023, Beale will be sharing her inspirational story with the special program guests to offer hope to those who are currently struggling with their own cancer journey.
Amy can be reached at amy@thevillagereporter.com
