Breast Cancer Warrior
by Stephanie Baker
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Annually we see pink balloons and ribbons on T-shirts, at sporting events and on signs everywhere from grocery stores to car dealerships encouraging us to “fight” for a cure and “fight” against cancer.
For Beth Morrow, a two-year survivor of breast cancer, it isn’t just a fight for a cure. Since her diagnosis in March 2022, she has fought through the side effects of chemotherapy and fought to find the right doctor to provide her care. It was a battle for her life, and it continues to be. It is a fight to be there for her two grandchildren and a fight to continue teaching students in her classroom.
“I have triple-negative breast cancer,” Morrow said. “Triple-negative means you have three ways the cells fight off the cancer, and if all three can’t fight it off, it changes. It has no way to fight it off like other cancers do. There’s no cure. Chemo is only a preventative. It’s not ‘if’ it will show back up it’s ‘when’ and ‘where’ it will show back up. But if you make it to the five years, you might be OK.”
A sixth-grade math teacher at Lamar, Morrow was recently named a Warrior Volleyball Super Supporter at a pink-themed game for breast cancer awareness.
“Ms. Morrow goes out of her way to make each of us in the volleyball program feel seen, supported, and loved. We are so thankful to have her in our tribe,” said Megan Brown, Lamar senior high volleyball coach.
Morrow is adamant the best fight against cancer is an early, consistent one.
“You have to stay on top of your health. That is the most important thing. Get mammograms faithfully. Pay attention to yourself. You know your own body; if you see any changes get it checked out.”
“Don’t think it won’t happen to you. It can. Don’t think you are above it. No one is. If it can happen to me, it can happen to anybody. Don’t get discouraged though, if you catch it early enough, they can remove it,” she said.
Throughout her diagnosis, Morrow learned to be her own advocate in the doctor’s office. She researched her condition and made informed decisions regarding her care as well as the doctor providing it.
“Stay on top of your health,” she said. “If something doesn’t feel right to you, go to the doctor and get it checked out. You know your body better than anyone else. If a doctor doesn’t agree with you, find a different doctor. Find someone who is going to look deeper into what you have. If the doctor is not taking you seriously, go somewhere else. If you are don’t feel comfortable with your oncologist, make sure you find a different one. I did that. One suggested chemo and one did not.”
She also encourages those facing cancer to be informed about their treatment options…To read the full story, see the Oct. 23 edition of The Graphic, found online and in businesses throughout Johnson and Franklin counties.
Photo: Beth Morrow was recently named a Warrior Volleyball Super Supporter at a themed game for breast cancer awareness. Presenting her with the award were Lady Warriors volleyball team members (front row, from left) Haley Burns, Emma Johnson; (second row) Addie Hardin, Morrow, Kaylee Young; (back row) Bella Edrington and Peyton Dlugosh.
