The Bookshelf Writers are Debbie Noble Black, Judy Salamacha, Kiki Kornreich and Susan Vasquez. Photo Credit Garth Kornreich
I didn’t want to share the bad news until I had good news.
I beat cancer in 2025! This has become my introduction to the latest chapter in my life story which I hope will drive everyone to schedule annual medical screenings. Only a few knew what I was facing – my family, my “Bookshelf Writers” sisters, and those expecting me to show up. Please, take care of you! Schedule your annual mammograms or prostate cancer check-ups. Early prevention not only successfully removed my cancer and my husband Bob’s cancer but also allowed our healing without radiation and chemo-treatments.
My cancer also re-energized what I wanted to accomplish with the time I have left. During those quiet times of self-reflection plus an “aha moment” during a community memorial event for Los Osos’ Joan Sullivan created by the Dean Sullivan family, I realized I had given up the best of me when I chose to retire from Estero Bay News’ deadlines. I missed telling your stories and realized I thrive on deadlines to stay on track.
For various reasons, we all ended up calling the Estero Bay our home. Many grew up here, some returned and the rest of us relocated. Discovering why and telling your unique stories is what I want to do again. Thank you Dean Sullivan for welcoming me back as an EBN regular columnist and to EBN’s editor, Theresa- Marie Wilsom, for challenging me to share my personal 2025 cancer story as we revitalize my “Our Stories” column. Sincerely, I request your participation and trust.
My story began during my annual Medicare Wellness Visit with Dr. Jeffrey Hadsall at Sansum Clinic in Santa Barbara (now Sutter Health). Our primary doctor reminded me mammograms are recommended every two years for women 40-74. Although I’d had clear mammograms annually for years, I opted to continue since my mother, Cayucan Pat McKaye, had breast cancer in her late eighties. I didn’t realize how blessed I’d be for scheduling my 2025 screening.
After my July 21 mammogram, I was called back to Santa Barbara for an additional screening. It was not the first time. “Dense breasts,” I nonchalantly told my lab technician. “Not this time,” she said. “Our radiology oncologist saw something suspicious.” This screening confirmed I needed a more invasive look, a breast biopsy.
Alarmed, I asked, “Can we schedule today?” A true benefit for maintaining most medical visits at Sansum-Sutter Health has been the quality of our care and their policy to try and fit us in while in town. However, this procedure required more prep to “remove samples of abnormal breast tissue, which a pathologist would analyze for breast disease.” Goodness sakes, this was becoming real! It was time to tell Bob and the kids. Fortunately, Jody and Michael Hollier, and Jeremy and Rena Salamacha all live in Morro Bay or Los Osos.
By August 14, I was on the road again. My bonus was quality drive-time with Jeremy, who needed to pick up parts for his race car in Ventura. After he dropped me off, Dr. Winifred Leung explained how she would retrieve the suspicious samples. After a poke, she showed me images of a tiny-darkened area where she had placed “…a metal marker…needed later for additional imaging or locating the surgery site.”
When the rest of the family heard the news that surgery was likely, they instantly offered support. With medical knowledge she had gleaned during a previous position, Jody would take time off work for appointments and my surgery. Rena had hospital staff to translate need-to-know medical jargon, would pivot as needed, and updated our Los Osos family, Brittany Thompson (grandson Darius) and Kashmir Sahota-Flood. Jeremy and Rena’s parents, Ron and Mandy Flood provided a distraction by hosting me to races at Santa Maria Speedway. A previous 10-year career in Bakersfield was with Mesa Marin Raceway. Bob and Michael would handle the homefront and take care of our dog, CJ.
Next, I needed to call my writing sisters, Debbie Black, Susan Vasquez and Kiki Kornreich, EBN’s Bookshelf Writers. We had booked Pacific Grove for our annual retreat. They said I started our conversation with, “This is a difficult phone call.” They all agreed to reschedule our retreat and would plan a pre-surgery support dinner at Kiki’s. I continued my other community activities as if nothing had changed.
My journey fast-tracked after August 19 when I met my amazing surgeon, Dr. Rosa Choi. I cannot recall why I traveled alone. And although Debbie was camping, she talked me through what she had learned from her breast cancer experience. She and Rena prepped me on the technical diagnosis – the “medical-speak” I would hear from Dr. Choi. I realized I was in good hands when I checked into the all-inclusive and supportive Ridley-Tree Cancer Center near Cottage Hospital. Janin Avants, RN introduced herself as my navigator for any questions/concerns/doubts/shoulder-to-cry-on pre-and-post surgery. I would take advantage of her offer several times to understand and prepare for September 9 when my surgery would be scheduled.
Dr. Choi was all-business explaining exactly what Debbie and Rena had predicted I would hear. Calmly I nodded and smiled. Jody became my interpreter and memory, but this visit I could understand everything. I sincerely appreciated Dr. Choi’s frank, but personable and reassuring manner. She admitted she had squeezed me into her schedule before her planned two-week trip so we could discuss our options and pre-schedule what she thought would be a simple in-house surgical center procedure. I felt so blessed to be her patient especially after she performed a hands-on breast exam.
“Oh no,” I heard. “Do you feel this?” I did. Dr. Choi instantly discovered a lump closer to the surface yet still near the affected area. I asked why the biopsy hadn’t pick it up. “That’s why we recommend breast exams at home and why doctors are still needed even with access to the latest technology.” She immediately took another biopsy in Ridley-Tree’s surgical center. My anticipated simple procedure would morph into an overnight stay and major surgery at Cottage Hospital. She advised I consider a mastectomy realizing the new biopsy had complicated my surgery.
Ouch! Realty cut deeper this time. For the next couple weeks, or would it be months, I needed to do what I rarely do — focus on me.
On September 3, I had tests prepping for surgery and sat in on Bob’s appointments, including one with Dr. Hadsall. He sensed I was near tears and needed to talk. “You’re in good hands with Dr. Choi,” he assured me. I told him I thought a double mastectomy was best. At Sansum-Sutter Health our doctors work as a team so I was not surprised he probably knew Dr. Choi would advise the single, but he respected it was ultimately my decision. And at our pre-surgery appointment September 8, Dr. Choi said, “If you want a double in a few months I will do it, but for now there’s no indication this cancer will spread. And your recovery will be much faster.”
My surgery was a breeze, even surreal. Birthing Jeremy and Jody had been my only hospital stays. As they wheeled me to the surgery room, I thought, Now I’ll know what it feels like when I see this on Chicago Med. And then, although I was in the recovery ward, I thought I was still waiting for surgery until Jody appeared, and we were told our room upstairs would soon be available. I never hurt, enjoyed my meal with my daughter, slept all night comfortably, and Dr. Choi released us early the next morning. We were home by lunchtime. During recovery my visitors, like Penny, my neighbor, Kiki, Jude Long, and Jane Heath, marveled how healthy I looked and without ever taking pain medication.
Jody guided me through drain management. She even perfectly extracted the drain as Dr. Choi had instructed. Released on 9/23, Dr. Choi’s staff helped schedule my future oncology team and encouraged me to start enjoying my life again. I needed celebrations with friends! I had tickets for MB Maritime Museum’s fundraiser at the Yacht Club. Kendall Welch, president of MBMM, reserved a table for my guests, Greg & Gretchen Hardcastle. And I was determined to volunteer at September’s Central Coast Writers Conference 2025. I wanted to support Debbie Black’s writing conference’s presentation and Director Meagan Friberg’s first year. She started as a volunteer when Cuesta College Community Programs selected me as director soon after I moved to Morro Bay twenty-three years ago.
At CCWC I saw Theresa-Marie. She suggested I tell my story. “Not my style,” I said. “I prefer to tell other’s stories.” A seed was planted! I have shared many of your stories over the years. You know who you are. My goal remains the same – to honor your lives before and while you’ve lived here. I look forward to meeting more community neighbors. As for my loyal EBN readers, I’m doubly blessed I’m able to continue our future journeys together.
