Survivor Stories

Ginny Amalong Latrobe, PA

         Ginny Amalong is the Westmoreland County representative in the PBCC’s traveling photo exhibit and spoke at the opening reception in September. She was diagnosed with breast cancer 7 years ago at age 48. She was in the shape of her life, regularly doing aerobics and “felt like a million bucks” As with most every woman, Ginny was shocked with the diagnosis. Here is her story of courage, perseverance and survival.

Diagnosis & Treatment
        Ever since my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was 36, I had been vigilant about getting my annual mammogram. One day, I noticed a tiny dimple in my breast and scheduled my mammogram. When the doctor’s office called me on vacation, I knew something was wrong. I had a “starburst” shape
cancer that had spread in all directions. Twenty-two out of twenty-four lymph nodes tested positive. My doctors were overcome with how invasive it was. It had been spreading like wildfire for the past 6 months.
         I was treated very aggressively with chemotherapy, a stem-cell transplant, a bi-lateral mastectomy, and finally radiation. In addition, everything else that the doctors said could happen, happened. I got shingles, pneumonitis (scarring of the lungs), lost a tiny bit of hearing and some of my sense of smell and taste. But I’m alive and I’m active and I go to aerobics! I’m lucky to be here. God does things for strange reasons. Out of every bad comes a good, and many good things came out of my cancer diagnosis.

The Silver Lining
        I reached a point where I asked myself, “How much more can I take?” and “How much more do I have to go through?”. The first year we went to the beach after my cancer, I forgot to bring my prostheses. I cried and cried because that’s when it really hit me that I wasn’t like everybody else. I can’t just go buy a bathing suit that will fit me. That was a real low point.

         But my support system of friends, people I work with, family and people from church really helped me through it. And people just popped up out of nowhere and were guardian angels to me. Before cancer, I was always running around in this hurried world. I still do my job, and I still go to aerobics, but I take time for myself now. I put my feet up. I don’t pressure myself like I used to.

Getting Involved
        I was so happy to be selected for the PBCC’s traveling photo exhibit. Something I always wanted to do once I was diagnosed is to tell other people it’s going to be okay. If people could look at me and see me walking and talking and exercising, then they would know that they could survive too. The photo exhibit shows, in pictures, people who have had cancer and who survived. It gives others hope, it’s very uplifting.
         I recently participated in the “Taking Steps Against Breast Cancer” Walk here in Westmoreland County that benefited the PBCC. It was such a beautiful and heartwarming day. I’m so glad I could be a part of it.
         I think the best thing is that I am healthy and I am here, and I am here for other people. I survived, and I really feel it was to help others.
         Ginny teaches kindergarten at Baggaley Elementary School in Latrobe and is a PSEA member. Her current health status is “A-OK” and she still sees her doctor twice a year. Ginny is walking proof that a positive outlook can go a long way in the recovery process. Her laugh is absolutely contagious and she sees her cancer diagnosis as a blessing in disguise. We wish her continued success and good health.

To profile someone in "Survivor Spotlight", email Heather Hibshman at heather@pabreastcancer.org.