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EDITOR'S NOTE: On Tuesdays in October, which is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, local survivors are sharing their breast cancer journeys to inspire hope for those just diagnosed and to encourage routine preventive care, which greatly increases the odds of a positive outcome.
BOARDMAN -- At her annual gynecologist appointment in February 2021, a lump was found during Jamie DeMain's breast exam. A diagnostic mammogram showed something suspicious, so an ultrasound was performed.
DeMain waited in a room while the doctor read the results of the mammogram and ultrasound and then ordered a biopsy of the tumor. The biopsy revealed that DeMain, at age 40, had cancer in her right breast.
All the tests and surgery that DeMain went through were done at the Joanie Abdu Comprehensive Breast Cancer Center in Youngstown. It was there that she received a treatment plan from her doctor.
DeMain would have six chemotherapy treatments every three weeks and immunotherapy for one year. Following the chemotherapy, she had a lumpectomy in which the tumor was surgically removed, along with six lymph nodes. She then went through 30 radiation treatments, one every day for 30 days.
DeMain started taking the drug tamoxifen because her tumor was estrogen positive; the drug blocks the hormones from attaching to blood cells which prevents more tumors from forming.
DeMain's son Tyler was 13 and daughter Morgan 11 while she went through her breast cancer treatment. "It was hard keeping up with my children and their activities," she said. "I was very tired.
"My son was OK about it; my daughter was angry because of how limited I was in what I could do. She was also very attentive to me and helped take care of me," DeMain said. "My husband, Tim, had some anger but was very attentive to me. He pampered me, and the whole thing brought us closer.
"My family lives in Columbus and they would come into town and help. My husband's family is local, and they were a huge support."
DeMain lives in Boardman and is manager of Akron Children's Volunteer Services at the Beeghly Campus. During this time was able to work from home a few days a week. "My treatment was on Tuesday, which meant I couldn't do a thing on Friday, Saturday or Sunday. I would then return to work on Monday.
"I had an amazing group of friends who helped with meals and rides. A friend would go with me to treatment when my husband wasn't able to go. They were there to make me laugh when I needed it."
Kym Baker, a clinical secretary at the Beeghly Campus, said of DeMain, "She always has a smile on her face and is one of the most beautiful people, inside and out. … By sharing her story, she can continue to help and inspire people. Because that is what she does, helps people all day, every day."
DeMain lost her hair, but said it didn't bother her. "My hairdresser let my kids shave my head. They loved it."
What advice does DeMain have for women? "Keep up with your preventative care; have yearly mammograms and keep your OBGYN appointments. I had no symptoms, there was nothing wrong with me. Do self-breast exams and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
"I stayed local and was happy with my treatment; I was very satisfied with my oncology team and my surgeon," she said.
For anyone going through what she did. DeMain says, "Stay positive. Don't let it get you down. There are more good days than there are bad days."
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