Submitted photos Joyce Kohler signs her name to a breast cancer pink sheriff’s cruiser during a cancer fundraiser in 2021.

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.

See more local breast cancer stories on Page B9.

POLAND — When faced with the words “You have breast cancer,” Joyce Kohler said she was blindsided.

She had no family history of the disease, had enjoyed good health for years and had no symptoms to indicate she was sick.

The diagnosis came after a work-related injury. She had taken a shortcut in her job at a chemical texturing and engraving company — “a stupid move,” as she called it — and was left with a shoulder injury that didn’t heal as expected.

“It was a fluke,” she said, explaining she’d had a mammogram the previous April that turned out fine. Further testing revealed a mass just below the shoulder and a biopsy confirmed it was cancer.

Her husband, Pete, was with her at the time, and Joyce said she kind of “disconnected” when the doctor began talking about treatment options and prognosis.

“You hear the words,” she began, but trailed off.

He picked up where she left off, saying, “But you don’t really hear the words.”

Pete, who lost his mom to breast cancer in 1970 when he was 10, said he knew he needed to support his wife but didn’t know what she was going through — until he had to. He is currently fighting prostate cancer.

“You go to a really dark place when you hear that word,” he said, but explained that a positive attitude and faith have helped them both remain upbeat.

IN SICKNESS AND HEALTH

Pete, 64, and Joyce, 67, have been married 16 years. She has two kids from a previous marriage and he has three from his first marriage.

He spent two decades living and working in Seattle, returning to the area in 2002. The two met at a mutual friend’s birthday party in 2004, “And the rest, as they say, is history,” he said.

The Kohlers married in 2007 in Las Vegas before a small group of family and friends. They said they didn’t realize what the vows “in sickness and in health” would come to mean for them.

“I watched my father nurse my mother for five years,” he said. “Those are shoes I don’t think I could ever fill.”

Joyce disagreed, telling him, “Yes you can.”

Her diagnosis came on her 60th birthday, and she opted for a double mastectomy and four aggressive rounds of chemotherapy. Her current prognosis is considered “NED,” or “No Evidence of Disease.”

Pete, who is semi-retired and works in maintenance, is considered to be in “active surveillance mode” and said waiting on tests leaves him on pins and needles, though he feels fine.

He is checked every three months to determine if there is disease progression.

He has no family history of prostate cancer and said his was found after he fell and bruised his tailbone. His doctor suggested a test because of the proximity of the prostate to the tailbone.

As the two face what they call “the new normal,” they say keeping a positive frame of mind has helped them both weather their diagnoses.

“Life is not a dress rehearsal,” Joyce said, adding that she just tries to keep moving forward.

MAKING PLANS

The two enjoy traveling and have five states left on their list to visit. They’re planning a trip to Mansfield in the spring to see the eclipse and then will head west to Seattle. They use a travel trailer when on the road, and both said other hobbies include lots of reading.

Joyce works two days a week at the Boardman and Youngstown YMCA sites in the Livestrong program. She said the 12-week program helps cancer survivors get stronger after treatment by working on strength, mobility, balance and flexibility.

The Kohlers have some advice for others that includes staying positive, finding a strong support system and keeping on top of doctor’s appointments and tests that could help identify cancer in its early stages.

Joyce also said it’s important for those with cancer to open up and tell their stories because they could help others.

They also said they try to avoid pity. Instead of “I’m sorry,” the Kohlers prefer that others say something positive, such as offering prayers or other types of support.

“We’ve never looked at ourselves and said ‘Why me?” he said. “Not once have we ever said that.”

Though a serious diagnosis like cancer can test a patient’s resolve and relationships, Pete said it’s been helpful for him to remain strong in his faith.

“Our wealth lies right here, with family and friends,” Pete said.

His wife agreed, saying they try to make the most of their situation, adding, “We’re rich because of each other.”

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