Meet Beth

At age 40, Beth Staton had a family, a career, and learned she had breast cancer.

“That was October of 1997 and my very first mammogram,” Beth said. Following her diagnosis she underwent a mastectomy followed by chemotherapy and radiation.

Beth, a tax accountant, is a resident of Cinco Ranch, and a volunteer for the American Cancer Society. During national breast cancer awareness month, she encourages all women to know the risk factors, and symptoms of breast cancer and to visit their doctor. “Listen to your body. You know it better than anyone.”

At the time of Beth’s diagnosis, her sons were seven and eight years old and her daughter was 15. “I would pray to live long enough to see my daughter graduate from high school. I did.  And then I was very fortunate enough to see both of my sons graduate, too.”

With her cancer in remission, Beth became involved with the American Cancer Society’s Reach to Recovery® program. Reach to Recovery is a program in which breast cancer survivors visit newly diagnosed patients and provide support. “I volunteered as a Reach to Recovery ® visitor for five years, and then I saw a need in the Katy community for transportation. Many patients need rides to and from their cancer treatments, so I was trained as a Road to Recovery® driver for the Society. I drive at least once a week to help those who need transportation. It’s a very important part of the Society’s mission to help patients get well, and many patients simply don’t have the means to get to their treatment.”

Since 2001, Beth has participated in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Katy. “I enjoy walking in the survivor’s lap. It’s a very uplifting experience.” Relay For Life is the signature activity of the American Cancer Society that brings together more than 3.5 million people every year to celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer, remember love ones lost, and empower individuals and communities to fight back against a disease that takes so much.

 “I am passionate about being an American Cancer Society volunteer because of my desire to help other women detect breast cancer at an early stage. I consider myself very fortunate to be cancer-free for nearly 13 years. Statistics show that one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. My daughter, along with anyone else’s daughter, could be one of these women. My good news is that I have had the BRCA test and found out that I do not carry the breast cancer gene mutation, however, my daughter and her doctor will continue to be very diligent and watchful with her health.”

For more information about the Society’s programs, services and events in the Katy community, please call 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.

Choose You

Thanks to Channel 13 and Star Furniture for joining the fight with the American Cancer Society and helping raise awareness for breast cancer. Go to abc13.com to learn more!  Choose to put your health first, choose you.

Meet Barbara

Many men and women fight cancer, yet Barbara Dickens brings a new meaning to the fight. Barbara is a grandmother, wife, one of the highest Black Belt ranking women in the United States, owns her own martial arts studio and has been an instructor for thirty years; she is also a breast cancer survivor.

Throughout her cancer journey and still today, Barbara relies heavily on the American Cancer Society’s 1-800 number. Each time she calls and speaks with a patient navigator, she learns about another service offered by the Society.

After finishing her treatment, she began giving back and volunteering with the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life and now serves as the Event Chair in the Greater Heights.

“Relay has once again given me a new direction in life,” Barbara said. “I have always supported cancer research and worked to find a cure, but now I realize it is my ‘retirement goal’.”

Barbara doesn’t stop her passion at the Relay; everything she does reflect her passion for sharing this cause.

“I live it. I breathe it. It has a permanent spot at my martial arts school,” she said. “All people have something to offer the American Cancer Society, Relay For Life and cancer research. It’s my life to make everyone I can aware of that.”

She has been in remission now for 23 years and has been volunteering since her first diagnosis. She volunteers to further her own strength and for others who have lost the battle she still fights.

“I pray that my efforts will keep many from ever having to hear the words ‘you have cancer’.”