Arlene and Her Sisters
Left to right: Arlene, Lorraine (standing), Jeanne, and Frances
By Arlene, a Sister Study participant from Florida
Sisters’ Weekends….
My sisters (Lorraine, Jeanne, Frances) and I, Arlene, grew up in the Chicago, Illinois area. As adults, our marriages and job transfers took some of us to New England and as far away as Thailand. When we were all in the states, and living from New Mexico to Illinois, we decided that an “all sister” weekend would be fun every so often.
Thank goodness for our weekends….golfing, hiking, swimming and reminiscing and laughing until our faces and ribs hurt. Our last sister weekend was in February of 2004 at my home in Florida. We were joined by my daughter, who was so thrilled to have the opportunity to get to know her aunts better. Our oldest sister, Lorraine, had just finished chemotherapy and radiation in December of 2003. Little did we know that this would be our last sister weekend with Lorraine.
By May the cancer had returned and spread to the pelvic and back areas. She was always so quiet about how she felt or how much pain she was in. I remember always looking up to my big sister. She was the career woman and the one that would give us advice, when we asked, on dating, boyfriends, cooking and other of life-questions. This was our sister that was a vegetarian, the one who woke up at 5 a.m. to go to the health club before going to work, the sister whose goal was to live to 100 years old. We all couldn’t believe this was happening. Our mother died in 1987 at 66 years of age of ovarian cancer. I never believed that one of us would die at a younger age. Lorraine was only 61 years old when she passed away in August of 2004.
In October of 2004, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I read about the Sister Study. I called immediately. I know there are many different research facilities for cancer and breast cancer but I have never read about one studying sisters and the environment. I’m excited about this study and I feel that all women should be involved to help not only their generation but their daughters’ and granddaughters’ and nieces’ generations.
My sisters Jeanne and Frances will meet me in St. Augustine, Florida in September for another sisters’ weekend. This time we will be joined by our daughters and daughters-in-law and my sister Lorraine’s daughter Danielle. We will reminisce and tell our stories and laugh until our faces hurt once again. We will also discuss the Sister Study and remind each other about how important this study is to all women.
Thank you. Thanks to everyone involved in this study and in printing the newsletter and maintaining the web site and all the volunteers and participants. I pray for all of us that means of prevention and cure for this terrible disease are found soon.