St. Jude Medical Center - Fall 2018 - 8

Memorial
Foundation

'Playing' it Forward
How One Mother is Stepping Up for Women's Health

Beverly Dreher doesn't need to be convinced of the importance
of annual mammograms. A member of the Yorba Linda Country
Club, she always participated in the club's annual golf tournament
dedicated to friends who have passed away from breast cancer.
When the tournament's organizer also passed away from the
disease, Beverly and other members stepped in to continue the
fundraising efforts.

mastectomy and breast reconstruction which was performed in a
single operation.
Following the procedure, Kim underwent chemotherapy and
testing through St. Jude's Cancer Genetics Program. That's when
Kim learned she has a gene that increases her risk of breast
cancer, news that was difficult to hear, but nonetheless provided
valuable insight into her health.
Upon celebrating four years of
survivorship, Kim feels blessed her cancer
was caught early and that St. Jude was
there for her every step of the way.

Soon after, Beverly's daughter, Kim, was diagnosed with breast
cancer. The news was devastating, but she was impressed with
Kim's care team at St. Jude from day one. "Everyone was very
helpful and action-oriented," describes Beverly. "It really eased
my fears."
Kim-a mother of two, pediatrician and avid runner-received
word that something unusual was spotted on her annual
mammogram. Kim intuitively sensed something was wrong
when she was called back to St. Jude's Kathryn T. McCarty
Breast Center, a nationally-recognized Breast Imaging Center of
Excellence. Kim's grandmother had been diagnosed with breast
cancer in her 40s, and she was aware of the implications. An
ultrasound-guided breast biopsy confirmed Kim's suspicion.
Fortunately, her cancer was detected early, and she had one of
the nation's top cancer treatment programs in her backyard. A
multidisciplinary team at the St. Jude Crosson Cancer Institute
developed a personalized treatment plan, starting with a double
8 ST. JUDE MEDICAL CENTER

For Beverly, it reinforced her conviction
that early detection is crucial. She
organized her club's latest golf
tournament to benefit St. Jude's
campaign to bring state-of-the art, 3D
mammography to its breast center.
The technology is shown to improve
detection rates by up to 41%, catching
cancers when they are small and
easier to treat. For the 30,000 women
who receive mammograms each year at St. Jude, access to 3D
mammography could be life-saving.
The community's investment is imperative in bringing 3D
mammography to St. Jude. That's why philanthropic efforts like
Beverly's and the members of Yorba Linda Country Club are
invaluable. Through their tournament, which raised $18,000, they
have joined with hundreds of other community supporters who
have contributed a total of $2.4 million toward the $4.1 million
project goal to date.
"Get involved," urges Beverly. "Doing a fundraiser, big or small, is
extremely rewarding. It's an opportunity to share the importance
of breast care and how having the latest technology can save and
change lives."
To learn how you can support the 3D mammography project or
St. Jude Crosson Cancer Institute, contact the St. Jude Memorial
Foundation at (714) 992-3033.
St. Jude Medical Center - Fall 2018

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