By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Jane Scherer offers advice to women who are thinking of putting off a routine mammogram…”Do Not Put It Off.”…”I believe I am cancer free today because those nudges kept coming and I focused on ‘Just Do It’!”

It was in October of 2020 when she went in for a routine mammogram, something she was to have had done in April of that year, but due to Covid, the screening had been cancelled and was not rescheduled.

“I thought I should probably look into having a mammogram that summer, but I waited,” she said. “Thanks to Jazzercise for hosting their annual October Breast Cancer Awareness events in addition to seeing other reminders during October, I made my appointment.”

Even though she had no symptoms or lumps, or any other signals prompting her, she made the appointment for a mammogram.

A “shadow” was discovered on her test results which led to scheduling an ultrasound and a punch biopsy. The conclusion was relayed to Scherer one day while she was at work at her position as Independent Living and Community Marketing Liason at Allure of Geneseo. “I got a phone call while at work one day,” she said. “I sat at my desk in denial after hearing the news that I had breast cancer “

Her breast cancer was called ductal carcinoma in situ.

“The concept did not seem possible since I did not have it in my family medical history,” she said. “I had surgery in November to remove the duct, and any surrounding area that was affected. It had not spread to my lymph nodes.”

She shared that she received so much “support, love and prayers,” that she believed a positive outcome would ensue.

“The decision to undergo radiation, following recovery from surgery, was an easy one,” Scherer added. “Of course, choices are given, but I felt like this was the best route for any possible lingering cancer cells.”

She underwent treatments Monday through Friday throughout December of 2020 and January of 2021, “thirty-three in total,” she said. “Covid definitely affected the way that my work life and family life was handled. I was able to work from home during the radiation process, so if my immune system was affected, I would not be out in public at all. Each day my husband (Steve Scherer) drove me to my appointments and over the weeks, fatigue set in. Holidays without family events came and went. I had time to read scripture and devotions and embrace the love of family.”

She said, “The cards, flowers, food and prayers from church, family and friends were a reminder of love in this world. There were tears and quiet emotion at times. But God’s presence was real. Faith and positivity helped me each day. My husband and adult kids were by my side every step of the way.”

Scherer described the oncology caregivers as “tremendous…sincere and caring every time I had questions.”

Her skin reacted to the radiation treatments and lotions and specialized cloth were put on her skin which helped to relieve the redness and pain.

“One of the residents at Allure made a beautiful quilt and two pillows for me,” she said. “My dear work friend, Nancy, and my family, had signatures, scripture and words of encouragement written in the squares of the quilt. My sister created a note card with a breast cancer pin attached to it and handed them out to friends and family to support me as I went through my cancer challenges.”

The food, cards and flowers, as well as other thoughtful gifts, lifted her spirits when her mind would start to wander into negative thoughts, and she added, “But overall, the gift of positivity and focus on a future of having a positive outcome kept me in ‘forward-thinking’ toward positivity.”

“My Jazzercise friends put together a beautiful basket of pampering items and they continued to lift me up, as did many others in the Jazz-friend world who have also been faced with breast cancer. I thank them for their support through texts, cards and prayers.”

“We all have different stories, and mine is one that proves early detection is important,” she stressed. “Literally, just last week, a friend came to me with a similar diagnosis as mine. She said that I would be her angel to get her through her experience. Prayers make a difference. She had no early symptoms, just went for a routine exam, followed by an ultrasound and a biopsy. As soon as the doctor called her, she came to tell me the news. I am thankful that I can support others going through this challenge.”

And Scherer has her next mammogram scheduled in November.

She and her husband Steve have three children, one daughter, Allison (Scherer) Good and her husband Bronson; Geneseo; son Jack Scherer, Chicago; and daughter Diana Scherer, San Diego, Calif.; and two grandsons and a baby on the way. A granddaughter Everly Good, died shortly after birth.