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MSP Members Create Cancer Support Group, Plan Internal Donation Drive for Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October 10, 2024
In less than one week, Kim Dowling went from carefree to cancer patient. At 37-years-old, with a lump in her breast she initially wanted to ignore, Dowling was about to begin the fight of her life.
“My husband pushed me to see my doctor who then sent me for my first mammogram ‘just in case’,” said Dowling, who works as a photographer for the Michigan State Police (MSP). “I went by myself on a Friday and by Monday afternoon, I found out I had two completely different, aggressive tumors – one hormone positive and one HER2 triple positive. By the end of the week, I had already met with an oncologist, radiologist, surgeon, plastic surgeon and geneticist.”
When coworkers learned of her diagnosis, Cindy Homant, a technology specialist assigned to the State 911 Office, was one of the first to reach out, knowing simply connecting out could be comforting. Cancer was prevalent in Homant’s family, and she was diagnosed with colon cancer even after genetic testing showed no markers or DNA sequences that would point to an inherited illness. Homant finished treatment in 2018 and has positively progressed to yearly CAT scans.
“The mental aspect sticks with you even after treatment ends,” said Homant. “I choose to remain as optimistic as I could. Everyone reacts to treatment differently and while you can’t compare your experience to someone else’s, a few words of support do make a difference.”
The pair knew coworkers were facing similar situations, so they formed the “No One Fights Alone” or NOFA cancer and tumor support group. The first meeting was held in September.
“Our hope is to provide a listening ear and safe space for MSP members to talk about cancer, both for those facing it and others who want to support them,” said Dowling. “The strain of appointments and treatments is significant. We hope to provide awareness to managers and leadership for the success and wellbeing of our employees.”
During October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, NOFA members are collecting chemotherapy care items to donate to patients in active treatment at the University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Herbert-Herman Cancer Center and the Karmanos Cancer Institute at McLaren Greater Lansing.
“Chemotherapy treatments aren’t fun or comfortable, but they were lifesaving for both of us,” Homant said. “We are gathering items that helped us alleviate some of the side effects and push through long days. We want the people who receive the bags to know they are not alone, that we are cheering them on.”