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Webb turns breast cancer journey into opportunity to help other women
Editor
Rhonda Webb remembers the date specifically — June 28, 2022.
“The date I got the phone call saying I had breast cancer,” Webb said. “It wasn’t a surprise. When I got the callback for a second mammogram, I knew what the outcome would be. They then did an ultrasound and then a biopsy — two things which only continued to confirm what I already knew.”
Webb was going through what one in eight women will go through in their lifetimes, in some form or another. Now confirmed as cancer-free, Webb is looking to help others with their own cancer journeys, and perhaps help stop the disease before it even starts with others.
Time to Heal — A Pink Ribbon Journey is a breast cancer celebration to recognize survivors and raise awareness, with proceeds benefiting Susan G. Komen Foundation’s fight to end breast cancer.
The event is set for 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28 inside Harris Hall at the Putnam County Fairgrounds.
“It’s a celebration to raise awareness, honor those we’ve lost to breast cancer and to celebrate the survivors,” Webb said.
Hosted by Webb, along with friends Mona Hutcheson and Sandy Penley, the event will feature vendor booths, a silent auction, free lunch for the first 100 guests featuring Domino’s and homemade desserts by Bonnie Bryan, as well as live music, a fun photo booth, a tribute/memory wall and more.
Admission is free, but the silent auction and donation buckets will raise funds for Susan G. Komen.
Sponsors for the event include Visiting Angels, Wabash Capital, Hendershot’s Service Center, Seedline International, Carpenter Realty, Silver Bell Flowers, Domino’s Pizza and Greencastle Offset Printing.
Vendor booths will feature items such as handcrafted deer antler canes, coins, handmade jewelry, baked goods, homemade dog treats, coffee, maple syrup, home decor and more. Meanwhile, during the first half of the event, live music will be by Luke Lovejoy, Ethan Battan and Peyton Lovejoy, while during the second half it will be dulcimer player Bill Robinson.
Now one-year cancer-free, Webb is hoping the event is a help to others who are going through the same thing and who will in the future.
“I felt blessed that I got through it without any complications, so I just felt like I wanted to do something for other women,” Webb said. “There are a lot of women who had it a lot worse than I did.”
She’s also not shy about sharing her own story.
“My mom and grandma both had double mastectomies, so I was high risk,” Webb said. “Still, I hadn’t had a mammogram for about 12 years. But this time it was different. Something told me, ‘Get your mammogram.’
“So, I did. By the grace of God, it was early stage. After a flurry of appointments and ups and downs, I had a lumpectomy followed by radiation. The pathology report revealed it was more aggressive and larger than they first thought. Lesson learned — early detection saves lives.”
Encouraging women to take steps to ensure early detection is definitely one the goals of Susan G. Komen, as well as the Time to Heal event. Self-checks and screenings, along with awareness are key in empowering individuals to make informed choices about their health.
Every two minutes, one case of breast cancer is diagnosed in a woman in the United States, but the earlier the better her chances.
But early detection isn’t the only part of the journey. There is the treatment.
“After surgery, I felt great. But the radiation takes it out of you,” Webb said. “I am still fatigued and have to pace myself. I started having some pain, so they moved up my follow-up mammogram. Radiation can affect your muscles. Between that and the scare tissue and cell regeneration, I had to go to physical therapy.
“But my scans were clear and confirmed that I am cancer-free.”
Even with those two special words — cancer-free — the journey wasn’t over for Webb.
“After treatment is finished, it hits you that you had breast cancer — something I never thought I would have,” Webb said. “After all the appointments and treatment are over, you don’t really know what you are supposed to do.”
Webb decided to pay it forward.
“I felt extremely blessed that there were no complications with my surgery and treatment,” she said. “Because of this, I felt there must be something that I am supposed to do to help women who are going through so much with chemo and extended treatments. I felt compelled to do whatever I could to help these women who are facing this terrible thing.”
Looking at her own talents, Webb decided to plan an event.
“One thing I am good at is planning — planning conferences, meetings, vacations, etc.” she said. “I used to plan conferences in my job before I retired, so I thought I’d use that talent to benefit women with breast cancer.”
Thus, Time to Heal was born. With the help of Hutcheson, Penley and various others who have sponsored or donated to the event, Webb is ready to get things started.
Among the supporters are also silent auction donors, with prizes that include one free hour of flight from PDM Aviation of Greencastle, a ride on the fire engine at Reelsville Volunteer Fire Department, a ladies’ golf basket courtesy of Tiger Pointe Golf & Event Center, an American Eagle coin in a deluxe presentation box from Greencastle Coin Shop, handcrafted items, multiple themed gift baskets and gift cards from local restaurants and businesses.
To learn more about the event, email prjourney23@gmail.com or on Facebook go to “Time to Heal — A Pink Ribbon Journey.”
What comes next for Webb in her personal pink ribbon journey?
“I would like to continue to do other events and maybe start a survivor group in my area,” she said.
One way or another, it’s clear she’s going to continue sharing her story.
“I am now a breast cancer survivor and one year cancer-free,” Webb said. My advice for us all: Trust God, have faith and live life to the fullest. Don’t put off anything until tomorrow, and tell your family and friends you love them.”