You’re not getting any younger – unless you live in The Villages. According to Vicki, it’s easy to forget your age in the active community.
“We do so much here,” she said. “Everyone is out there, knee braces on, our little aches and pains, but we don’t stop. We’re gonna play no matter what. You forget we’re in a retirement community. I don’t feel like I’m retired.”
A former teacher and Tampa Bay native, Vicki is an avid golfer and pickleball buff. She’s also a long-time patient of The Villages Health and Specialty Care, and she enjoys quick access to essential services. She’s not one to sit around for long, so the care model fits her lifestyle.
“It’s such a blessing,” she said, “especially at this age because you need stuff done all the time. I love not waiting for appointments. I never have to wait for anything.”
Vicki’s medical visits, however, have not always yielded good news. In 2021, a routine mammogram came back abnormal, and Vicki was advised to get a needle biopsy. “They spotted something on the Xray, these tiny crystals in my breasts,” she said.
Aside from skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, According to The American Cancer Society. Although incidence rates continue to rise, and 1 in 8 women will develop the disease, death rates have decreased since 1989 due to early screening and awareness. Like Vicki, many women won’t experience symptoms when the cancer is diagnosed.
Taking the news in stride, Vicki prayed for a positive outcome and set off for the pickleball courts. “I have a pickleball friend who helps people with cancer, so I said, “Hey I got diagnosed and I’m going for a needle biopsy. I’ll need to get my ducks in a row.”
Vicki learned she was HER2 positive and would need lumpectomy surgery. Her world suddenly shifted, and she went from carefree play with friends to chemotherapy sessions among strangers. There were medical terms to learn, treatment options to discuss, and questions that eluded answers.
“Looking back, I don’t know how I did it, because it was really hard, and I prayed,” Vicki said. “And I’m not a religious. person, but I knew God was with me and helped me, and I thought about the support I had from so many people.”
Support & Sisterhood
Support came in bold shades of pink from a sympathetic sisterhood – neighbors, friends, acquaintances and more. Scrolling through photos on her tablet and phone, Vicki recalls the people who rallied for the cause. In some pictures, Vicki sports a fun, fuchsia wig. In others, large groups of women hold signs with positive affirmations: Your sisters are with you every step of the way. You got this!
“I don’t even know some of these people,” Vicki says, humility choking her voice.
Navigating her medical options was at times overwhelming, but it was helpful to speak with other breast cancer survivors. “They told me how it felt when they had this or that done, and everyone’s different, but I learned about their experiences.”
According to Brooke Leever, psychologist with The Villages Health, help may come from different avenues during difficult times. “It is unlikely only one person will provide every kind of connection – we need some sense of community. It can be beneficial to identify who or where we go for diverse types of support, so we do not expect superficial or practical support to also provide deeper emotional support, or vice versa.”
Vicki created a personal web page on the Give In Kind platform, which allows users to share their stories, photos, health updates, and important requests. Post surgery, she thanked friends for the generous meals they prepared, but preferred companions to accompany her on walks. “There was too much food,” she jokes. “I had to give it away.”
The ability to communicate her needs empowered others to truly partner with her as she journeyed towards recovery.
In addition to friends and family, caregivers and clinicians came to her aid. “I’d get a call from my primary care doctor, making sure I was following up or doing what I needed to do, making sure I was on the right road,” she said. “The whole time, The Villages Health has been very positive, very supportive.”
Vicki later opted to have a double mastectomy and is now in remission. These days, her prayers are both simple and profound. “I pray for kindness. To be kind to people every day.”
Cancer called the shots for a while, but with strength and a solid team of supporters, Vicki ultimately won the game. True to form, she continues to swing her paddle with grit and gather with friends on the course or the court.
“We’re in a blessed state in our lives right now,” she said. “I’m so grateful to look at the sunrise in the morning, to be around good people.”
Post-Cancer Considerations for Patients
In a study of 166 women, 82.5% had symptoms of PTSD following a breast cancer diagnosis. The Villages Health offers collaborative services to meet the physical, mental, and emotional needs of patients. This collaborative model keeps us in sync and able to combine multiple programs, services, and insights to care for each patient. If you or someone you love is struggling with grief, find resources here.