ALBANY - A simple hug from a friend warned Juda native Joan Kamholz that something wasn't right with her body.
"When my friend greeted me with a hug, it hurt my breast," she recalls. With her annual mammogram scheduled a few weeks away, Kamholz, who lives near Albany, called her physician and moved up her appointment. A subsequent ultrasound and biopsy unveiled the source of her discomfort, breast cancer.
Although this news was given to Kamholz two years ago, the memory remains vivid. "Hearing the doctor tell me I had breast cancer took my breath away," she says.
Kamholz, at 50, was in the midst of planning her retirement party, celebrating 30 years in law enforcement. She began her career at the Green County Sheriff's Department, where she worked for 16 years, followed by 14 years at the Dane County Sheriff's Department.
"When I started my career in law enforcement, I always planned on retiring when I turned 50," Kamholz says. "I was so excited for my future and then a few months short of my retirement, I found out I had breast cancer. That definitely wasn't part of my plan."
Determined to be rid of the cancer as fast as possible, she scheduled surgery the following week. However, after the lumpectomy, tissue samples showed there was more cancer.
"My oncologist said I had a choice of chemotherapy and radiation or a mastectomy," says Kamholz. "It really wasn't a hard choice. My life was more important than my breast."
Wanting this nightmare behind her, Kamholz had her breast removed in April 2007. Further testing fortunately concluded the cancer had not spread to her lymph nodes.
Now two years later, Kamholz celebrates being cancer free by participating in the 12th annual Susan G. Komen Madison Race for the Cure on May 30 at Willow Island at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison. The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Madison Affiliate has named Kamholz a 2009 Komen Race for the Cure honorary chair in gratitude for her volunteerism in the fight against breast cancer.
The Race is the largest fundraising and breast cancer awareness event for the Madison Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure that raises money for research, education, screening and treatment of breast cancer in Dane County. Residents in all of south-central Wisconsin benefit from the organization's fundraising.
Welcoming remarks begin at 8 a.m. after a group survivor photo at 7:45 a.m. The event includes a 5k run beginning at 8:30 a.m., a 5k walk at 8:45 a.m. and a one-mile family fun course at 9:15 a.m. To register, visit www.komenmadison.org. Registration packets and shirts may be obtained at the Alliant Energy Center on Friday, May 29 between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. or from 6 to 7:45 a.m. on Saturday.
This year's Race will be the third time Kamholz participates in the event wearing a pink survivor's shirt. Weeks after her mastectomy, Kamholz walked in her first Race for the Cure in Madison. "When I crossed the finish line my first time, an event coordinator asked me how long I'd been a breast cancer survivor. Most women were answering in years, and I said it's been one month," she remembers. "The woman's jaw dropped, and I just smiled."
Kamholz decided that day she wanted to do more to support Komen for the Cure. She became a volunteer at the Madison office and gives her time every week to do whatever the organization needs done to support their goals. She also spearheads local breast cancer awareness and education efforts at law enforcement agencies across Dane County.
Last year Kamholz started a program with female inmates in jail. She also coordinated the Passionately Pink for a Cure fundraiser with Dane County law enforcement agencies in which deputies and other law enforcement officials made a donation to Komen for the Cure to wear pink pins and pink uniforms for the day. "I'm trying to expand the program to include all county agencies this fall," she says.
"Joan does a great job spreading the Komen mission," says Michelle Heitzinger, executive director at the Komen Madison Affiliate. "She is an inspiration, so full of hope."
Kamholz is thankful for the support of her big family, including parents David and Vera Kamholz, two sisters, LaVonne and Karen, and five brothers, Jim, Chris, Craig, Kurt and Larry, and her circle of friends for helping her get through her experience with breast cancer. "They helped me to keep my spirits up and to stay positive," she says. "Now I want to do the same for other women with breast cancer."
Many family members and friends will join her team, the Kamholz Klan, for the Race. "I feel privileged to be an honorary chair," Kamholz says. "I want to show my gratitude by assembling a big team, hopefully 100 members or more."
Kamholz truly believes there is a reason for everything. Getting breast cancer a few months before her retirement party definitely wasn't part of her life plan, but she realizes now the timing wasn't so bad. Retired from law enforcement, she has more time to give to the fight against breast cancer.
"Komen Madison, its staff and volunteers do unbelievable work to teach women about breast cancer and to provide resources in the community," says Kamholz. "It's an honor to walk in the Race for the Cure and to support this organization."
Susan G. Komen for the Cure originated in 1982 when Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. Today, the organization is the world's largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activities fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures.
Kamholz has learned that life is too short to not take advantage of every day. That's why she is trying to make a difference by sharing her story and inspiring other women. "I hope women can learn from my story to stay positive and never give up," she says.
"When my friend greeted me with a hug, it hurt my breast," she recalls. With her annual mammogram scheduled a few weeks away, Kamholz, who lives near Albany, called her physician and moved up her appointment. A subsequent ultrasound and biopsy unveiled the source of her discomfort, breast cancer.
Although this news was given to Kamholz two years ago, the memory remains vivid. "Hearing the doctor tell me I had breast cancer took my breath away," she says.
Kamholz, at 50, was in the midst of planning her retirement party, celebrating 30 years in law enforcement. She began her career at the Green County Sheriff's Department, where she worked for 16 years, followed by 14 years at the Dane County Sheriff's Department.
"When I started my career in law enforcement, I always planned on retiring when I turned 50," Kamholz says. "I was so excited for my future and then a few months short of my retirement, I found out I had breast cancer. That definitely wasn't part of my plan."
Determined to be rid of the cancer as fast as possible, she scheduled surgery the following week. However, after the lumpectomy, tissue samples showed there was more cancer.
"My oncologist said I had a choice of chemotherapy and radiation or a mastectomy," says Kamholz. "It really wasn't a hard choice. My life was more important than my breast."
Wanting this nightmare behind her, Kamholz had her breast removed in April 2007. Further testing fortunately concluded the cancer had not spread to her lymph nodes.
Now two years later, Kamholz celebrates being cancer free by participating in the 12th annual Susan G. Komen Madison Race for the Cure on May 30 at Willow Island at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison. The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Madison Affiliate has named Kamholz a 2009 Komen Race for the Cure honorary chair in gratitude for her volunteerism in the fight against breast cancer.
The Race is the largest fundraising and breast cancer awareness event for the Madison Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure that raises money for research, education, screening and treatment of breast cancer in Dane County. Residents in all of south-central Wisconsin benefit from the organization's fundraising.
Welcoming remarks begin at 8 a.m. after a group survivor photo at 7:45 a.m. The event includes a 5k run beginning at 8:30 a.m., a 5k walk at 8:45 a.m. and a one-mile family fun course at 9:15 a.m. To register, visit www.komenmadison.org. Registration packets and shirts may be obtained at the Alliant Energy Center on Friday, May 29 between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. or from 6 to 7:45 a.m. on Saturday.
This year's Race will be the third time Kamholz participates in the event wearing a pink survivor's shirt. Weeks after her mastectomy, Kamholz walked in her first Race for the Cure in Madison. "When I crossed the finish line my first time, an event coordinator asked me how long I'd been a breast cancer survivor. Most women were answering in years, and I said it's been one month," she remembers. "The woman's jaw dropped, and I just smiled."
Kamholz decided that day she wanted to do more to support Komen for the Cure. She became a volunteer at the Madison office and gives her time every week to do whatever the organization needs done to support their goals. She also spearheads local breast cancer awareness and education efforts at law enforcement agencies across Dane County.
Last year Kamholz started a program with female inmates in jail. She also coordinated the Passionately Pink for a Cure fundraiser with Dane County law enforcement agencies in which deputies and other law enforcement officials made a donation to Komen for the Cure to wear pink pins and pink uniforms for the day. "I'm trying to expand the program to include all county agencies this fall," she says.
"Joan does a great job spreading the Komen mission," says Michelle Heitzinger, executive director at the Komen Madison Affiliate. "She is an inspiration, so full of hope."
Kamholz is thankful for the support of her big family, including parents David and Vera Kamholz, two sisters, LaVonne and Karen, and five brothers, Jim, Chris, Craig, Kurt and Larry, and her circle of friends for helping her get through her experience with breast cancer. "They helped me to keep my spirits up and to stay positive," she says. "Now I want to do the same for other women with breast cancer."
Many family members and friends will join her team, the Kamholz Klan, for the Race. "I feel privileged to be an honorary chair," Kamholz says. "I want to show my gratitude by assembling a big team, hopefully 100 members or more."
Kamholz truly believes there is a reason for everything. Getting breast cancer a few months before her retirement party definitely wasn't part of her life plan, but she realizes now the timing wasn't so bad. Retired from law enforcement, she has more time to give to the fight against breast cancer.
"Komen Madison, its staff and volunteers do unbelievable work to teach women about breast cancer and to provide resources in the community," says Kamholz. "It's an honor to walk in the Race for the Cure and to support this organization."
Susan G. Komen for the Cure originated in 1982 when Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. Today, the organization is the world's largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activities fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures.
Kamholz has learned that life is too short to not take advantage of every day. That's why she is trying to make a difference by sharing her story and inspiring other women. "I hope women can learn from my story to stay positive and never give up," she says.