Post Messenger Recorder -

Volunteering and 4-H were two things they knew they had in common, but recently Debbie Myers and Karen Buck learned that each other are cancer survivors.

Myers and Buck were named the Honorary Cancer Survivors for the Relay For Life of Green County from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., on Saturday, June 22, 2019, at Stateline Ice and Community Expo (SLICE), 1632 4th Avenue West in Monroe. The theme is M*A*S*H.

Juda: Debbie Myers

Myers said it had been about 10 years since she had a mammogram and in 2016, the clinic that she goes to was offering a $50 gift card for patients who scheduled and completed a mammogram.

After the mammogram, her physician contacted her because some of the cells "didn't look normal."

"My doctors explained that if I was going to get cancer, this was the best kind to get because after several surgeries and six weeks of radiation, the cancer cells were eliminated," said Myers, who is the adult leader for the Next Generation 4-H Club in Juda. "And the chances of getting it back are about 5 percent."

Myers explained that she has six-month check-ups and she has been cancer-free since 2018.

"Very few people knew what my family and I were going through," added Myers. "I never wanted cancer to define who I am. My family was very supportive and my 4-H kids, they took care of things."

Myers said that she wouldn't have wanted to go through the cancer treatments by herself.

"I survived it and it didn't define me," said Myers. "We didn't skip a heartbeat. I was fortunate to have a great group of people who made things happen."

Myers encourages everyone to follow their doctor's recommendations and to go in for regular check-ups.

"It was such a shock to me when the results of the mammogram wasn't negative," said Myers. "A $50 gift card saved my life."

Myers explained that cancer isn't a common health concern in her family and her family members typically live long, healthy lives.

"Maybe my luck wore a little thin," said Myers. "The whole experience turned our lives upside down for about seven months but taught us some valuable lessons including: our blessings and appreciation of family and friends and more appreciation for the simple things in life."

Myers and her husband, Tim, look forward to attending the Relay For Life event on Saturday, along with a few of their children and their families and many of the Next Generation 4-H kiddos.

Brodhead: Karen Buck

Buck said that she was diagnosed with melanoma in 2008. At the time, a friend who was a pediatrician recommended that she go to the Mayo Clinic for treatment.

Photo courtesy of Marian Viney

The other Honorary Survivor for the Relay For Life is Brodhead resident and community volunteer, Karen Buck, sitting along-side her granddaughter, Ayzah King.

"I've had spots removed every year since then until this last year," said Buck, with a sigh and a smile. "Melanoma is one of the deadliest forms of cancers. It can start with the skin but then can spread throughout the body."

Buck said that her family, their grandchildren and the people who she volunteers for and with kept her strong and moving forward with hope.

"After the diagnosis, you certainly wake up and think about the important things in life," said Buck. "I invest even more time in my family and I try to take family members to lots of the events that I'm involved in."

And there are a lot of organizations or events that Buck is involved in, including Family Promise of Green County, Meals on Wheels, 4-H, FFA, Loaves and Fishes, Habitat for Humanity, Green County Ag Chest, Green County Dairy Queens Program, Brodhead's Make a Difference Day and more.

Buck and her husband, John, look forward to attending the Relay For Life event on Saturday, along with some of their children, Arnie, Angel, Amanda, and Ariel, and their families.