Breast cancer survivor Trich Worthington believes in regular physicals

Breast cancer survivor Trich Worthington believes in regular physicals - A man and a woman holding a cake - Sunglasses

It’s been a year and Trich Worthington is doing fine.

The Senior Vice President and Retail Sales Manager of IBERIABANK, and Marathon resident, discovered two small cancerous tumors during a routine mammogram performed at her annual checkup. She immediately sought two opinions and opted for a lumpectomy and radiation.

Her “takeaway” from the experience also has two points:

• Women need to make their health a priority: “We are nurturers. We take care of parents, grandparents, kids and spouses. We put ourselves at the end of line. But we have to take care of ourselves. Our health is worthy of respect.”

• Seek out and accept help. “I can’t say enough good things about my doctors, friends, family, IBERIABANK and the American Red Cross.”

According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer death rates have been declining since 1989. The group attributes the decrease to early detection. Currently, 61 percent of breast cancers are diagnosed at a localized stage for which the five-year survival rate is 99 percent.

Trich said she’s always been a big believer in regular mammograms after a health scare in her 20s.

“Ignorance is not bliss,” she said. “Not wanting to know doesn’t help. Don’t wait.”

Besides telling her story, Trich is also on a personal mission to spread the word about American Cancer Society’s resources available to local women. She received a referral from her doctor to the American Cancer Society for vouchers at an extended stay hotel in Coral Gables.

“They greatly subsidized the rate and made it possible for me to stay overnight for all of my radiation treatments — driving up to Miami every day for radiation is impossible,” she said. “The program provided significant savings to me and that was one burden off my shoulders. I didn’t have to worry about the financial aspect.”

After treatment, Trich took the DNA test to see if she had genetic markers for cancer. Fortunately, she doesn’t. “That’s a relief for my children,” she said.

Trich Worthington is married to former Marathon Mayor Pete Worthington and has two children — Eddy (and Kerri) and Kimberley. She has two grandchildren and another on the way.

Sara Matthis thinks community journalism is important, but not serious; likes weird and wonderful children (she has two); and occasionally tortures herself with sprint-distance triathlons, but only if she has a good chance of beating her sister.