News From Terre Haute, Indiana

Sports

June 28, 2012

Teeing up awareness

Cancer survivor organizes golf outing to raise funds to fight disease

TERRE HAUTE — When Amy Bagnoche of Terre Haute went to the Clara Fairbanks Center for Women for a mammogram in July 2011, she didn’t think she would be diagnosed with breast cancer because — in her mind — she didn’t have time for it.

At 44, she and husband Rick were raising two teen-age children and she was happy with her job at HP Products out of Indianapolis.

So when medical personnel called to tell Amy that the doctor wanted to discuss her test results, she brushed it off at first. And when the doctor confirmed that she indeed had cancer, she didn’t believe it because she was feeling fine.

“We had just gone to French Lick for a weekend with five different couples and had the time of our lives,” Amy Bagnoche recalled.

After digesting the news, Amy said her first question to the doctor was whether she would lose her long hair.

“Looking back, losing my hair wasn’t really that big a deal,” she acknowledged. “But at the time, I thought it was a big deal… When it came time, I never wore a wig. I always wore scarves and hats.”

When Amy knew she was going to lose her hair, she arranged for about eight inches to be cut off and donated to “Locks of Love.”

“Then it just started falling out in chunks,” she added.

Amy Bagnoche received 10 chemotherapy treatments — each lasting several hours — from August through Dec. 13 before undergoing a mastectomy with partial reconstruction Jan. 12. In February, doctors told her that she didn’t need radiation or additional treatments because the tumor was gone.

“They removed it all,” she stressed. “Everything looked good.”

Now 45 and her hair grown back curly, Amy said doctors recommended she continue with her medicine and different types of therapy in addition to follow-up visits and tests in the upcoming years.

Now it’s summer and she’s still trying to regain her strength and conditioning, but she’s noticed significant progress. Her sleeping habits have improved considerably too.

Although expenses for the several-month ordeal were great, the Bagnoches could afford them. But plenty of other families in the same situation struggle to keep up financially.

“There’s always a need for money because breast cancer is extremely expensive,” Amy Bagnoche pointed out. “They say if you’re Stage 1 or 2, [the cost] is between $200,000 and $300,000. For Stages 3 and 4, $400,000 to $500,000. . . There are a lot of expenses.”

That’s why the Bagnoches came up with the idea of organizing the inaugural “Tee Up for TaTas” golf outing to promote breast cancer awareness. It’s scheduled for July 13, at Hulman Links.

Twenty-eight teams of four will compete in a scramble format for various prizes, including $300 for the first place, $200 for second and $100 for third.

Amy said 75 percent of the money collected will go to the Wabash Valley affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure not-for-profit organization and the other 25 percent will go to the Komen research fund.

Amy and Rick discussed the possibility of organizing this tournament when she was undergoing chemotherapy in late 2011. They finalized plans for it in April when she realized she was done with her treatments.

“The response has been absolutely unbelievable,” she emphasized. “It’s almost like everybody you ask [for donations or sponsorships] says ‘yes.’ I have so many volunteers [that] I’m not even sure where everyone is going to park their cars because everyone wants to help and everyone has been touched by someone who’s had breast cancer.”

Amy said she has three goals in mind for her uniquely named tournament.

“First, I want everyone to say, ‘This was the best tournament I’ve played in this summer,’ and I really think it will be,” she mentioned.

“I also want to raise money for everyone who needs it — the underinsured, the people who can’t afford mammograms. And I want to raise awareness … I want the three [goals] to go hand-in-hand with each other. If we make it the best tournament [this year], maybe we can make it two flights [with 28 teams in each] next year.”

Although team entries for the tournament are no longer needed, more information about donating prizes or sponsoring a hole can be obtained by e-mailing Amy Bagnoche at amy@bagnochesports.com.

Among the primary sponsors are NGC Corp. Aviation Consultant for Terre Haute International Airport and the Terre Haute Regional Hospital medical and dental staff, plus there already are 70 (and counting) hole sponsors. There also will be a prize for the participant and volunteer who wear the most creative pink attire.

“Maybe God made me get this [cancer] to make me a better, giving person,” Amy Bagnoche reflected while holding back tears. “With this tournament, maybe we can raise some money and save a life.”

 

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