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In June 2013, Haruko received shocking news. She was diagnosed with Stage 2 Estrogen Positive Breast Cancer. After the initial shock, Haruko underwent a single mastectomy and chemotherapy. She learned about the programs at Wellness House, attended a film screening about breast cancer, and later joined the Rush-Oak Park Breast Cancer Group.

Betty Lofton has always practiced gratitude, even before her journey with cancer. Her journey began in November 2019 after a routine mammogram led to Betty’s diagnosis with breast cancer. “I was getting a lot of information from my surgeon and oncologist who believed my cancer was estrogen-driven,” says Betty. To learn more about the cancer experience, Betty participated in two Wellness House support groups at Rush-Oak Park. Betty also participated in Mile Square Health Center Programs Cooking for Cancer, Thriving and Surviving, Tai Chi, Total Body Stretch, Soul Chat and the Mindfulness Series.

“I remember it as if it were yesterday. Just three weeks after Kevin’s well-baby checkup, he began complaining of pain in his foot. At first, it only happened at night, but soon the frequency increased, and Kevin started having trouble climbing the stairs. At the time, I was working 4–6 days a month as a nurse at the hospital. When I shared Kevin’s symptoms, some of my peers reassured me by saying their sons also complained of “growing pains.” Looking back, those words echo in my mind as I think of how quickly things changed for us.

We invite you to join us at Wellness House for an inspiring evening with Dr. Jim Olson of Seattle Children’s Hospital, a leading physician-scientist whose 25-year career has been dedicated to improving treatments for children with brain cancer.   Dr. Olson will share the latest updates on his groundbreaking research aimed at discovering therapies that are both more effective and less toxic than current options. His pioneering work has led to over a dozen clinical trials, including the creation of Tumor Paint—a revolutionary drug that helps surgeons distinguish cancerous tissue from healthy brain tissue. Today, his innovative efforts are exploring how a child’s own immune cells can be used to fight cancer.

And just like that, Hinsdale is back in the rhythm of life! While I’m probably the only person in town trying to hang on to the last fleeting days of the summer heat, I definitely feel the pull toward fall. With kids back in school, soccer nets up at the parks and “Friday Night Lights” festivities in full effect, we’re now officially looking at our calendars for what’s coming up on the social scene. There may not be another fall event as highly anticipated as the Wellness House Ball. Set at the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel in Chicago on Oct. 18, this is a night set to sparkle, as well-heeled guests arrive at a glistening venue of gold and jade accents. With the illuminated skyline as a backdrop, this event always draws the crème de la crème of Hinsdale society.

Chicago Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg bravely shared his journey with metastatic prostate cancer before his passing in July, serving as a powerful advocate for talking about the disease and getting screenings for early detection. Dr. Russell Szmulewitz, professor of medicine and director of the genitourinary oncology program at UChicago Medicine’s Comprehensive Cancer Center, said such high-profile advocates for prostate health can destigmatize the topic for men reluctant to discuss sensitive health issues. “These public-facing cases have opened up people’s eyes to the fact that this affects more than 300,000 men a year,” Szmulewitz said. “Even for those that aren’t affected by the illness, it makes it a little bit personal and legitimizes the struggle that (patients) face with their illness. They know that they’re not alone and that even famous people are battling this illness.” September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, and Wellness House is hosting its annual Hot Topics in Prostate Cancer symposium on Saturday, Sept 27, where Szmulewitz will present updates in medical oncology as one of the participating physicians (see Page 19 for details).