Self-advocacy, support and strength: Kathy Panek’s story

Hailey Heseltine ECB Publishing, Inc. “Life just smacks you in the face sometimes, and oh Lord, it was one of those times. It's just impossible to wrap your head around.” Those were the words of Monticello resident Kathy Panek as she recalled the day that she realized she had breast cancer. It was during her annual mammogram appointment in 2009 that she was shown her latest x-ray image, which depicted an abnormal lump in her breast. What followed was years of treatment and resilience, and