"What I took from this I intend to give to others." That is the goal of breast cancer survivor Margaret McKinney-Arnold, MS, MPA, RN, manager of the African American Women in Touch program at Memorial Hospital, South Bend, IN.

The In Touch program brings breast cancer awareness and treatment to South Bend's minority community.

"Here I was trying to help other women in their journey, so it was quite a shock when I was diagnosed with stage III breast cancer. It wasn't even time for my mammogram when I found my own lump," McKinney-Arnold said.

It is why she is more dedicated than ever in stressing the importance of breast self-exams. Individuals who don't know how to do it need to learn, she said.

At the time of her diagnosis, McKinney-Arnold was working on a master's degree in counseling to better serve her patients, but she believes having breast cancer herself was the fulfillment of a higher plan.

"The irony of the whole thing is I really believe God wanted me to experience more, wanted me to be more involved with what I do," she said.

McKinney-Arnold now understands, better than ever, what her patients' experience.

"I experienced every conceivable side effect and complication from treatment. I never thought the cancer would kill me, but I thought the treatment would," she said.

In facing her own mortality, McKinney-Arnold said one of the things she found was the power of the word "cancer."

"When you hear the word 'cancer' it's like a stop sign," she said. Even though doctors and nurses continue down the road discussing treatment options and outcomes, the patient is still stuck at the stop sign and doesn't hear or process anything else.

This is why McKinney-Arnold - who finished her master's in counseling despite her illness - has made it part of her practice to accompany patients at their doctor appointments if she feels the individual isn't understanding the discussions or receiving complete information about her treatment.

She also understands the value of a good support network. During her own treatment, she said she received the best of care and support from her co-workers, and she works closely with her patients to determine and meet their support needs.

McKinney-Arnold is a regular participant in a support group sponsored by the In Touch program. "It is not a pity party. We always try to keep it positive," she said.

One night, however, as the support group talked about the residual effects of treatment, what was normally a 1-hour meeting turned into a 3-hour gripe session. Suddenly, this struck the group as funny, and they all laughed harder than they had in a long time.

Laughing made them feel so good, they decided they wanted to work on a project related to quality of life after cancer treatment and humor. The result was a book of humorous anecdotes from cancer survivors called Underneath It All: Humor and Breast Cancer. Breast cancer survivors at Memorial Hospital receive a complimentary copy of the book. Others can purchase it for $15. Proceeds go to purchase more complimentary copies.

"I have been a nurse for 32 years. My entire nursing career has been rewarding. I never had a job I didn't like," McKinney-Arnold said. She has worked as a surgical nurse, clinical director of an ICU, in medical sales and now her current job. Her office is in the same building that used to house the nursing school she attended. "I have made a complete circle. It has been one wonderful ride." n

Donna Jones Pelkie is regional editor at ADVANCE.