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Local artist battling breast cancer surrounded by support Tika Weeks, an art teacher and small-business owner, is fighting breast cancer with the help of friends she didn't even know she had. Mail Tribune / Jamie Lusch Friday Nov 4, 2016 at 3:52 PM Nov 4, 2016 at 3:52 PM Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune MEDFORD — A local art teacher diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year has found strength and support from a slew of local artists and people she didn't even know. Medford resident Tika Nicole Weeks, owner of Visions of Wonderland art studio, began battling breast cancer in May. The 42-year-old is finishing a 16-session round of chemotherapy, and she says donations and well wishes from total strangers and fellow art enthusiasts have helped her through the ups and downs of treatment. Weeks, an art teacher for 15 years, opened a mobile art studio just over a year ago. She organizes private painting parties in local homes, businesses and other venues. She provides art supplies and a pop-up art studio, and people hire her for birthdays, holidays, fundraisers, retreats and all types of celebrations. When Weeks found a lump in her breast last year, she was so busy focusing on her new venture that she initially put off seeing her doctor, until a friend was diagnosed with breast cancer. "I had found a couple lumps three years ago, and at first I didn't rush in because last time they were cysts," she said. "But when my friend was diagnosed that same month, I felt like I really needed to go ahead and go. I was diagnosed in early May with breast cancer, and 40 days later I went in for a double mastectomy." As if her situation wasn't bad enough, Weeks' father was diagnosed with colon cancer at the same time. "It was a big blow for my family getting both pieces of news so close together," Weeks said. Not long after beginning chemo, Weeks was faced with decreasing her workload. But when chemo took its toll, artist Kim Samitore, who owns a business similar to Weeks' called Art 4 Joy, reached out. "I had just decided I would have to cancel some classes and focus on my health when I got a message from her," Weeks said. Samitore, who lost her grandmother to cancer, said learning of a fellow artist's diagnosis tugged at her heartstrings. "My Gramma was a huge, important part of my life. I lost three grandparents in three months when I was 16, so I was closest to my grandmother. She fought breast cancer three times and beat it, then she died of bone cancer," Samitore said. "No matter what she was doing throughout the course of treatment, she was a very positive person in my life, and she always wanted to make you laugh," Samitore said. "Tika is a very positive person, so I was really inspired to want to do something to help her." A fundraiser for Samitore involved almost 50 art students from three local studios, most of whom had a mother, sister or daughter who had battled breast cancer. Class participant Misty Burcham volunteered as a bartender at Samitore's event after she learned of Weeks' story. "When I heard about Tika, I jumped all over the opportunity," Burcham said. "I don't know Tika personally, but when I read about what she was going through, it made me want to help her. Breast cancer is something that has touched so many of us women, and in times like this, we have to band together and help each other. I don't think anybody of a reasonable age could not say they haven't known someone who has been affected." Weeks said the love of girlfriends new and old helps her to stay positive and moving forward. She is adding alternative treatments such as oxygen chambers and diet modification to her medical treatments. And she plans to open a permanent studio this month. "It's all an important part of me staying strong. I'm the crazy lady in the chemo room walking laps while everybody else is napping. From the very beginning, that's been the approach, not to feel sorry for myself," Weeks said. "It's been such a blessing to have such a show of support from women I didn't even know. For another studio and all these women to come together and show this support and solidarity, it's just very empowering and very heartwarming." An online donation account has been set up to help Weeks cover the cost of alternative therapies, in addition to costs not covered by insurance (www.paypal.me/twcancerfight). Weeks said she could have some gaps in coverage because of paperwork snafus with her insurance company. All donations will go directly to treatment-related expenses. Donations can also be made at Bank of the Cascades, deposited to "Tika Weeks Cancer Fighting Fund." For information about Visions of Wonderland, see Weeks' website at www.tikanicole.com or her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/VisionsofWonderland — Buffy Pollock is a freelance writer living in Medford. Email her at [email protected].