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BREAST CANCER AWARENESS Circling the horses Jackson County horsewomen learned firsthand the importance of mammograms Comment By John Darling for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By John Darling for the Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 6, 2015 at 2:00 AM Updated Oct 6, 2015 at 6:42 PM By John Darling for the Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 6, 2015 at 2:00 AM Updated Oct 6, 2015 at 6:42 PM --> Paint it Pink For more stories about local women who have fought breast cancer, see "Paint It Pink," the Mail Tribune's annual breast cancer awareness issue, coming Wednesday, Oct. 7, ... » Read more X Paint it Pink For more stories about local women who have fought breast cancer, see "Paint It Pink," the Mail Tribune's annual breast cancer awareness issue, coming Wednesday, Oct. 7, inside the Mail Tribune and Daily Tidings. » Social News When Jackie Decker was diagnosed with breast cancer, she “sort of shut down and went into denial.” Just get the treatments and don’t talk about it — that was her strategy, she says. It’s one that didn’t last very long, as other women confided to her that they were breast cancer survivors and talked about how they processed it personally and got overwhelming support from others. An avid horsewoman, the White City resident in 2013 opened up with her story among other members of the Jackson County Horseman’s Association. Women members followed her urging about the importance of early detection and got mammograms immediately. Two of them, Carol Dombrowsky of Medford and Sandi Humphres, turned up positive and were successfully treated. Decker had a lumpectomy and two months of radiation. Eager to spread the word about early detection and enhance the availability of mammograms, the women are putting on the JCHA’s Ta-Ta Trot Horse Show at 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at The Expo in Central Point. The event is free and open to the public. For details, see http://bit.ly/1iSae2U . Proceeds will go toward free mammograms from Asante Foundation at Rogue Regional Medical Center. “Before I got cancer, I just took it (health) for granted, but having come through surgery and radiation, I’m much more appreciative of life and supportive of friends and the club and what we’re able to do,” says Decker. This is the second such horse show by the JCHA. At first, members wanted to raise money to help other members, but they decided to use the money in a way that would help women in the whole region, says JCHA member Stasea Martin. Club women are “showing initiative and heart” by lightening up the “ta-ta” (ta-tas are a slang term for breasts) part of the show, dressing themselves and horses up in gaudy bras and marching about, said Decker in a Skype interview from Ecuador, where she was vacationing last week. “It’s one of those things that, if you’ve never been hit with it, you really have to think twice when you’re past a certain age, about 50,” says Dombrowsky. “I had no idea I would get cancer. It had been three years since I had a mammogram.” Breast cancer is a scary subject, says Dombrowsky, but “Jackie and Sandi are my heroes. They saved my life. You should do the mammogram every year. I want to live another 20 years — and you have to be cancer-free for five years before you can say you’re OK. I’m just one year into it.” Decker adds, “We don’t need to hide from cancer. We need to support each other to discover cancer early and get the treatment we need.” The show raised $2,400 last year, enough for more than 30 mammograms, said Dombrowsky. The procedure takes about 15 minutes. John Darling is a freelance writer living in Ashland. Email him at [email protected] . By John Darling for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By John Darling for the Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 6, 2015 at 2:00 AM Updated Oct 6, 2015 at 6:42 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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