Issue link: http://www.wacmagazine.com/i/388246
OCTOBER 2014 | Washington Athletic Club Magazine | 25 of those people was Marywilde, who had been treated for breast cancer earlier that same year. In November 2006, Joy underwent surgery to remove the cancer. When the doctors discovered it had spread to all four quadrants of her breast and that 20 lymph nodes had cancerous cells, they opted to perform a mastectomy. Follow-up tests found no indication that Joy's cancer had spread further. Still, her treatment plan involved six months of chemo- therapy, seven weeks of radiation, and a long-term prescription for an anti-cancer drug. Joy exudes warmth and openness but doesn't sugarcoat her experience with chemo, which made her extremely ill. She credits her family—husband Ron, adult daughters Michelle and Robin, and her grandchildren—and her friends, including fellow WAC members, for supporting her. Marywilde also checked in with Joy during her treat- ment and sent flowers on behalf of the women in Joy's Pilates classes. "It's helpful to have a support system around you to encourage and stand with you through • Joy and husband Ron on the Camino de Santiago, below. After a breast cancer diagnosis in 2006, Joy Burgess is not only cancer-free, but she is also vibrant and active. ➤ ➤