Strengthening the mind, body and spirit

By Lora Scripps/The Leeds News

For friends and coworkers Nancy Hunter and Carla Egger, day-to-day life is pretty normal. They work, take care of family, exercise and enjoy an array of activities. They are both a little different when it comes to their backgrounds. Nancy spent most of her time in California before moving to the south and Carla was raised in Springville and now lives in Clay. Nancy has been married to Lamar Davis for the past five years. Carla is divorced. Both have children. Nancy’s are grown. Carla’s are almost there. However, they also share a few common bonds. They both work to help others learn how to nourish the mind, body and spirit. They’re both attractive ladies in the prime of their lives–and they are both battling breast cancer.

Carla has been battling breast cancer for two years. “I went in for a routine mammogram and knew that I had some places in my right breast that just were not right,” she said. “That is when the process began.”

Carla was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer and found out that the cancer had reached everywhere but the organs. “They immediately did a double mastectomy,” she said, adding the doctor said she could just have one side removed, but she pushed for both because she did not want to run the risk of it coming back, especially since it was in an advanced stage. Breast cancer is not uncommon in her family. Both her mother and aunts on both sides of the family have had bouts with the disease. She added that she was already working in massage therapy and was familiar with her body.

“I could tell the changes,” she said.

Carla went through a bout of harsh chemotherapy for a year and started taking a new drug called Perceptin, which is considered a wonder drug for her type of cancer, HER-2/neu+, that feeds off estrogen. She is a patient at St. Vincent’s East and said that she feels lucky that the medicine has worked great so far.

“I had a really decent time through the harsh chemo,” she said. “I had to keep my attitude up and worked to live life to the max.” Carla is still on chemo, but admits every day gets a little better. “They explain it like a lid on a steam pot,” said Carla. “They just want to keep the lid on it and are afraid if they take me completely off the treatments, my body won’t respond if it possibly comes back.” Carla said it has been a tough road, but she is following her dreams. She recently got to stop wearing her wigs. “I finally ditched the wig,” she said, adding they were tough to get rid of after being so used to wearing them. She now has a beautiful head of hair.

Nancy just found out a little over a month ago that she has cancer. ‘It is different from Carla’s, but the same,” she said. “I went in for my annual. They found something and it is in Stage 1.” Nancy’s type of cancer is called Triple Negative Breast Cancer and she said she knows her treatments will be different from her friend. She is a patient at Brookwood Medical Center. “I went in and had a lumpectomy,” she said. “They have also done radiation. I have met some amazing doctors and amazing people that I cannot say enough about what they have done, but I have chemo to look forward to and I start November 4. I have my friend to support me and my wonderful Lamar to be everything I need.” Nancy added she thinks she will be fine. “I’ll be hairless, but fine,” she joked. “I’ve been wearing my hair wild lately to make a statement.” She said she plans on a manicure, pedicure and facial before her first day of chemo.

Both Carla and Nancy take health seriously. Carla is massage therapist and Nancy instructs yoga classes. The two recently made the move from a center in Oneonta to Leeds and have a studio, located in the old Wal-Mart Shopping Center, that is owned and operated by Nancy and Lamar. The studio includes Yoga by Nancy, Natural Bodywork Techniques by Carla and Kung Fu Mind and Body Fitness by Lamar. Carla recently received her degree in massage therapy and will take a test for her license on November 6. She said she loves doing it for living and believes that fitness, yoga and massage go hand and hand for cancer patients. “It can honestly keep the extra pharmaceuticals away,” she said.

Nancy has been doing yoga for the past six years and was certified as an instructor a little over a year ago. “I love it,” she said. “What it does for your body is amazing. Just in mind and spirit, relaxation and mobility.” In Oneonta, Nancy had students from 17 to 72. She said that when she first opened the Oneonta studio, she did not know she had cancer and had no idea where to turn when she found out. She said she hopes that she can still instruct two classes a week while going through treatment. “They say, during chemo, yoga is one of the best things to do,” she said.

They add that they were brought together through mind, body and spirit and that they are excited to have each other to lean on. “She is relaxing the body and I’m working it,” Nancy exclaimed.

Nancy and Carla are two generations of women who are dealing with the same hard truth. They remind ladies, “It does not matter what age. It really doesn’t. It doesn’t matter if you are a health nut. You did not cause it. You didn’t do anything. Cancer just happens and there is so much support out there and such wonderful doctors. Deal with it. Don’t be afraid. Don’t put it off. When you put it off you don’t know what can happen. Practice self-examinations, especially if there is a history of cancer in your family. Teach your daughters, husbands and sons to self-exam. Educate yourself. Knowledge is power. And remember never give up. It is everyone’s fight.”

“We are hoping to build a group here,” said Nancy. “If anyone needs someone to talk to we are here. We have someone who is going through it and someone who is still going through it, but has been through the roughest.”

For more information on the classes and therapy offered call Nancy at 205-568-1166 or Carla at 205-837-8827.