Ruth Pollard's Breast Cancer Story

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By KULR Staff
By Kenneth Wong

Story Published: Oct 24, 2011 at 7:25 AM MDT

Story Updated: Oct 24, 2011 at 7:25 AM MDT

BILLINGS - October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and, as part of Breast Cancer Month, KULR-8 is bringing you the stories of women who are battling the terrible disease and those who are beating the odds. October 23, KULR-8 caught up with a woman who never thought it would happen to her.

At the age of 43, Ruth Pollard, a mother of four and wife, got the news. “I got called back for another mammogram and some further tests, and I was told that I had breast cancer,” said Ruth.

Ruth immediately turned to her husband and family. “It was pretty shocking. There's no family history, Ruth's incredibly healthy, and a vegetarian and stuff like that,” said Tim Pollard, Ruth’s husband.

Ruth is a fighter though. She decided to act quickly before the disease could even begin to take over. “I had surgery within two weeks, and was cancer-free as of that date. I didn't need radiation or chemo,” recounts Ruth.

“I was relieved, knowing that she was gonna be okay, and everything was gonna go back to normal,” said Ruth’s eldest daughter Grace.

Ruth is healthy now, and the family has decided to not let what happened in 2010 define who they are. “That's not who we are. We're a family, we love each other. We are Christians, we love God, and that defines who we are. These other things, come and go,” said Tim.

The Pollards leaned on each other through the difficult days, and in the end it taught them all a lesson. “I think in one sense, we appreciate the value of life more,” said Tim.

“Now that it's over, I can look back and go, ‘it's ok, it's gonna be ok,’" said Grace.

The Pollards hope the story of their mother can send a message to other women who are or will be in her shoes; that it's going to be okay. Ruth wants other women to know how important it is to begin mammograms at an early age. Her cancer was aggressive, but it was caught at the right time.

KULR-8 is also looking for more inspiring stories from Breast Cancer survivors, or those being treated for the illness. Click here for Breast Cancer stories and more information.

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