Grateful for the opportunity

Becky Matchett still remembers how she felt when she was diagnosed with cancer in 2014.

“I was angry because I felt like I tried to take good care of myself, eat right, exercise,” she said. “I was angry, and I couldn’t pray very well.”

She had retired that August from her hair salon, Beck’s Hair ’Em. Matchett had owned and operated her own business for 47 years.

“At that point, I didn’t really want to tell anybody,” she said. “I needed for it to sink in. I was angry … and my first thought was, ‘I don’t want to die.’”

Eventually, the news spread to Facebook. That’s when Matchett started getting cards from friends, former customers and family. She had more than 80 cards by the time she was cancer-free.

“I let those people pray for me. I couldn’t for a while,” she recalled.

Matchett had squamous cell carcinoma, or “middle skin” cancer. It had been brought on by the human papillomavirus (HPV), a condition she pointed out now can be prevented with a vaccine for pre-teens.

Her doctor explained she would be treated without surgery. He reassured her that cancer treatment would be “just a bump in the road,” she said.

Matchett didn’t know that her cancer had been at stage 4 until after she began recovery. But she praised local doctors for how quickly they began treating her, noting she found the lump on Dec. 15, 2014, and she was diagnosed by Dec. 22, 2014.

“It’s important to have a family doctor that will get the ball (rolling), get it started, so to speak,” she said. “The quicker you get into treatment, the better you are.”

Looking through the planner she used during that time, Matchett said she had numerous appointments over six months. She recalled wearing a chemotherapy bag for 48 hours and undergoing 30 treatments.

“They kept me busy enough that I didn’t really think about it,” she said.

Support from others became important. That’s one reason why she joined Jay County Cancer Society’s board of directors — to give back to the community. (The organization will host its annual Jay County Cancer Cruise today at Jay County Fairgrounds with a drive-thru from 4 to 6 p.m., carnival games, prizes, food and a bounce house from 6 to 8 p.m. and a candlelight service at 8 p.m.)

“I’m grateful they asked me to be on the board,” she said. “I’m grateful to be able to help and give back.”

That’s also how she got closer with friend Alice Strohl, who serves as secretary for Jay County Cancer Society’s board. They’ve known each other for more than 40 years now, and both women now share a similar title — cancer survivor.

Strohl has overcome cancer several times, starting with uterine cancer in 1999. She underwent a hysterectomy and received radiation therapy for six months.

“You just don’t want to hear that word, ‘cancer,’ you know,” said Strohl. “But you live with it.”

In 2015, she was diagnosed with colon cancer and underwent surgery along with chemotherapy. Strohl had another surgery in 2017 and on Feb. 6 this year. She continued helping out at her family’s business, Strohl Appliance and Electronics, as she could during her treatments.

“You go on, you live your life as normal as you can. That’s all you can do,” said Strohl.

Throughout their treatments, Strohl and Matchett utilized Jay County Cancer Society’s assistance with “the little things,” like gas for trips to and from appointments. 

“I feel like sometimes the Jay County Cancer Society is the best kept secret,” Matchett said.

Jay County Cancer Society offers support to any Jay County resident undergoing treatment, including help with insurance copays, medications, medical supplies and mileage reimbursements.

“Don’t be too proud to ask for the help, because it’s there,” said Matchett.