By JAN BILESAssociated Press
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Gail Spencer was tightening the lug nuts on the left back tire of her 1996 Chevrolet Nova on a recent Saturday morning as she prepared for the timed trials for a drag race at Heartland Park.
She was switching out the Nova's back, regular-tread tires to slicks.
"You use slicks so you can get better traction," she explained.
Spencer, a veteran race car driver who competes in the Sportsman class, is back doing her own pit work after being diagnosed with breast cancer three years ago.
"I won the first race of the season, and I'd like to win the last," she said.
Spencer's determination to be in the winner's circle at the end of the day and the love of her family are what helped sustain Spencer during her cancer diagnosis, mastectomy and reconstructive surgery.
The petite grandmother of four said cancer changed her life — but not for the worse.
Spencer, who was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer in September 2006 after a routine mammogram, said the potentially fatal disease knocked her out of a "slump" and taught her how to appreciate life again.
"I'd always thought cancer was a death sentence, but it was more like a life extension," she said. "I was not happy I had cancer, but I got an early diagnosis."
Spencer underwent a left-side mastectomy. Recovery from the surgery was difficult because of pain and drainage from the wound.
The radiation therapy that followed the mastectomy left Spencer fatigued, but she was able to continue working at Hallmark Inc., where she had operated a large press for years. She was switched to "light duty," such as cleaning and sorting cards, during her recovery.
Spencer said she underwent a painful tissue expansion, a procedure that allowed her body to "grow" extra skin for use during the breast reconstruction. During the procedure, a silicone balloon expander is inserted under the skin near the area to be repaired and then gradually filled with salt water, causing the skin to stretch and grow.
Tissue expansion is commonly used for breast reconstruction following a mastectomy but also used to repair skin damaged by birth defects, accidents or surgery, and in certain cosmetic procedures.
Spencer's son, Mickey Lockhart, who also drag races at Heartland Park, said he remembers his mother dropping to her knees when a wave of pain took over her body.
"I can't even imagine what it was like," said Lockhart, of Alma.
What kept Spencer's mind off the pain from the tissue expansion was the growth of her son's family to include grandson McKenzie, now 2. Lifting her spirits during the reconstruction surgery in July 2007 was the birth of another grandson, Anthony, now 1. She also has two granddaughters, Patience, 8, and Serenity, 6.
Shortly after her diagnosis, Spencer began taking Tamoxifen, a hormone-blocker used to treat breast cancer. She will continue taking the medication until October 2011.
Spencer said she was lucky her cancer was diagnosed early. If she had had a mammogram six months later, she said she probably would have had to have chemotherapy.
"So I want all women to know to get an early mammogram," she said.
Although Spencer was able to compete in some drag races during her recovery, this season she is able again to change tires and do other pit work. So far this year, she's won two races at Heartland Park.
"She came back this year and has had fun," daughter-in-law Crystal Lockhart said. "It's good she's recovered and now can do what she likes to do."
More importantly, Spencer said, is her renewed passion for life.
"I just knew it was a turning point in my life," she said. "I was in a slump and not appreciating what I have."
Mickey Lockhart said he has seen a positive change in his mother since her cancer diagnosis.
"She doesn't let the little stuff get to her anymore," he said.