Tulsa Surgical Nurse Becomes Breast Cancer Patient

Robin Pratt wants to make sure women - especially African American women -&nbsp;are talking about&nbsp;breast cancer&nbsp;so they&#39;ll see their doctor sooner for screening. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.newson6.com/category/118557/leannes-story">LeAnne&#39;s Story</a>

Friday, August 12th 2011, 9:45 am

By: News On 6


LeAnne Taylor News On 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -- It's estimated one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer some time in her life.

It could be your mother, your sister, your daughter - even you.

I want you to meet one Tulsa woman whose mission now is to spread the word about survival.

Robin Pratt is a surgical nurse, working along side the doctor in the operating room, making sure to take care of the patient. But about three years ago, she became the patient when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. 

"Initially, I've got to get this out of my body ASAP because I knew if I waited around, if it's aggressive I don't want to wait," said Robin Pratt.

Robin's cancer would need surgery and chemotherapy to treat.

"I took out a cancer policy to get back all of my benefits and because of that - that cashed out, and I was able to stay at home and do what I needed to do as far as getting better, on my feet," she said.

"A lot of prayer, a lot of friends, a lot of family - my family moved in with me."

Robin says she's found strength through family, especially her daughter. As a single mom with a daughter in college, it hasn't been easy, but she's determined.

"It's not nothing to be ashamed of because it's just something that happens. You didn't do anything wrong. It just happened, and you have to take care of it. Do what you have to do to get through it."

Robin is lucky she found her breast cancer early. That's the key to survival. Research shows breast cancer is the most common cancer among African American women and in Tulsa County; these women are diagnosed with late stage breast cancer twice as often as other women.

Robin wants to make sure women are talking about this so they'll see their doctor sooner.

"Some people in the African American community, like you said, don't speak of it," she said. "It's almost like shunned, you know, when you're diagnosed. Me, I was the opposite. I had to tell everybody so that I could say you can survive. You just have to follow up, follow up, follow up."

Robin plans to join hundreds of other survivors along with thousands of family and friends for this year's race.

Registration is underway, so if you're interested in putting together a team or joining my team, it's very simple to sign up to race. Click on LeAnne's Story and follow the prompts.

The race is Saturday, September 17th and it's moving to ONEOK Field. I hope you'll join us.

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