50+ Lifestyles

Meet Barb Goettig Honorary Survivor Chair for the 2013 Susan G. Komen Quad-Cities Race for the Cure

By Christina McNamara-Schmidt
Komen Quad Cities PR/Marketing and Sponsorship Chair

At age 43, Davenport’s Barb Goettig went in for her routine mammogram thinking it would be a ‘piece of cake,’ and she’d return to work with no worries. But before she left the doctor’s office, the radiologist said he could see a spot on her right breast and was 99 percent sure it was cancerous.

In celebration of Goettig’s courageous breast cancer journey, the Komen Quad Cities Race for the Cure has named her the Honorary Survivor Chair of the 2013 Race.

After six months of chemo and 30 radiation treatments, Barb completed her therapy. Her co-workers at Per Mar Security and her family helped her through the journey.”This is the card I was dealt – I dealt with it and moved forward with a smile on my face,” said Goettig, now 58.

Barb was nominated for the position by her nieces, Jennifer Stender and Kathleen Myers.

“From the moment Barb was diagnosed with breast cancer, she exhibited great courage and optimism. When discussing possible side effects of treatment, Barb always had the ‘we will see what happens and deal with it’ attitude. She was always positive and full of hope for her recovery,” Stender said.

Barb has participated in the Komen Quad Cities Race for the Cure since the 1990s, but it takes on new significance for her now that she’s a survivor. “It’s a good reminder to all women that you have to take charge of your health. Get that mammogram,” she said. Goettig hopes that she can deliver the message to local women that breast cancer can be survived and that a positive attitude during treatment is irreplaceable in the arsenal of weapons to fight the disease.

Christina McNamara-Schmidt is the Komen Quad Cities PR/Marketing and Sponsorship Chair. she can be reached at
(563) 370-8925 or at cmcschmidt@q.com