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Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Quad Cities

Information from theSusan G. Komen Race for the Cure Quad Cities

The Komen Quad Cities Race for the Cure is embarking on an important milestone~ 30 years of celebrating survivorship and raising funds in the fight against breast cancer.

The Race has named Lisa Craig, 59, of Moline, as the honorary survivor chair for the June 8, 2019 event. After two diagnoses with the disease, Lisa is living with stage 4 metastatic cancer, and she’s living each day to the fullest.

Lisa’s journey with breast cancer began in 2013, when she found a lump herself, only 6 months after having a
mammogram.

Lisa Craig, the honorary survivor chair for the Quad Cities Race for the Cure

“I then had an ultrasound and a biopsy, and found it was a hormone-fueled cancer. An estrogen and progesterone receptor-positive cancer, one of the most common types,” said Craig, who was treated with a unilateral mastectomy, chemotherapy, and medication.

About four years later, during her six month oncology checkup, lumps were found in her clavicle area and in the lymph nodes under her arm. A biopsy showed the cancer had returned. She was then diagnosed with stage 4, metastatic
cancer, and was treated with 16 rounds of chemotherapy and 33 rounds of radiation.

The first time Lisa was diagnosed, she was in shock.

“I hadn’t considered I could get breast cancer, even though one of every eight women do. I ate healthy and exercised,” said Craig, who’s now retired from Deere & Co. after 38 years.

The second diagnosis left Lisa dumbfounded.

“It was not even on my radar. I had no concept that it would come back on that side because of the mastectomy. The fact that it’s considered stage 4, metastatic cancer is very
sobering. It helps me realize that every day is a blessing.”

The most difficult part of the process was telling her kids of the diagnosis, both times.

“It’s the only time I cried during the process, except for when I picked up my Race packet as a survivor for the first time,” said Craig, who has participated in all but one of the Quad Cities Race for the Cure events.

Lisa had friends who had cancer, and their stories helped her.

“They lived ‘til the day they died. I always told myself that if I had cancer, that’s what I wanted to do.”

Lisa was nominated for the honorary survivor role by her friend, Karen Chenoweth, of Moline.

Through it all, she remains positive and focused on the goal. She is the most upbeat person I know,” said Chenoweth.

Lisa is married to her husband, Jim. She has a son,
stepson, daughter, and two granddaughters.

She hopes that she can inform others by sharing her story.

“I want to educate people about breast cancer and the importance of raising funds to support research. Because we have some answers for breast cancer, but there’s not a cure for it. There’s so much we don’t know, and so many people are affected by it.”

The 30th annual Komen Quad Cities Race for the Cure is scheduled for June 8, 2019. For more information, and to
register, visit www.komengreateriowa.org/qcrace.