BUTLER TWP — Ursula Slater had several mammograms done previously, each one easing her mind with the knowledge that she was cancer-free. The one she had done in the spring of 2020 was also routine. Until it wasn’t.

The procedure revealed that Slater, a Butler Township resident, had stage 1 breast cancer.

“There’s no history of breast cancer in my family,” she said. “My world stopped that day.”

Slater’s cancer was Her2 Positive, an aggressive form. After her diagnosis, she began chemotherapy, followed by radiation treatments.

“I remained positive from the start,” she said, “but the lowest point was when I lost my long, curly hair. I had it cut really short before it all fell out.”

The tumor is now gone, though Slater will for the next two years be taking tamoxifen, a pill that decreases the level of estrogen, which would feed any cancer cells that remain.

Cancer leaves an imprint on all who are afflicted with it. Slater recently opened up about her experience and told her story.

“One of the first things I thought of after I was diagnosed was that I didn’t want our kids (daughters Parker and Jordyn) to see me sick,” she said. “I wanted life to be as normal as possible.”

At the time, Slater was an echocardiographer, conducting ultrasounds of people’s hearts at Butler Memorial Hospital.

“Every third week, I’d miss a day of work because of my chemotherapy treatments,” she said. “Other than that, I didn’t miss any days.

“The people I worked with at the hospital used to come outside and wave to me from the parking lot during my treatments. It was during COVID, so nobody could come in with me. I started a Facebook page to keep my friends and family updated on how I was doing. That made it a lot easier to communicate with them, and it was beneficial for me.”

Jordyn Slater admires her mother for keeping a positive outlook throughout her ordeal.

“It made me feel it wasn’t as bad as it was,” said Jordyn, now 16. “It showed me how strong she is.”

Parker, now 14, had motivational and lighthearted T-shirts made for her mother, who wore a different one to every one of her eight chemo treatments. One read: “Not Fragile Like A Flower. Fragile Like A Bomb.”

Another stated: “I’m Having A No Hair Day”.

“I found the quotes online and just thought it was a good way to support my mom,” Parker said.

Though Slater received help from a lot of people, she said her husband, Ray, did the most.

“He’s a quiet person but was my biggest supporter during all of it,” she said. “He took me to all of my treatments, and I know it killed him to not be able to come in with me.

“He stayed busy, worked with his hands and built tables and chairs. He fixed a lot of things around the house, but he couldn’t fix me and it was hard for him.”

Her fight with cancer changed Slater’s approach to her job.

“It gave me the perspective of the patient,” she said. “People would get upset when they couldn’t get their (ultrasound) results on time or when a procedure had to be rescheduled. I didn’t know how much time was involved, and I used to think that they were just being mean, but now I know that they were just scared.

“Being a patient myself made me a better caregiver.”

Even while she was receiving her treatments, Slater was thinking of a way she could impact people in her position in a positive way.

She has taken on the role of parent volunteer for the breast cancer awareness fundraising efforts of the girls volleyball and girls soccer teams at Butler High School.

Parker plays soccer for the Golden Tornado while Jordyn is on the volleyball team.

“We sell pink T-shirts, have a bake sale, conduct an auction with donated items, hold a 50/50 raffle,” she said. “All of the money raised goes to the Butler hospital foundation, a nonprofit that provides wigs, chemo beanies, financial support, transportation and counseling for residents of Butler County receiving chemotherapy treatments.”

The volleyball team’s “Dig Pink Night” will be Oct. 12 at the high school gym. Butler players’ relatives who have battled breast cancer will be recognized on the court.

The soccer team’s “Kick Cancer Night” is scheduled Oct. 16 at Art Bernardi Stadium.

“Last year, Dig Pink raised $1,400,” Slater said. “This is the first year that the soccer event is raising funds, and we’re hoping to raise more than that.”

Next year, Jordyn, currently a junior, is planning to take over the organizing end of the volleyball team’s fundraiser as her senior project.

“My mom suggested it, and I thought it was a really good idea,” she said.

Ursula Slater is now employed at VA Butler Healthcare. She said she takes nothing for granted these days.

“The support I received from my family, friends and coworkers is something I’ll never forget,” she said. “All the help I received from the Butler cancer center is why I’m doing all of this. Hopefully, the money we raise will help someone like me.

“Early detection saved my life,“ she added. ”And if you are diagnosed with cancer, remain positive. A positive mindset is everything.“