By Dale M. King
BOCA RATON – “There is still humor and joy in life even after a breast cancer diagnosis. Regardless of the prognosis, if you’re alive, there’s hope. Only our Creator will determine check-out time.”
Roxanna Trinka, a Boca Raton resident, president and CEO of Baseline Engineering and an eight-year survivor of breast cancer, placed those words on her own special breast cancer support website around the time she was undergoing treatment for the dreaded disease.
But she has never dwelt on dread. To those in the same predicament, she offers empathy and sympathy; support and understanding, a great way she shoes this is by sending over gifts that help emotionally like sympathy flowers. Inspirational words fill that site at www.youcanthrive.com.
Roxanna Trinka, cancer survivor
The Boca businesswoman told the Boca Raton Tribune she is in the process of compiling the writings from the site into a book to offer assistance, support and courage to breast cancer patients.
“It’s one more step in the support process,” she said. Also in the works are webinars to share information, treatment ideas, options and stories for and about those with breast cancer.
Actually, she said, the site is designed to be a source of empowerment, encouragement, inspiration and support for those experiencing any kind of hardship, and to assist their family members and friends.
Trinka is not a woman who lets cancer – or anything else – get her down. She recalls the 18-hour period that began when her doctor called her with the horrific diagnosis.
“I wasn’t surprised,” she said. “I had had a lumpectomy and the doctor said it didn’t look good.”
That night, “after we finished crying,” she and her husband, Bill, went to dinner. He was so upset that he suffered a cardiac incident that landed him in the emergency room.
“A doctor told me that you can be scared to death,” said Roxanna.
The following morning, a veterinarian administered too much anesthetic while treating their dog – and the pet died.
Giving up was never an option, she said. But she did feel vulnerable. “You don’t know if you are going to the right doctors and making the right decisions.”
She kept her morale up by sharing stories and photos on the website. Many pictures show her without hair. In one, she is standing there, bald, with her arms up in the air, imitating Popeye’s “I’m strong to the finish” attitude.
Roxanna was strong, and now feels great. She continues to run her company and is a member of many civic groups.
She thanks her husband, Bill, for his love and aid. “He was my rock” through it all, she said. She is also proud of daughter, Chelsea, who offers her own ideas on the website.
When Roxanna finished her last treatment, she said, “I just wanted to escape. We took the boat and went to the Bahamas for two weeks. And I kept getting stronger.”
She said her doctor told her a relapse was not likely. The tumor removed was in stage 1, phase 1. “My physician said I was cured,” she said, “and that’s pretty bold language coming from a doctor.”