Just before her 51st birthday in February 2004, Sue Sigmon-Nosach was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Her doctors advised her to get her affairs in order because she would probably be dead by the end of the year.
“Anyone who has received a cancer diagnosis knows that line. There was life before your diagnosis and there is life afterward. You can’t go back. The challenge is to put (your) life together as best you can,” Sigmon-Nosach said.
Cancer turned out to be the least of her problems. After undergoing surgery, Sigmon-Nosach developed sepsis. Her colon ruptured. She wound up in a coma and was hospitalized for 45 days. Once she healed from her other medical problems, she still had to undergo chemotherapy for the cancer.
“It took three years to battle back and I lost my business in corporate gifts in the process,” she said. “Ovarian cancer is one of the most deadly cancers out there and many people die from sepsis, so I figured I must have lived for a reason.”
Now she knows what that reason is.
“My job is to make people aware of this disease and to help others who are battling it,” Sigmon-Nosach said.
About 71,500 women in the United States are diagnosed with gynecologic cancers annually, and about 26,500 women die each year from them, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“The rate of survivorship is considerably less than for those diagnosed with other cancers because there are no screening tests and many women are diagnosed at more advanced stages of the disease,” Sigmon-Nosach said.
She wanted to help change those statistics, so Sigmon-Nosach joined forces with Debbie Torbett, a friend and fellow ovarian cancer survivor, to battle the disease.
“We were racking our brains for an idea and it finally came to me in the middle of the night,” she said. “We both felt broken after our diagnosis and were determined to be better than we were before. I thought of creating mosaic art out of broken glass and old window frames headed to the dump.”
The women named their glass mosaic company 2 Broken Broads and began creating pieces inspired by their favorite songs from the 1950s, 60s and 70s, selling them and donating money to cancer research.
“We never expected to raise much money, but the pieces went about as fast as we could make them. We’ve sold 300 pieces in four years and our art is in 30 states,” Sigmon-Nosach said.
The art, which sells in the $250 to $700 range, has won awards at local festivals.
Sigmon-Nosach and Torbett soon realized their contributions wouldn’t have a major impact on the enormous cost of cancer research. After meeting and talking with other survivors of the disease, they realized there were other ways to help.
Sigmon-Nosach and Torbett founded the Partnership for Gynecological Cancer Support in March 2013. Working with social workers and patient navigators at Northside Hospital in Atlanta and Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville, the group identifies individual needs of patients and provides funds to help pay for gas, groceries and utility bills. The gifts are given anonymously.
“It’s not a life-changing amount, but if it keeps the lights on, provides for transportation to treatment, or puts food on the table, then we know that it will relieve some of the stress of battling this disease,” Sigmon-Nosach said. “Insurance doesn’t cover everything and many women who are diagnosed have to give up their jobs and lose benefits. Not everyone has the loving support of family like we do.”
In September, the organization held its first fundraiser — a wine-and-cheese auction of art work created by 10 cancer survivors. The event raised about $17,000.
“I had never held an event before, but I think this was just meant to be. We’ve had wonderful support. By running the nonprofit from home and using a simple website, we’re able to donate 91 cents for every dollar raised,” she said.
In February, Sigmon-Nosach and Torbett are giving themselves a joint birthday party with this theme: “It’s our party and you can give if you want to. You would, too, if it happened to you.”
They are planning other fundraisers throughout the year.
The two women also speak at community organizations to raise awareness about gynecological cancers.
“Anyone who knows us knows we love to talk, and the more awareness we can raise, the better,” Sigmon-Nosach said. “We pass out cards with symptoms and hope that earlier detection will save lives. These cancers don’t get as much publicity as other types do. I’m proud of what we’re doing. I know that just having the ability to do it is a gift.”
