In the 1970’s, breast cancer awareness and prevention were not well-established, especially in the rural, rolling hills of the South Dakota prairie. My grandmother, Delores Jean Ducheneaux-Ward was born and raised on the Cheyenne River Sioux reservation, located in north-central South Dakota. There, on her family’s ranch near the small town of Mobridge, Delores was raised by her parents, Ernest and Tuffy, along with her ten sisters and three brothers.
Delores married Richard “Dick” Ward, of the Standing Rock Sioux reservation in 1957, at the age of 20. They resided on their own family ranch, located near Whitehorse, South Dakota and raised cattle, horses and four sons, all of which roamed free on their hundreds of acres of tribal land. This area of South Dakota is remote. Since it was a reservation for the Lakota people, the four boys would be bussed to school in Eagle Butte on Mondays, stay in the dorms throughout the week, then return home on Fridays after school. They worked and played at the ranch all weekend, during holidays and summer breaks. They would help their dad, Dick, with haying, working cattle, as well as breaking and training horses, while practicing their rodeo skills. The boys were very active with local rodeos, including events such as steer wrestling, muttin’ bustin’, bronc riding, roping and bull riding. Dick was also very involved with the rodeo scene as a calf and steer roper and a rodeo announcer. He was one of the most well-known rodeo announcers in South Dakota during his time and is still revered in his skill at entertaining a crowd at the rodeo grounds with his wit, humor and sincere love of the sport. In 2023, Dick Ward was inducted into the South Dakota Rodeo Hall of Fame for a Legacy of Achievement.

There is an overwhelming feeling of blessedness when one can ride through the tall prairie grasses on horseback, feeling the breeze and smelling rain in the distance. Watching the clouds gathering for the upcoming storm that will soon roll through, seeing a lone, curious coyote, listening to the birds and the chirping crickets is like no other, freeing feeling in the world. The Ward family members were busy earning a living on cattle and horse sales while enjoying a fulfilled life dedicated to God, their livestock’s well-being and their love for each other. Never would they have thought that tragedy would abruptly upend the life they had worked so hard to build. As a young mother in her 30’s, Delores was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer and would die before the age of 40. Leaving behind her four sons who had to grow up quickly, a grieving husband, and a large, tight-nit family of her parents, siblings and their families. All wondered what the future would hold with Delores gone.

For several years before her death, Delores struggled with metastatic breast cancer that spread rapidly to her lungs, liver, bones, other vital organs, and lastly to her brain. She sought treatment locally in South Dakota but was eventually sent to The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota to receive the best care possible. She battled the malignancies with all she could muster, missing countless rodeos and sporting events as well as the inability to partake in family events or help on the ranch, much like she had done her entire life. She missed her boys growing up through some of their most important times, and it was all because she was fighting for her life. She wanted a longer life with her family, her sisters and brothers, to be with her parents as they aged, to watch her boys become grown men with their own families and children. Being a strong Lakota, God-fearing woman, Delores prayed. She prayed while holding her rosary beads and prayed her Hail Mary’s for comfort and healing for herself, but also for strength and protection over her family. She fought diligently and hard for as long as she could before cancer won its war on her delicate body.
I may not have ever had the opportunity to personally know my grandmother, yet I know how much of an impact she made on her family as well as those of us that came later, during her life and in her death. My dad doesn’t talk about the hardship of losing his mother and instead, he and his brothers talk about the great childhood they had before her death, full of adventure and fond memories with their wise and witty father. This life experience led my dad to become a successful, champion college and professional bronc-riding cowboy, a great dad, a hard worker and a loyal friend that his kids can always rely on for advice and laughter.

Today, one in every eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. Fortunately, we now have access to early detection and screening resources. New advances in medicine and technology have made it easier for women aged 40 and over, as well as those that are at high risk due to personal and family history, to get regular screenings. These screenings are relatively simple to schedule, noninvasive and take less than an hour to complete. I won’t proclaim that mammograms are all pillows and rainbows. But for a few moments of discomfort, it may be the difference between a lifetime of laughter and joy versus a lifetime cut short.
For the women who are at higher risk, such as those with first-degree relatives, such as sisters or mothers, who have been previously diagnosed with breast cancer, current screening guidelines recommend earlier screening start dates. While some women are unfortunately diagnosed with breast cancer in their 20’s and 30’s, more are diagnosed in their 40’s or older. This is why routine, annual screening is recommended beginning at age 40 for all women born female at birth. There are also methods for determining a woman’s risk for developing breast cancer at some point in her lifetime. At SEARHC, we utilize the Tyrer-Cuzick score which provides the percentage of risk, based on several factors. Familial cancer history, personal medical history, breast tissue density, age when menses first began and many other factors that help the imaging team determine risk score. When a woman has a Tyrer-Cuzick score greater than 20%, she is considered high-risk, and her primary care team and Women’s Health team notify her of this risk. At that time, she should schedule an appointment with her provider to discuss options. Those options include genetic testing, including BRCA testing, a referral for a consultation with a Breast Specialist at a cancer and surgical center, and annual mammograms that alternate every six months with annual breast MRI imaging. It’s important to speak with your provider about options and to know what your insurance coverage pays for and what would be potential out of pocket costs.
For women not born female at birth, it’s recommended that you consult with your primary care provider to determine when to start screenings. This too will be based on personal and family medical history and length of time on hormonal therapy.
Anyone that has breast tissue is at risk for developing breast cancer. Though more rare, men are diagnosed as well, even without any sort of hormonal therapy. Men too need to be diligent about advocating for their health if they discover a lump on their chest or in their armpits. While there are other types of cancers that can cause lumps, bumps, growths and skin discolorations, it’s always best to have things checked that appear new or unusual.
As a registered nurse, I have spent years working with women diagnosed with breast cancer who are fighting with all their might and grace. Some have fortunately won the battle while others have sadly lost. Through my work, I’ve been able to hold the hands of those who are in the early stages of discovery and determining if that lump they felt while taking a shower is going to result in the fight of their life, or if they can relax and breathe a sigh of relief while vowing to never skip another mammogram. I’ve helped a woman pick out a breast prosthetic to fit in her new bra that looks as natural under her blouse as it did before surgery. I’ve encouraged another and raved about her decision to get a nipple tattooed onto her healed, beautiful, new breast. I’ve cared for a mother of two young kids, who has fought the fight previously and is ready to kick its butt again while continuing to run a family business and watch her beautiful children grow. I’ve seen the sadness and despair in women’s eyes that aren’t sure they can take another chemo or radiation treatment replaced with the underlying determination that her war isn’t waged yet. Hugging and crying with women and their spouse, friend or family member when they have decided to take the remaining time to spend with family, comfortable at home, soaking up every last second with those kids and grandkids. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing a woman, her spouse and adult children smile, laugh and cry when they are told she won, is cancer-free and gets to ring the bell.

The story of the short life of my grandmother is tragic and heartbreaking, but from that story, I use it to fuel my desire to educate and advocate for breast cancer screening and prevention. There are so many women, so many stories, so many lives affected, like my grandma Delores, by whom I was blessed with my middle name that helps to carry on her legacy in our family. I hope that sharing “my why” behind my passion for what I do, will inspire others to prioritize their health and their family members to better encourage regular breast cancer screenings and other preventative health and cancer screenings. Thank you for reading. I leave you with the Lakota prayer,
“Oh, Great Spirit,
whose voice I hear in the winds
and whos breath gives life to all the world, hear me.
I am small and weak.
I need your strength and wisdom.
Let me walk in beauty and make my eyes
Ever behold the red and purple sunset.
Make my hands respect the things you have made
And my ears sharp to hear your voice.
Make me wise so that I may understand
The things you have taught my people.
Let me learn the lessons you have hidden
In every leaf and rock.
I seek strength, not to be superior to my brother,
But to fight my greatest enemy – myself.
Make me always ready to come to you
With clean hands and straight eyes,
So when life fades, as the fading sunset,
My spirit will come to you
Without shame.”
-Chief Yellow Lark, 1887
Wόyawašte (Blessing),
Taylor D. (Ward) Hartwick
REFERENCES
“Lakota Prayer.” The Gentle Art of Blessing, https://gentleartofblessing.org/lakota-prayer/
“Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Flag.” Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, https:www.cheyenneriversioux.com