BLINN VOCATIONAL NURSING INSTRUCTOR BATTLES BACK FROM CANCER

  

Blinn College vocational nursing instructor Donna Fricke didn’t have a history of breast cancer in her family. She hadn’t even noticed any symptoms prior to her yearly mammogram in January.

But when the doctor found something suspicious, she immediately thought cancer. After her doctor ran a few more tests, Fricke’s suspicion became a reality: she had adenocarcinoma of the breast.

“I had a feeling of what the doctors were going to tell me, but when I received the diagnosis I just had a numb feeling of being in shock,” Fricke said. “My immediate response was not to sit back, but to be proactive and have a plan.”

Fricke quickly consulted with an oncologist and scheduled surgery before the end of the month. Chemotherapy and radiation treatments followed. Now, after a long and challenging fight, Fricke has been declared cancer-free.

Throughout her treatments, Fricke continued to work full-time as an instructor.

“These students are my priority,” Fricke said. “I told my students that I needed them to support me and I was going to do the utmost to do my duty as a teacher.”

Having worked in healthcare for the majority of her professional life, Fricke experienced oncology from the patient’s point of view. Now she imparts some of that wisdom on her students.

“I tell them a positive attitude is the best attribute you can give your patients,” Fricke said. “It helps a cancer patient just hearing a nurse say that you can beat this and to have a cheerleader by your side.”

Fricke has deep roots at Blinn – in addition to being a graduate, her mother worked at Blinn as an instructor. In fact, when Fricke started at Blinn in 2008, she inherited her mother’s former office.

“Cancer is a devastating disease, but through this experience there have been many blessings,” Fricke said. “The support that I have received from students, friends, family, co-workers and complete strangers is amazing.”