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TOMS RIVER, New Jersey, September 5, 2006 – Make no mistake about it, the New York Giants take care of their own. Whether you’re a player on the field, a member of the coaching staff, or part of the administration; the Giants consider everyone involved with the organization a part of the team.
Marianne Vogt, 51, of Lakewood, New Jersey has worked for the Giants in season ticket sales for the past 26 years. She likes her job, loves the people she works with, and doesn’t mind the commute to East Rutherford.
In March 2005, Vogt was diagnosed with breast cancer. Rocked by the news that she had joined the 200,000 women diagnosed with breast cancer each year, she was overwhelmed by the fear and uncertainty of her future. Then in May, the results came back from her biopsy confirming the diagnosis; Marianne had breast cancer.
With it came several surgeries, chemotherapy, and the confident reassurance from Marianne’s support group; consisting of her husband, family, friends, co-workers, and a breast care specialist at Community Medical Center; that she would beat her cancer.
After the confirmation of her diagnosis, Vogt was referred to William Schulman, M.D., board certified breast surgeon on staff at Community Medical Center, an affiliate of the Saint Barnabas Health Care System in Toms River.
In July 2005, Dr. Schulman successfully performed a complete mastectomy on Vogt.
“He’s a brilliant and skilled surgeon. I’m so grateful for the wonderful care he gave me on that operating table,” Vogt said.
Immediately following the mastectomy, Christopher Godek, M.D., board certified plastic surgeon at Community Medical Center performed reconstructive breast surgery on Vogt. Since that time, Dr. Godek has given Vogt two more reconstructive surgeries; in February and April of 2006.
Referring to Dr. Godek, Vogt said, “That man has magic in his hands. He’s absolutely amazing. Prior to these surgeries, I had an overwhelming fear of the unknown; a fear of disfigurement. Dr. Godek gave me constant reassurance that I would feel better and look better. He’s a gifted physician.” She adds, “I’m thrilled with my reconstructive surgery. I’m better than I was before.”
Following her operations, Vogt endured six rounds of chemotherapy from September through December 2005 as directed by Gregory Manzullo, M.D., board certified oncologist at Community Medical Center. He and his staff, with their care and compassion, helped Marianne get through this very difficult time.
The chemotherapy regimen caused Vogt to lose all the hair on her body including her eyelashes and eyebrows. In spite of the knowledge that she was likely to lose her hair and that it would grow back, it was the most traumatic part of Vogt’s ordeal. Fortunately, the chemotherapy did not make Vogt sick like it does with so many other patients. Vogt notes, “I felt a little funky – a little off. I was fortunate in that regard.”
“When my hair started falling out I cried a lot,” Vogt said. “It began falling out a week after I was back at work. My colleagues were incredibly supportive. They were always cheering me up and making me laugh. They were there for me through all of it. What’s really amusing is that I always had straight hair. When it grew back, it grew back curly.”
The support that Vogt received from her colleagues went all the way to the top. John Mara, president and CEO for the New York Giants told Vogt not to worry about anything, just come back healthy. John Mara is the son of the late Wellington Mara – the Giants’ beloved and former president and CEO who passed away last year.
Vogt said, “John was nothing but concerned for me. He was positive and encouraging and I’m eternally grateful for the support and empathy that he gave to me. You couldn’t ask for a kinder or more caring person to work for. He’s a great man.”
Today, after a full mastectomy, three reconstructive surgeries, and six rounds of chemotherapy; Vogt is cancer-free and enjoying her clean bill-of-health.
In addition to monthly follow-ups with her doctors, Vogt’s experience has had a profound impact on her life. She’s been urging women to get regular mammograms and breast exams in an effort to help others avoid having to go through the same trying ordeal.
Vogt now believes that for women diagnosed with breast cancer there is an extreme sense of urgency. “It’s important to seek treatment immediately and to find good doctors no matter where you live,” Vogt explained. “I found wonderful physicians at Community Medical Center.”
During and since her recovery, Vogt has spent time speaking with other new cancer patients in an effort to provide experienced reassurance to other feeling doubt and fear. It makes Vogt feel good to help others work through their fights and being able to relate makes that easier.
“Everyone needs some kind of support system to get through this. Faith helps too; my faith played a huge role in my ability to beat my cancer.” Vogt adds, “It doesn’t have to be just about faith either. A strong family support system – having friends that care about and support you – it makes all the difference in the world. Although my parents lived hundreds of miles away, they were able to dry a river of tears by just picking up the phone to see how I was doing.”
“My husband, Bill (of 25 years) is a wonderful, caring and compassionate man,” Vogt gushed. “Right from the beginning he told me that we were going to fight this together and no matter what it takes, I was going to be whole, and back together better than before. He didn’t care what it might cost or what sacrifices it might take to get me healthy; he’d find a way. In his mind there was never any other option and I love him so much forthat.”
Vogt concludes, “I’m proud of my scars – proud to be a survivor. If I can beat it, so can a lot of other women.”
For years, the Giants have dedicated one October home game to breast-cancer awareness. During this game, the organization hands out pink ribbons with the assistance of local college students. To further promote awareness, the Giants also display breast-cancer banners with pink ribbons all over the stadium.
Last year, the Giants’ Community Relations Department made the decision to dedicate the entire month of October to breast cancer. To correspond with their awareness initiative, the organization began selling pink Giants hats in the stadium and on their Web site. For the next home game, they distributed ribbons and added tie-dye bracelets to the awareness program.
The combination of various breast-cancer merchandise sales yielded $52,000 in raised funds for the Giants during the month of October. They decided to donate the money to four different organizations; Community Medical Center being one of them due to the fact that Vogt was undergoing treatment for breast cancer at the time the money was raised.
Allison Stangeby, director of community relations for the New York Giants said, “With the staggering statistics of women and their families who are affected by breast cancer each year, it made sense for the New York Giants to embrace this cause in hope of raising awareness about breast cancer as well as funds so that we could assist local health care institutions in their efforts to provide the best quality care to our families, friends, and fans who are faced with this disease.”
Stangeby added, “It was only natural that we donate a portion of the money raised to Community Medical Center’s breast care program in appreciation of all that they did for Marianne and her recovery from breast cancer.”
Richard Pallamary, vice president of the Community Medical Center Foundation said, “The extremely generous donation from the New York Giants will be used to further enhance the services of the Breast Care Program here at Community.”
The Breast Care Program at Community Medical Center is a unique program (developed six years ago) providing women who undergo surgery for breast cancer with education, support and referral information. Each woman meets with a specially-trained nurse consultant who educates her about what she can expect during her surgery, post-operatively, and throughout her recovery and treatment. The nurse consultant works with the surgeon, nurse, case manager and social worker to provide the woman with individualized care. The Breast Care Program also maintains a resource library for patients, and each year provides Community Outreach programs to over 4,500 women in Ocean and Monmouth counties.
Donna Jagger, RN, was the breast care nurse consultant that helped Vogt get through her trial with cancer. She helped Vogt educate herself on what to expect before, during and after her surgery and chemotherapy.
Jagger said, “Patients typically find that the emotional aspect of the ordeal is more difficult than its physical aspects. We help our patients, Marianne (Vogt) included, mentally prepare for the surgery and its aftermath. It’s also important that the patients know that there’s someone they can call to ask questions or simply vent to. It helps when the person on the phone is experienced and knowledgeable about what the patient might be going through.”
Jagger added, “Marianne is a role model for people going through breast cancer treatment. She’s a very strong person and she wants to reach out to people that are going through the same thing she did. She’s has the potential to be a leader championing the benefit of early testing and treatment for breast cancer. She’s very knowledgeable and capable of getting the word out. A year later, we still keep in touch. I’m glad she’s doing so well; she deserves it.”
For more information on the Breast Care Program at Community Medical Center, call (732) 557-2117.
Contact: Jason R. Baran
Public Relations Specialist
(732) 557-3909
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