Retired San Diego County Credit Union President & CEO Named 2010 Honorary Breast

Cancer Survivor by Komen San Diego

Empowered by her own experience, Irene Oberbauer is committed to building awaren
ess of breast cancer prevention and detection among professionals, mothers, and
women of all ages.
San Diego, CA, August 13, 2010 -- Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, the world’s larg
est grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists committed to end
ing breast cancer forever, has named Irene Oberbauer as San Diego’s 2010 Honorar
y Breast Cancer Survivor.
Oberbauer, retired President and CEO of San Diego County Credit Union, San Diego
(Point Loma) native and a very recent breast cancer survivor, was diagnosed at
age 52 after being overlooked by several doctors, because of possible scar tissu
e from previous biopsies when she was 19 and 24. An intelligent, assertive profe
ssional, Oberbauer was accustomed to taking charge, but until she found her lump
, she had no idea the true importance of being your own health advocate. She per
sistently questioned authority, asked the right questions, demanded answers and
fought to save her own life. Now, it is her mission to empower others to do the
same. Oberbauer will serve as an inspirational spokesperson to help raise awaren
ess of breast cancer screening and education in San Diego County.
“Irene Oberbauer is one of the strongest women I have ever met,” said Laura Farm
er Sherman, executive director of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, San Diego. “She i
s in equal parts smart, savvy, passionate and tireless. She is an inspiration to
women of all ages. Komen San Diego is so proud to have her represent our cause
to end breast cancer forever.”
Oberbauer was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in October 2009. She foun
d a pea size lump on her right breast in June of 2009, and she didn’t receive th
e correct diagnosis until five months after her initial exam, an ultrasound, a m
ammogram, numerous follow up appointments, and a second opinion. Feeling angry a
nd extremely frustrated with the medical care she received up to this point, Obe
rbauer did her research and decided she needed to switch surgeons, even if that
meant going out of her insurance network. Luckily, she previously worked for The
County of San Diego, and she was able to retire to gain the coverage she needed
. She found Ann M. Wallace, MD, FACS, Professor of Clinical Surgery and Director
of UCSD Moores Cancer Center Breast Team, and together they began plans for a m
astectomy and chemotherapy immediately.
On November 12, 2009 a 10 centimeter tumor was removed from Oberbauer’s right br
east. In total, she has had eight rounds of chemotherapy, and she just completed
33 radiation treatments. She endured three chemotherapy treatments while still
recovering from her mastectomy before retiring as President and CEO of San Diego
County Credit Union in February 2010. A driving force in getting through her tr
eatments and days was that she didn t want to leave her two sons motherless. She
also credits, Gerri-Lynn Fives, her “cancer buddy” with helping her cope. Fives
is a Coronado resident and real estate broker associate that Oberbauer met by r
ecommendation of her oncologist and reached out to during the course of her trea
tments.
"Try to connect with someone who s also going through cancer treatment, preferab
ly someone who is further along in treatments than you” said Oberbauer. “Even if
you do nothing but sit and talk about the treatments and what to expect, the si
mple fact of knowing you re not alone in this is huge."
Oberbauer’s hair is growing back and she is feeling more and more like herself e
very day. She is now cancer free, but she knows her journey isn’t over. She look
s towards the future and she is committed to encouraging women of all ages to be
 their own health advocates.
"It s not over the day radiation is over,” said Oberbauer. “Everyone says, Cong
rats, you re done! But there s a journey starting at that point that is still v
ery difficult. That s the beginning of survivorship and it starts with continuin
g to be your own advocate – and standing up for those who can’t or don’t know ho
w. That’s what this is all about – I want women of all cultures to understand th
is: You deserve a lifetime. You deserve competent medical attention. You know yo
ur body best. If something is wrong – get the answers you need. We’re here to he
lp you do that."
Oberbauer’s sister, Chief of Staff to the San Diego County Sheriff, was diagnose
d with breast, lung, and brain cancer a few months before she received her own d
iagnosis. She passed away on May 3, 2010 during the course of Oberbauer’s treatm
ent. Her father was also diagnosed with cancer in January 2009, but he is now ca
ncer free.
Oberbauer promised her sister she’d fight the fight for both of them. Just like
the promise Nancy Brinker made to her sister Susan G. Komen who died from breast
cancer in 1982. Susan G. Komen for the Cure was founded on that promise: to do
something to help women suffering from breast cancer. Both Oberbauer and Brinker
define the organization’s mission: empower women, ensure quality care for all,
and energize science to find the cures.
On Sunday, November 7, 2010, Irene Oberbauer, along with more than 13,000 San Di
egans are expected to unite in Balboa Park for the Fourteenth Annual Susan G. Ko
men San Diego Race for the Cure®. She has her own team in the Race and their mot
to is “I O it to myselfTM” since Oberbauer’s initials are IO.
“Anyone can fill in the blank for what it is you owe to yourself, but as women w
e have to remember we truly do owe it to ourselves to be our own advocates and t
o all continue this fight to one day find a cure for this devastating disease,”
said Oberbauer.
A survivor ceremony will be held prior to the race to recognize Oberbauer as wel
l as other San Diego breast cancer survivors.
For additional information about the San Diego Race for the Cure® or Susan G. Ko
men for the Cure®, please visit the national Web site at www.komen.org, or the S
an Diego Affiliate Web site at www.komensandiego.org. San Diegans can sign up fo
r the November 7, 2010, San Diego Race for the Cure® on the San Diego Affiliate
Web site, or by calling In Motion at (760) 692-2900.
Why is the Race for the Cure® so important to San Diego County?
Since launching the breast cancer movement more than 30 years ago, Komen for the
Cure has transformed the culture – bringing breast cancer out of the closet – c
hanging the way the world talks about and treats this devastating disease. Durin
g the journey, it was often controversial and considered inappropriate to discus
s diseases of the breast openly. We’ve come a long way – but we face new challen
ges. Here in San Diego County, many underserved women find breast cancer at a la
ter and more aggressive stage and have a higher mortality rate. Still others hav
e lost their jobs and can’t afford medical insurance. All of this is compounded
by the California state budget crisis which forced the closure of the only free
mammogram program open to women in this state. So, we’re doubling our efforts he
re at Komen San Diego to do what we can to raise additional funds. We raise fund
s primarily through the Race for the Cure®.
About Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, San Diego
Since its inception in 1995, $8.5 million has been given to local organizations
that provide breast cancer education, screening, diagnostics, treatment and pati
ent support for the uninsured or underinsured in San Diego County. Seventy-five
percent of every dollar raised through Affiliate-sponsored events stays right he
re in San Diego County to fund free diagnostic mammograms, treatment and service
s for uninsured and underinsured women and their families. The remaining 25 perc
ent funds international breast cancer research. In fact, next to the U.S. govern
ment, Susan G. Komen for the Cure® is the largest funder of breast cancer resear
ch in the world. For more information, please visit www.komensandiego.org.
Did you know?
One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime.
The most significant risk factors are being a female and getting older.
Breast cancer doesn’t discriminate.
Breast cancer typically strikes women during their most productive years, both p
rofessionally and personally.
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in U.S. women ages 40-59.
Men can get breast cancer, too. One percent of breast cancer diagnosis will be i
n male patients.
Press Contact:
Rachel Wiley
Olive PR Solutions
1501 India St., #103, PMB #7
San Diego, CA 92101
717-676-8198
rachel@oliveprsolutions.com
http://www.komensandiego.org