State - Howell Woman starts business after surviving cancer Says disease made her stronger, more willing to take risks

By Jim Totten Livingston County Daily Press & Argus (Howell) HOWELL, Mich. (AP) -- It might sound odd, but Judy Hayward believes cancer made her stronger and more willing to take risks. Prior to learning she had breast cancer last year, the 51-year-old Green Oak Township woman felt secure with her life. She was married and healthy, and had a good job as a chiropractic assistant at Livingston Chiropractic Clinic in Brighton Township. Often, she dreamed about opening her own consignment shop. She'd think about it for a minute and then shelve it. Everything changed in January 2009 after she received the results from what was supposed to be a routine mammogram. Doctors found numerous small dots in her left breast, and more tests revealed it was breast cancer. Within a year, Hayward went through two more mammograms, had her left breast removed and underwent several surgeries to reconstruct her breast. In addition, her hair fell out when she started chemotherapy, which made her vomit and drained all her energy. "Life is too short to sit back," she said. A year later, Hayward begin thinking about what she wanted to do next as she regained her health. She could go back to her old job or do something new. She said surviving cancer turned her into a different person. Her long, straight blond hair has been replaced by curly, brown hair that grew in. In an ironic way, she said, cancer brought her to where she finds herself today: proud owner of her own business, Treasure Corner Consignment Boutique. The shop is at 5841 Whitmore Lake Road, Suite A, just south of the intersection of Grand River Avenue and Whitmore Lake Road. "It just makes you realize life is too short not to do the things you want to do," she said. With the help of her husband, Christopher, and her former boss, chiropractor Guilio Cogo, she opened her consignment shop two months ago. She said the shop is doing well, and she loves being her own boss. It's a lot of work, but she's enjoying it. "When you have a near-death experience, you think, 'What could I have done (in my life)?'" she said. Hayward said she's always taken care of herself. She always exercised and hasn't had any serious illnesses. Although both her parents died of cancer, she said no one in her family has had breast cancer. The results from her annual mammogram revealed tiny dots, and doctors told her those were probably calcium deposits. A few days later, they called her and told her they wanted to do another mammogram. After the second mammogram, they told her she needed to go to Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital just outside Ann Arbor for a third mammogram. Hayward was upset. She felt it was "ridiculous" and didn't understand why she had to keep going back for more mammograms. Doctors decided to take a biopsy to test for cancer, and they hoped the piece they removed would have all the tiny dots. Tests showed the small bumps were cancer, but doctors said the cancer had already spread. They removed half of her breast and once again hoped they would get all of the cancer. Hayward remembers crying and getting "numb" as doctors told her she needed another surgery. Doctors tested her lymph nodes and learned the cancer hadn't spread there. However, they hadn't removed all of the cancer in her breast. She needed a mastectomy, which is removal of the entire breast. She underwent her mastectomy in April 2009 and then began 12 weeks of chemotherapy. She also stopped working. Since she was 17, Hayward has been working in health care. She worked for a eye doctor for about 25 years and then at Providence Hospital for a few years before going to work for Cogo. As she began her recovery, she said, Cogo told her she was welcome to come back. However, he called her and suggested that she take some time off and figure out what she wanted to do. He also mentioned he had a vacancy in his building and would be able to work out something if she was interested. The more she sat around the house, the more she realized she wanted to open her own shop. She didn't know anything about running a business, but she was very familiar with consignment stores, resale shops and garage sales. She purchased computer software for operating a consignment shop, read through the manual and began advertising to get consignors. Her shop is a tidy place that offers clothing, designer purses and jewelry, furniture, accent pieces, candles, candy and clothing for babies and other children. She also carries some affordable wigs, something she learned about from her cancer ordeal. She paid $259 for her first wig, but she later learned about more affordable wigs offered online. She carries a few of her favorites, which cost $50 to $60. She hopes she can help other women battling cancer and who don't have the money to purchase wigs that cost several hundred of dollars. Cogo said he knew Hayward's dream was always to open her own little shop. He knows her family well and is good friends with her husband. He didn't think twice about helping to remodeling the place along with her husband. "You just do those things," Cogo said. "When things like that hit close to home, you really start evaluating what's most important in life," Cogo said. Hayward hopes her story will encourage others to stay strong when they face cancer. "People think it's a death sentence -- it's not," she said. "It's just a sickness. You stay positive and you can win it. It's a battle you have to face and win." Published: Thu, Oct 14, 2010