Breast cancer survivor offers encouragement at Westmoreland Pink Ribbon Walk

Oct. 2—Nikki Williams listened to what her body was telling her.

That's what helped her to learn she was suffering from breast cancer and to get the treatment she needed to beat the disease.

"I want to be an advocate for women, to make sure they do their self-exams," said the Donora resident, who was the featured speaker at Saturday's 21st annual Pink Ribbon Walk at Twin Lakes Park east of Greensburg. Organized by volunteer-staffed nonprofit Westmoreland Walks, the event raises money to support the battle against breast cancer.

Williams, who has a fitness business, advised other women: "Make sure you really know and understand your body, inside and out. It could save your life, like it saved mine."

Williams was diagnosed with breast cancer on Sept. 30, 2020, while she was pregnant with her son, Asher, now 20 months old.

But that diagnosis happened only after she sought surgery for a cyst that medical advisers twice indicated wasn't a cause for concern, especially given her relatively young age — then 29.

"I said, 'This is interfering with my workouts. I can't do any upper body (exercises), can you take care of this?'" said Williams. "On a Tuesday, I had an ultrasound and biopsy, and on Wednesday, I had my diagnosis. Thursday was our gender reveal and Friday I was in surgery."

"It's been a roller coaster," she said. "Having a positive attitude is what helps you get through everything."

Williams underwent a second surgery, radiation treatments and several rounds of chemotherapy, finishing her last medical regimen Sept. 24.

"The chemo and surgeries have been effective, thankfully," she said. "I've been considered cancer-free since 2020. Everything since then was precautionary."

She's also thankful her son wasn't affected by her treatments.

Saturday wasn't the first time Williams participated in the Twin Lakes walk.

"My mom is a breast cancer survivor and one of my good friends' mom is a breast cancer survivor," she said. "Anything that involves breast cancer awareness, I've always been a part of."

West Newton resident and Westmoreland Walks board member Suzie Luikart also is a breast cancer survivor. She was on hand at Twin Lakes on Saturday to help register walk participants.

"I think it's a way to bring awareness, get people together," Luikart, 58, said of the event. "I'm doing this because I want to help other people."

Luikart said one of the regular mammograms she receives caught her cancer in an early stage, in July 2017.

"I was lucky. It was a small tumor. I had a lumpectomy and radiation, and my five years is almost up," she said of the medication regimen meant to prevent a recurrence of cancer.

In past years, the Twin Lakes walk has drawn as many as 400 participants, according to Kathy Brown, board president. A steady rainfall Saturday cut into this year's turnout but didn't stop the event.

In addition to proceeds from the walk, Westmoreland Walks expects to receive thousands of dollars in donations from local supporting businesses and organizations during October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

That funding supports breast cancer research through the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition and assists area patients and their families experiencing hardships because of the disease through services and scholarships.

"In 21 years, we've raised over $1 million," Brown said.

Visit westmorelandwalks.org for more information about the organization and its activities.

Jeff Himler is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Jeff by email at jhimler@triblive.com or via Twitter .