Kendi Wampler to Celebrate “Home Run for Life” With OKC Dodgers
Duke resident shares journey fighting breast cancer; Will be recognized before Friday’s OKC Dodgers game at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark
Kendi Wampler epitomizes the importance of regular health checkups and screenings.
Wampler will be honored during the fifth and final INTEGRIS Health “Home Run For Life” of the 2023 OKC Dodgers baseball season on Friday, Sept. 1 at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.
“Home Run For Life” recognizes individuals in the community who have overcome a significant medical event with the help of their families, physicians and health care professionals. To symbolize the end of their battle against adversity, honorees take a home run “lap” around the bases during a pregame ceremony.
Wampler was always proactive in getting breast screenings because of the history of cancer in her family.
“I did everything right,” she said.
After a clean mammogram in January 2021, INTEGRIS Health suggested an MRI in August because she was high risk.
The MRI revealed a small mass in each breast. A biopsy later uncovered that the mass in the right breast was benign, but the mass in the left breast was an aggressive tumor.
She was diagnosed with triple-positive HER2-positive breast cancer.
“It comes as a shock when it happens to you,” Wampler said.
Wampler was in her dance studio with her mother, preparing to teach her students, when she received a phone call with the test results.
Within two weeks of the diagnosis, Wampler completed consultations with the breast surgeon and oncologist and began treatment.
She underwent 12 weeks of chemotherapy before undergoing a lumpectomy and a sentinel lymph node biopsy.
Wampler went through 16 rounds of radiation after her surgery.
She continued to teach her dance classes and credits her students as her motivation, as they wrote her notes and words of encouragement.
“They’re my happy spot and they were my inspiration,” she said.
Wampler received her final Herceptin infusion just under a year after her treatment started and will continue to have regular checkups.
Wampler was upbeat throughout the whole journey and credits the staff at INTEGRIS Health Cancer Institute for helping her through it all.
“They were great,” she said. “You really feel like they know who you are and they’re paying attention to you and your needs.”
Wampler currently resides in Duke, Okla. with her husband, John, and just sold her dance studio of 32 years to a former student.
She’s elated to be able to spend time with her family but knows she’ll always be welcome at her old studio.
“I’m allowed to pop in on some classes and get some hugs,” Wampler said.
While she may be retiring, she has no plans to stop advocating for the benefits of regular checkups and screenings.
“Catching breast cancer early can make all the difference,” Wampler said. “I’m living proof of that.”
