The students in Brenda Roadarmel’s first-grade class at Brunner Elementary School in Genoa probably have the cleanest hands in the building – possibly even in the district.

The good hygiene practices not only help the students escape whatever “bug” that’s going around, they’re also critical for helping to keep their teacher stay healthy.

In July, Mrs. Roadarmel began chemotherapy treatments after having a double mastectomy. She completed her last round of therapy Nov. 13.

Though she had some ups and downs during her treatment, she felt it was important for her to be at school with her students, missing only the Thursdays and Fridays when she had treatments.

Mrs. Roadarmel was diagnosed with breast cancer May 10, the day before Mother’s Day.

“Thankfully, I had a mammogram in April,” she said. “There was no lump – there were no symptoms – I felt nothing out of the ordinary.”

She had a second mammogram and a subsequent biopsy that revealed she had two different types of breast cancers, one of which was aggressive and had invaded tissue in her other breast tissue.

“I had no family history of breast cancer,” she said. “It’s the weirdest disease because you don’t feel any different.”

After more testing, her physicians discussed possible treatment options. “They said because of the type of cancer it was, the chance that it could recur would be higher in the breast that wasn’t affected,” she said. “My family physician recommended a double mastectomy, and that’s what I had.

“After the surgery, I was told that the cancer had spread to one of my lymph nodes. My surgeon said I had made the right decision,” she said. “I’m glad I did for my own peace of mind.”

She had the surgery June 12, after school was out for the summer. “Word did get out before the end of school, and I told everyone, “I’m ok, I’m ok,” she said.

When the oncologist said she’d need chemotherapy, it was important to her that she schedule treatments so that she could be in school when the students arrived on the first day, Mrs. Roadarmel said. “If they had said I would have had to stay home during treatments, I would have waited until after Christmas - I wanted to start the year with the kids.

“Losing my hair was the hardest part of the chemo,” she said. “They prepare you for the medical challenges you’re going to face, but when you lose your hair, that’s when you start to realize, oh my goodness, there really is something going on.”

Before school started, she got her hair cut very short and got a wig. “The kids met me with the wig I’d be wearing - I didn’t want them to have a lot of questions,” Mrs. Roadarmel said. “Some students whose siblings I had before said, `Oh, you changed your hair. You’re more blonde.’”

She also wrote a letter to her students’ parents explaining the situation. “I asked for their support and their help and they have been absolutely fantastic,” she said.

“The kids have also been great,” Mrs. Roadarmel said. “I don’t know for sure how many of them know. I have one little girl who has made me a bracelet to wear when I get my treatments so I know she’s thinking of me.

“It was so sweet.”

Being there for her students has been some of the best medicine, Mrs. Roadarmel said.

“I absolutely love teaching – I love the kids,” she said. “When you get there and the kids are so energetic and enthusiastic, despite their own challenges, your focus goes away from what you’re going through into the kids.

“It would have been a lot worse if I had been sitting at home thinking about what I was feeling,” she said.

She also credits the support of Brunner Principal Brenda Murphy, the school secretary Sue Brown and the other teachers and staff members.

“Brenda comes to school in a cheerful mood and encourages her students to do their best daily,” Mrs. Murphy said. “She went through six rounds of chemo treatments and hardly missed a day. She has been an awesome inspiration to our staff and students.

“We applaud Mrs. Roadarmel as a survivor and truly an inspiration to us all,” she said.

“I don’t think I’m doing anything exceptional,” Mrs. Roadarmel said. “The kids are the ones who are exceptional. They drive me to want to come to school every day.”

If you have a teacher you’d like to nominate for a “Teacher Feature” contact Tammy Walro at 419-836-2221, ext. 22 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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