Baccanti wary of future, not afraid of it
BUTLER TWP — A health and physical education teacher at Butler Area High School for 24 years, Julie Baccanti has always been an active person.
She helped coach Golden Tornado softball, basketball and lacrosse at various times through the years.
The last thing she expected was to be diagnosed with breast cancer at age 46.
Baccanti received such news in February of 2019 as the result of a routine check-up.
“I did the regularly scheduled mammograms,” she said. “The results this time suggested a biopsy, an MRI at one point ... It came back as pre-cancerous and had to go through chemotherapy. But it was caught early enough.
“I had no idea I had anything going on there. I didn’t feel anything, didn’t notice any irregularities there. It showed up on the mammogram. That’s how important it is to have those done.
“I didn’t have a reaction when I got the news. Things happen in life. Just deal with it and move on,” Baccanti added.
Baccanti said the first six chemo treatments lasted about six hours.
“That’s when I lost my hair, didn’t feel so great ... The treatments got a little easier after that,” Baccanti said.
She only missed the first five weeks of the following school year and Baccanti was back at work. She had a double mastectomy done “to make sure I was rid of it (cancer)” and the scars remain. But she is 100% healthy.
Much of Baccanti’s recovery took place during the COVID-19 pandemic. She received plenty of support regardless.
“The support I received was overwhelming,” Baccanti said. “The cheerleaders sold T-shirts at the football game to raise money to donate to me. The soccer team had a ‘Pink Out’ night and sold shirts f or me. There was a benefit night for me at the Texas Roadhouse.
“When I was home one day, a parade of 50 to 60 cars passed by my house. I was totally overwhelmed by that. Throughout the whole process, the doctors, the school community ... I felt like everyone had my back.”
Receiving $5,000 to $8,000 in donations, Baccanti turned around and donated the bulk of the money to the Allegheny Health Network.
Baccanti now gets checked for cancer once a year. To this point, she remains cancer-free.
“There was a port put in my upper chest, like an injector, and I have reminders of what I went through,” she said. “I’m not a negative person. but I’m a realist. I know there’s a chance the cancer will come back. Obviously, I hope it doesn’t.
“I don’t fear the future,. If I have to fight it again, I will. I’m more aware of my body than before, but that’s about it. Otherwise, move on with life.”
Baccanti said she never felt sick from the cancer, only from the chemo.
“I got nauseous from the chemo. That’s just something I had to deal with,” she said.
Looking back on her battle, Baccanti said a positive attitude went a long way in helping her work through the process.
“How you handle something like that mentally makes a huge difference,” she said. “I’m a huge believer that attitude is everything. I was a little nervous, sure, but I never felt sorry for myself.
“Just stay positive.”
