
Women Battling Breast Cancer Get a Helping Hand at Home Through Cleaning for a Reason
Amanda Roby is a a recovering breast cancer patient. She’s now taking a step back from daily chores and focusing on her children. Image by Molly Jett. Oct. 6, 2023
Louisville, KY (WDRB) — Women battling breast cancer in Louisville are getting a helping hand at home when they need it most.
A nationwide program is keeping up with daily chores for free. Cleaning for a Reason is a nonprofit that offers two free home cleanings to cancer patients in active treatment. The goal is to have them focus on the home while the patient focuses on their health.
A federal health task force recommends breast cancer screenings for all women starting at the age of 40, and that’s exactly what one Louisville mother did this year.
Spending time with her family as a regular mom is something, Amanda Roby, 41, will never take for granted.
“My diagnosis came out of nowhere, surprised us all,” she said. “It was hard. It was shocking.”
Doctors told Roby in March that she had breast cancer. Days later, she was in surgery and getting radiation.
“It was really scary,” she said.
All this came after Roby lost a cousin to breast cancer just a few months prior. Her life spun out of control.
It was really fast,” she said. “It’s been a hard year.”
She’s now in remission, although, Roby said most cleaning is still off the table.
“It doesn’t feel real,” she said. “The after-effects of cancer are even in survivorship. The after-effects are so different than what you expect.”
That’s why Roby contacted Cleaning for a Reason. There is no obligation to sign up for regular service. One cleaning can cost about $150-$180 per visit.
Founded in 2006 by Texas woman Debbie Sardone, Cleaning for a Reason was her answer to helping a client of her cleaning business that could no longer afford her service.
“Cleaning is therapeutic unless you’re sick,” Sardone said. “If you’re sick, it’s the last thing on earth you want to do. Cleaning is a passion of mine. I’ve owned a cleaning business for almost my entire adult life. And I know how important it is to families to walk into a clean home. It’s so important for emotional health and physical health and well being.”
Roby agrees.
“The kids have picked up where they can, but it’s still not easy,” she said. “I can’t push a vacuum cleaner. … So having somebody come in and do that, just (to) get my house back to the way (it was), feels good. It’s nice.”
Earlier this year, the World Health Organization reported, as of the end of 2020, there were 7.8 million women who were diagnosed with breast cancer in the past five years, making it the world’s most prevalent cancer.
Roby is now able to focus on her son and daughter, and she has advice for families experiencing cancer.
“Just don’t be afraid to reach out to the resources,” she said. “There are so many resources and so many people who want to help. There’s support groups. There’s art classes and workout classes. The YMCA does the LIVESTRONG program and they’ve helped me get back to full movement. My arm and physical therapy has helped. There’s so many resources. Don’t be afraid to reach out for resources. Don’t be afraid to ask and and receive, because people are there, and they want to help.”
Over the past 17 years, Cleaning for Reason has served more than 50,000 patients, donating nearly $18 million in cleaning services to those battling cancer.
Cleaning for a Reason partners with local cleaning companies, who also host volunteer days. It is also accepting monetary donations online. Click here to donate.
Cancer patients have to apply and qualify for the service through Cleaning for a Reason. They must be recovering from surgery, in active treatment or in hospice and need to help to focus on their health and spending valuable time with loved ones. To find out more, click here.
Read story at https://www.wdrb.com/news/women-battling-breast-cancer-get-a-helping-hand-at-home-through-cleaning-for-a-reason/article_f1c83aec-6465-11ee-805b-8ba05402459a.html