By Joanne Vassallo Jamrosz
U.S. Figure Skating judge Amelia Prentice Keene remembers coming home from school one day as a young child in Toronto, Canada, and immediately knowing something was wrong.
“My mom was gone during the day, and I had to go to a neighbor’s home for lunch,” Keene said. “I finally found out that my mom’s sister had breast cancer, was terminally ill, and then they checked out my mom and her other sister. They were all diagnosed with breast cancer.”
Keene’s mother died when Keene was only 13 years old. The disease also took her mother’s two sisters.
“Back then, there were no pink ribbons or support systems,” Keene said. “It wasn't even talked about. The thing that saved me and got me through my teen years was figure skating. It gave me somewhere to go every day, somewhere to deal with my grief in a positive, therapeutic way. I got back up and skated. It gave me purpose and goals.”
Little did Keene realize at the time, but the gold single/pairs and silver dance judge, and proud Las Vegas resident, would relive this disease all over again, this time as a patient.
“Because of my family history, I had a yearly mammogram, like clockwork, every year,” Keene said. “In February 2020, I went for my usual one.”
The report came back, and technicians asked Keene to repeat the test along with an ultrasound.
“I went to a special clinic — The Breast Center at Sunrise Hospital,” she said. “I had another mammogram and an ultrasound. I knew something was wrong when she kept going over and over a spot. Then she left the room. Knock on the door, and the radiologist came in. He said something is in there, and we want you to get a biopsy.”
With COVID now in full swing, Keene was thankfully scheduled for the test within a week. When the results came back positive, the next step was scheduling with a surgeon.
“The hardest part was telling my family in Canada,” Keene said. “They thought my cousins and I had dodged the bullet. I had to tell them I had breast cancer.”
Keene’s surgeon was excellent and gave her the first bit of good news.
“The first thing she said was, ‘You’re stage 1, and we’ve got this. You’re going to be OK.’”
Keene had surgery in May and was relieved to find that the cancer had not spread to her lymph nodes.
“I went for special internal radiation [with an instrument] called a Savik device,” Keene said. “It looked like a kitchen whisk. It was inserted where my tumor had been — two times a day, for five days. That was it. Now I am on medication for the next three to five years and will see the surgeon and oncologist every six months.”
One of Keene’s happiest moments came in June when this also active adult skater stepped on her club’s ice (Vegas Golden Knights Center of Excellence) at the City National Ice Arena once again.
“The feeling of accomplishment and the sound of the ice and the wind in my face made me feel like I was a survivor,” Keene said.
Her next goal is to finish her three remaining gold dances: Quickstep, Westminster and Argentine tango.
She also has a deep affection for her hometown, which safely hosted 2020 Guaranteed Rate Skate America and will be home to the 2021 Toyota U.S. Championships. She is also dedicated to giving back to fellow cancer survivors. Keene has been busy making pink ribbon pillows for breast cancer patients.
“I have a little note on the pillow, ‘To a cancer warrior from a cancer survivor. Wishing you a full and speedy recovery,’” Keene said.
Keene credits her early skating coach Ozzie Colson for encouraging her to always get back up again when times are tough, and the extraordinary encouragement of fellow skaters.
“It’s a wonderful feeling to have the support of so many fellow skaters, old skating friends, fellow judges, and club members,” Keene said. “I am so touched by their support and love.”
She added one more important message.
“The number one thing I will say is please go for your annual checkups,” Keene said. “Mine was caught very early because of my diligence.”
