When Carolynn Straub set off on a trip to Afghanistan to help a school for that country's street children, she had no idea how far -- or what direction -- that journey would take her.

It was on that 2003 humanitarian trip that Straub first suspected she had breast cancer.

Now six years later and in the middle of her third bout with cancer, Straub has taken on another battle -- to work to improve conditions for patients at St. Peter's Hospital's Cancer Treatment Center fighting the same fight she is.

Straub has been a self-described pest to the hospital administration. Her ultimate goal, she said, is to see a new cancer center to match the state-of-the-art facilities the hospital added in its recent renovation.

According to Mike Munck, executive vice president of the St. Peter's Hospital Foundation, Straub will likely see her hopes realized very soon.

Munck said Straub's involvement came just as the foundation was coming to the same conclusion -- so he asked Straub to help by being the spokeswoman for a fundraising effort to benefit the cancer center.

"We know for a fact we need to expand the cancer center," Munck said, citing growth in the area, the aging population and the fact that due to advancing treatment, people with cancer are living longer and longer. "We're just in the process of developing those plans right now."

Munck said he expects the hospital to break ground on construction or an expansion of the cancer center within the next year.

Long fight

There was very little electricity in Kabul at the time of Straub's visit. That left her with some very long nights and very little to fill them with.

"What better time to do a breast self exam?" she thought.

To her shock, that exam revealed a rather large lump.

After returning home, she was diagnosed at St. Peter's with invasive breast cancer.

But she also got some good news when she went for a second opinion at the UCLA Medical Center -- if she had a total mastectomy and did chemotherapy, there was a 99 percent chance the cancer would never recur.

She said Dr. Tom Weiner, oncologist at St. Peter's, also suggested at the time she take estrogen blockers for five years as a further precaution.

"I was too smart for that," she said. "I didn't take them. I thought, the diagnosis is so good, I didn't need to take those drugs. Don't ever do that. Don't be arrogant."

Cancer's return

Five years later, the cancer metastasized to Straub's bones.

This time, she went to Oregon Health & Science University for a second opinion -- which was identical.

She went on the medication tamoxifen, which kept the cancer at bay for six months -- her scans were so clean, she said, that they amazed her doctors.

But in January of this year, Straub's scans amazed doctors for a different reason. The cancer was back, and this time it wasn't just in her bones.

"It was tumors in rather odd sorts of places," she said. "Abdominal. Bowel. Exotic-looking tumors."

So she began yet another round of chemo and drug therapy.

Awakened to need

Straub said it was in her most recent stretch of chemotherapy that she began noticing how many more patients she was seeing in the cancer center waiting room.

"The chairs (in the cancer center) were all full," she said. "The nurses were working so hard and they were so cheerful and they were so incredible. The staff keeps that place running. They're just amazing.

"When you go into a medical diagnosis and then you have to have treatment, you notice how well it works. (The Cancer Treatment Center is) smooth. It's organized. It's deserving a space that complements the job that the staff and the nurses and the doctors do."

Mary Thomas, a nurse at the cancer center, said Straub -- and many other patients like her -- are an inspiration to her.

"She's taken a situation that isn't that pleasant, and she's taking a lot of her time and energy so others can have a better (cancer center)," Thomas said. "Carolynn's attitude makes me think it's awesome to get up in the morning. There's always a silver lining with her."

Straub said she's motivated by helping her fellow patients -- and the nurses, staff, Dr. Weiner and radiation oncologist Dr. Robert Pfeffer who have treated her so well over the years.

"Right now, I am in great shape," Straub said. "There's a lot of folks who aren't. And there are a lot of people who could use ... they could use a hat because they can't go buy one.

"Dr. Pfeffer, Dr. Weiner, all of the staff and all the patients deserve the kind of facility we now have throughout the hospital," Straub said. "When you look at the new hospital ... it's fabulous for a town this size. It's just amazing. And the thing that is still sitting over here in the basement is the cancer center. That's why I got involved."

Fundraiser to benefit local cancer patients

Click here to a donation to St. Peter's Hospital's drive for funds to help local cancer patients.

St. Peter's Hospital Foundation is raising funds to help Helena-area cancer patients with needs their health insurance or finances may not cover, such as wigs, transportation, nutrition, medication and prosthetics.

All funds donated will directly benefit local cancer patients.

Gifts may be made in honor or memory of someone special, and the foundation will send a card of notification to the recipient, family, or friends.

The name of each person will be attached to a colored pinwheel that will be planted by the waterfall near St. Peter's main entrance. Similar to the Hospice Lite a Life event, on Thursday, May 28, at 4:30 p.m. there will be a special dedication ceremony to honor those recognized as well as the community's fight against cancer. The pinwheels will be on display for about a week.

Donations may be sent to: St. Peter's Foundation, 2475 Broadway, Helena, MT 59601, or online at www.stpetes.org (click on the pinwheel).

Reporter Joe Menden: joe.menden@helenair.com or 447-4087