Home Background Testimonials Student Programs Adult Programs Video Clips Recent Clients In The News On The Farm Contact Information	Cancer Not Slowing Down Lohr Family March 30, 2007 - News Article HARRISONBURG - Andrea Lohr can empathize with Elizabeth Edwards. Last Sunday, Lohr sat down with her husband to watch a "60 Minutes" episode featuring Edwards - who announced that her breast cancer had returned - and her husband, Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards. "I just felt so sorry for her," Lohr, 32, said. "For her to go through this battle again, especially with small children, it's pretty tough." Lohr should know. She, like Edwards, was diagnosed with breast cancer. She, like Edwards, has two small children - 6-year-old daughter Caroline and 18-month-old son Carson. And she, like Edwards, has a husband in politics, Del. Matt Lohr, R-Broadway. Making The Decision Just as the Edwards family did, The Lohrs discussed whether a cancer diagnosis would affect a decision to stay in politics. "My family is my number one priority," Matt Lohr said. "When we found out about Andrea's diagnosis, we sat down as a family and decided that I would continue my political duties." Matt Lohr, 35, disagreed with those who criticized John Edwards, accusing him of politicizing his wife's disease. "It's easy for people to say that he should be home and taking care of his wife," he said. "I feel certain that if he was needed at some point along the way, he would make the decision to be there." Andrea Lohr was diagnosed with breast cancer in August. Once the cancer was diagnosed, she underwent surgery, 20 weeks of chemotherapy and six weeks of radiation treatment, she said. Her radiation treatment ended last week and the family will celebrate by taking a vacation in the next few days. For now, she will get regular checkups every six months to assure that the cancer doesn't return. "All you can do is hope for the best and hope it never comes back," she said. "You just never know what is going to happen." Political Pressure Tracy Pyles, 59, was diagnosed with throat cancer last April during his third term as the Augusta County Supervisor for the Pastures District. He says the toughest thing he's had to deal with is a sense of guilt. "As a cancer patient, what you feel guilty about is that you're imposing on other people," Pyles said. "I think in the Edwards case, it's bad enough that she's got cancer. But to redirect focus on her disease while her husband is attempting his lifelong goal, I'm sure that's hard for her to deal with." Pyles said he continued to work soon after his surgery. "I didn't want my family to think that this was the end for us," he said. "I didn't want to give up the life that I was living." Carolyn Frank, a 53-year-old Harrisonburg Councilwoman who survived her bout with thyroid cancer, said that the disease could be a blessing for those who take advantage. "It almost gives you a new perspective on life," she said. "You feel so blessed to have a chance. It used to be a death sentence, but that's not always the case anymore." Contact Dan Kipperman at 574-6274 or dkipp@dnronline.com