SIGN IN YOUR ACCOUNT TO HAVE ACCESS TO DIFFERENT FEATURES

FORGOT YOUR PASSWORD?

FORGOT YOUR DETAILS?

AAH, WAIT, I REMEMBER NOW!

Sidelines MagazineSidelines Magazine

  • LOGIN
  • Home
  • Current Issue
  • Subscriptions
    • Flipbook
    • Subscribe Options
    • Order Individual & Back Issues
  • Podcast
  • Marketplace
    • Business Ads
    • Directories
      • Barns, Farms, Trainers & Clubs
      • Equestrian Services
      • Real Estate
      • Stallions
      • Tack & Feed Stores
    • Classifieds
    • Horse Trailers for Sale
  • Advertise
  • Blogs
    • Show World
    • What’s Happenin’
  • Partners
  • Contacts
    • Contacts
    • Employment
0
Friday, October 07 2016 / Published in Sidelines Feature

How Speaking Up Saved Bill Sipp’s Life

 

Bill Sipp Photo by Doris Degner-Foster

Bill Sipp
Photo by Doris Degner-Foster

By Doris Degner-Foster

Bill Sipp wasn’t afraid to talk about a personal matter to a woman friend, and it may have saved his life — a life that’s too much fun to leave yet.

Bill’s riding career began because his wife, Julie, wanted to vacation in Ireland and ride horses. Before departing they both took some English riding lessons. Since he’d ridden Western in his youth, Bill was confident that he could pick up the new riding style, but he soon found that some things were different. “I learned quickly why you don’t ride English in jeans,” Bill laughed. Outfitted with the proper riding breeches, he adapted and upon returning home, he took up eventing with Julie. He’s been an avid rider and foxhunter for over 25 years.

When the Artillery Fox Hunt in nearby Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, hosted an event, they were introduced to foxhunting and were immediately hooked. Over the years, Bill has ridden with several foxhunts in Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and Iowa as a whipper-in, a staff member helping the huntsman with the hounds. Sometimes hunting three or four days a week, he could quickly use up his allotment of vacation days from work.

Bill is a product support manager with Haemonetics, a company that manufactures blood processing machines that can save lives in the operating room by treating and re-infusing a patient’s lost blood back to them. But he never imagined himself on an operating table.

Being The Patient

According to the National Breast Center, only one in 1,000 men will ever be diagnosed with breast cancer. Last October, Bill found a lump in his breast and he didn’t hesitate to bring it to the attention of his doctor, even though his doctor is a woman and good friend. “When you’re going in to get regular exams at the doctor’s office, don’t hold back on things you may think are weird,” Bill advised. “That’s your 15 minutes in front of a paid professional, so get it out; don’t talk about the weather.” He went on to say that making a written list of symptoms and concerns can also be beneficial because it’s easy to forget those details until after leaving the office.

Bill, saddled up and ready to ride. Photo courtesy of Bill Sipp

Bill, saddled up and ready to ride.
Photo courtesy of Bill Sipp

At first he wasn’t too worried because he’d found a breast lump in the past that had proven to be benign, and although he was over 60 years old, his active lifestyle kept him healthy and he felt well. But this time it was different.

His doctor was concerned and ordered a sonogram, which was immediately followed by a mammogram. “When they sent me next door for a mammogram, I wasn’t prepared for it mentally,” Bill remembered. “From that they still couldn’t really tell so then they did a sonogram-guided biopsy. I got the results [that the lump was malignant] on the eve of my 62 birthday last year, October 20th.”

The best plan for Bill’s care was determined after a PET scan, where a radioactive dye is injected followed by a full body scan to determine where else there are actively growing cells. In Bill’s case, there were only a couple of lymph nodes near the breast with the lump that indicated cancerous activity.

“With women, they go back and forth with lumpectomies because they want to save the breast, but to me it didn’t mean anything to get rid of it,” Bill said. “Initially they were just going to do the one and it’s like, well, that’s gonna be kind of weird. Also, since I’d already had this kind of activity, there’s the risk that it’s going to happen again, especially after I found that there were about six or seven women in my family that had breast cancer.”

The Road To Recovery

A double mastectomy surgery with removal of the two lymph nodes was scheduled within two weeks of Bill’s diagnosis. Although he had cancer, he was feeling fine physically and was eager to have the surgery done to get on with recovery.

“I’d say really the worst part of it was right after surgery when I had these drains in [the surgical sites] to deal with,” Bill said. “I had to drain the containers and measure how much drainage there was, which determined when they could pull the drains when it got down to a certain level. I had them in for about a month.”

The drain tubes made getting around difficult, but Bill made it possible to be more mobile by using a simple carpenter’s apron with pockets to hold the ends of the drain tubes with the catch containers. He emphasized that as an outdoors person and rider, the mobility was therapeutic for him. “I think people who ride horses are very motivated not to stay inside and watch TV and get into a downward spiral,” Bill said. “Go out and pet the dogs, pet the horses or whatever, but get outside the house and get into some fresh air. Get moving around — the quicker the better!”

Once Bill had made the decision that all breast tissue from both sides was to be removed, he was glad that he didn’t have to make any more difficult decisions. “Tests indicated that the cancer wasn’t likely to respond significantly enough to recommend chemotherapy,” Bill said.

Each Case Is Unique

Each case and each patient’s recovery is different. Like many breast cancer tumors, Bill’s was estrogen receptive, so he’ll take a drug for 10 years to block any estrogen receptor cells left in his system, and will have follow-up doctor visits to monitor his health. Because he sought medical attention soon after finding the lump, his cancer had been caught early and he only had breast tissue and a few lymph nodes removed. Since the cancer hadn’t spread into muscle, Bill didn’t think his post-operative pain management was as extensive as some other patients’.

“There’s always the question of why, but I’ll never get that answered,” Bill said. He expressed his gratitude that his cancer was caught early at stage one and that with today’s technology, cancer prognosis is more successful than ever. “Diagnosis and treatment is better than even four years ago, not to mention how things were a hundred years ago!”

Bill enjoying foxhunting

Bill enjoying foxhunting

As he was coping with his illness, Bill heard about others who were also dealing with it and compared his illness with a woman friend who also rides with the same foxhunt club. “She was always so supportive of me and then she was diagnosed with it, too,” Bill said, explaining that she was also coping with reconstructive surgery. She’d joke with Bill about him getting hot flashes because of the drugs they were both taking to suppress any estrogen in their systems.

Bill was surprised and saddened to find that a man who’d owned land near his hunt club had died of breast cancer. He said sadly, “He noticed lumps but he was embarrassed to tell anybody, even his doctor.”

A Changed Man

“Hopefully, my story will touch somebody, and send the message that just because I’m a guy doesn’t mean I ignore things like this,” Bill said. “I sent a message to my whole family telling them what happened and that this is their family history, too, so the next time they go to the doctor, not to neglect checking the cancer history part. I didn’t think I had that in my family history, but I did and knowing about it could make a difference.”

Being aware and willing to take action saved Bill’s life and he has carried that mindset into other aspects of his life. “Going through this illness kind of reinforces being aware of my surroundings in order to avoid not only diseases but accidents,” Bill said. “Anything can happen; you can get killed by a horse because he’s kicking at a fly. When your time’s up, your time’s up. The methodology can be a whole range of things.”

It’s clear that Bill is making an effort to stick around since he’s having too much fun in his life to leave just yet, if he can help it.

About the writer: Doris Degner-Foster rides with Harvard Fox Hounds in Tulsa, Oklahoma, when she’s not interviewing interesting individuals in the horse sport or writing fiction. Soon to be available is a middle-grade mystery about teens who ride and solve mysteries. Check out her blog at https://dmdegner.wordpress.com/

 

Double D Trailers Info

Tagged under: bill sipp, breast cancer, breast cancer awareness

What you can read next

Love On A Leadline
Finding Fulfillment With Dressage, Real Estate and Nursing
Five Questions for Maxance McManamy

Download Sidelines Digital now from your favorite app store!

Sidelines Magazine - Apple store   Sidelines Magazine - Google Play store   Sidelines Magazine - Amazon store
Update iOS app. Re-download Google Play and Amazon app.

Follow on Instagram!

sidelines_magazine

Sidelines Magazine
Hello April!!! 🌻🌷 This month's edition of Si Hello April!!! 🌻🌷
This month's edition of Sidelines is our eventing edition and it will not disappoint! Of the many things happening this month one of the most exciting things coming up is Sidelines will be at The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event held in Lexington KY 🤩

This month's issue of Sidelines features the beautiful and talented Liz Halliday-Sharp and her never-give-up attitude!!

Of the many lessons that Elisabeth “Liz” Halliday-Sharp learned from her father, resilience was perhaps the most important. Liz’s innate ability to overcome adversity has served her well in her quest to become one of the top event riders in the world. Through the highs and lows of a career with horses, Liz’s “can do” attitude has helped propel her through both triumph and defeat. 

Liz, who has won more events globally during the past three years than any other rider in her discipline, continues to set records—with her sights set firmly on the 2024 Olympic Games.

This is truly a can't miss article! Read more in the link in our bio! 

Never miss a moment with Sidelines by following all our social media and subscribing to get your own edition of Sidelines, the magazine for horse people about horse people 🦄

📸Portraits by Melissa Fuller

#olympics #tokyo #sports #tokyoolympics #sport #india #olympicgames #athlete #olympic #figureskating #athletics #horses #fitness  #training #usa #goldmedal  #motivation #athletes #teamusa #skating  #champion #love #sidelinesmagazine
Sports Psychology column🐎 By Margie Sugarman I Sports Psychology column🐎
By Margie Sugarman

I just bought a new horse. I think he’s amazing, but I miss the feeling of just “clicking” with my old horse. I know that it takes time to grow that connection, but do you have any tips that can help me be confident and in tune with my new horse in the short term?

You kick off your sneakers and realize that there’s a big hole in the sole of one shoe. Well, you’ve had them for quite a while and have worn them everywhere, from hiking to riding. They’ve served you well but it’s time for new ones. (It’s time to move on to a new horse.) You turn on your computer and order a new pair. You wait in anticipation. You’re excited, they’re cool looking. (He’s pretty!)

Upon arrival, you quickly open the box and slip your feet in. They’re great sneakers, but they aren’t as comfortable as the pair they’re replacing. They don’t bend as well—the sole is stiff. They don’t feel as comfortable—they have to be broken in. They don’t fit like the others did—the old ones were so well molded to your feet. (He’s a new ride, a different ride. He needs some suppling work.)

Of utmost importance in the human/horse relationship (especially the ones with the strongest bonds) is the horse looking to their owner as the leader and respecting their personal space. This important dynamic comes from groundwork—no matter what discipline you’re involved in. Just as it is with friendships, there needs to be respect. Respect is developed when one is on the ground and not mounted.

The things you do might seem small, but if done consistently and in a positive way, the results are huge. The confidence and trust you develop between the two of you will carry your relationship to wherever you want it to go.

To read Margies full column click the link in our bio! Never miss an article by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine 🦄

Photo by Ali Kelman

#psychology #mentalhealth #love #therapy #mentalhealthawareness #anxiety #motivation #psychologist #selfcare #mindfulness #selflove #life #mentalhealthmatters  #mindset #wellness #meditation #inspiration #mind #Sidelinesmagazine
Breeding season is underway at Iron Spring Farm! W Breeding season is underway at Iron Spring Farm! We're proud to offer exceptional modern Sporthorse stallions, with wonderful temperaments and quality gaits to North American breeders.
 
Among our stallions are Cum Laude and Kaiman. Cum Laude (Apache x Weltmeyer) is a winning FEI horse and sire of quality dressage horses, breed show champions, and offspring scoring 9.0s on gaits.
 
Kaiman (Dark Pleasure x Gribaldi) earned high scores at his stallion testing and in the young horse classes. He's also the sire of a Licensed Oldenburg stallion. Kaiman's first North American foal crop is arriving now and they are gorgeous!
 
If you're looking for top international bloodlines please check out our 2023 stallion collection, now available fresh, frozen, and by the dose.

Among our stallions are Cum Laude and Kaiman. Cum Laude (Apache x Weltmeyer) is a winning FEI horse and sire of quality dressage horses, breed show champions, and offspring scoring 9.0s on gaits.

Breeding season is underway at Iron Spring Farm! We're proud to offer exceptional modern Sporthorse stallions, with wonderful temperaments and quality gaits to North American breeders.

https://www.ironspringfarm.com/biolink/

@iron_spring_farm 

#stallion #horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #equestrian #equine #dressage #pferd #equestrianlife #mare #hengst #horseriding #instahorse #cheval #pferde #equinephotography #horselove #dressagehorse #pony #horselover #caballo #foal #quarterhorse #aqha #arabianhorse #showjumping #photography #caballos #horseofinstagram #sidelinesmagazine
❗️George Williams column❗️ The FEI World ❗️George Williams column❗️
The FEI World Cup Final in Omaha is coming up quickly. That means that it’s starting to heat 
up as the end of the qualifying period for both the Western European League (WEL) and the 
North American League (NAL) nears. I started to write this column before the Amsterdam CDI- W, and I was using the FEI Ranking List from January 15 as a reference. As I sit down to finish 
my column, I’m now looking at the results from Amsterdam. While the list of the top contenders 
for the WEL hasn’t changed, they’re definitely moving around on the ranking list. The WEL has 
three more legs, as they’re referred to: Neumünster February 16–19, Goteborg February 23–26, 
and ’s-Hertogenbosch March 9–12, and they could change things dramatically.
Looking at the top 12 athletes from the WEL as they were ranked on January 15, there are five 
from Germany, three from the Netherlands and one each from Great Britain, Denmark

➡️Read Georges's full column by clicking the link in our bio, and never miss an article by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine 🦄 

#horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #equestrian #horseriding #equine #pony #pferd #equestrianlife #horselove #dressage #horselover #instahorse #love #cheval #showjumping #horselife #photography #nature #pferde #horseofinstagram #caballo #riding #horsebackriding #pferdeliebe #caballos #horsepower #horsephotography #instagram #Sidelinesmagazine
Load More... Follow on Instagram

From Our Classifieds Ads

  • Old Spring Manor
    Specializing in Welsh ponies Handling, Showing and Training White Hall, Maryland oldspringmanor@gmail.com www.oldspringmanor.com 561-797-9199-Shelly

    [Read more]

  • MATT JOHNSON
    Farms & Estates ENGEL & VÖLKERS, Florida Serving Wellington since 1998 561-313-4367; wwwMattsells.com

    [Read more]

Sidelines Articles by Email

Subscribe to Sidelines Magazine Articles by Email

RSS Sidelines Blogs: What’s Happenin’

  • Get More for Your Money with an Adjustable-Rate Mortgage
  • Longines Global Champions Tour of New York Returns to Governors Island
  • A Paris Horse Adventure: Saut Hermes 2022

RSS Sidelines Blogs: Show World

  • 2023 Upperville Colt & Horse Show Presented by MARS EQUESTRIAN™ Returns for 170th Year on June 5-11
  • Will Coleman Retains Yanmar America CCI4*-S Lead in Dramatic Show Jumping at Setters’ Run Farm Carolina International
  • First edition of the World Sport Horse Sales was a hit with $410.000 for the most expensive horse

Category

Recent Posts

  • April 2023 – Table of Contents

    Subscribe for just $9.95 or Order Individual Is...
  • Building a Bond With a New Horse

    By Margie Sugarman I just bought a new horse. I...
  • Developing Healthy Relationships With Your Barnmates

    By Rob Jacobs The purpose of this month’s colum...
  • The Value of Self-Coaching

    By Liz Halliday-Sharp The sport of eventing is ...
  • Unbridled With Annette Longenecker

    By Britney Grover  Annette Longenecker wasn’t j...

Copyright © 1987 - 2021 Sidelines Magazine
Privacy Policy · Returns & Refunds Policy · Hosting by Lucian Web Service
· Login

TOP
Get the Sidelines Scoop — your weekly look behind the scenes.Sign me up!