50+ Lifestyles

Meet Rita Vargas, Honorary Survivor Chair for Race for the Cure

By Christina McNamara-Schmidt
Komen Quad Cities/Marketing and Fundraising Specialist

Rita Vargas knows the statistic: one out of every eight women will get breast cancer over a lifetime.

“I told my girlfriends and my sister that I would rather it be me than them. I knew I’d be OK,” said Vargas, 58, of Davenport.

Vargas was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010 at the age of 52. For her courage and willingness to share her breast cancer journey, Rita Vargas is being named the 2017 Honorary Survivor Chair for Susan G. Komen Quad Cities and the June 10, 2017 Race for the Cure.

She discovered a lump herself. “I was having a lot of problems with my gallbladder and not feeling well. After having it removed, I was resting and eating peanuts. One went down my shirt and I reached down and felt a lump. I thought it was just a big bug bite,” she said.

But after a visit to the doctor, Rita learned that she had several lumps and indeed had breast cancer – invasive ductal carcinoma.

Rita had a single mastectomy, and was treated with six rounds of chemotherapy and 32 radiation treatments.

“I relied on my faith and prayer. Co-workers brought me gourmet meals after chemo. It kept me going to know that other people cared,” she said.

Rita is excited to serve as the Honorary Chair for Komen Quad Cities,

“I want to reach out to the community and encourage people to talk about breast cancer. Don’t be afraid to have tests. The earlier something is found, the better,” she said.

Vargas works as the Scott County Recorder, and is married to Dr. Kenneth Krayenhagen. She has one daughter, Jacqueline, age 32.

The 28th annual Komen Quad Cities Race for the Cure is scheduled for June 10, 2017. Since the inception of the Race in 1990, more than $6 million has been raised to provide education, breast health services, and ground-breaking research. Registration is available online at www.komengreateriowa.org/qcrace, or in person at Packet Pick-Ip from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the iWireless Center. Registration is also available on Race morning.