The Orlando Sentinel from Orlando, Florida • J10

Orlando Sentinel: PRODUCT: LK DESK: LK DATE: 05-14-2006 EDITION: FLA ZONE: LK PAGE: J10.0 DEADLINE: 15.30 OP: wjackson COMPOSETIME: 16.06 CMYK J10 Orlando Sentinel SUNDAY, MAY 14, 2006 LIFE IN LAKE HOUSE CALLS One Of US I HatHe Behrendt A bright spot in 'Century Club5 mm wm'-3 ByLORI CARTER SPECIAL TO THE SENTINEL TAVARES Hattie Behrendt joined the elite "Century Club" on May 6 at Alterra Sterling House, an assisted-living residence. Soon, her engraved nameplate will be added to a plaque, signifying that she has turned 100. "That's what they tell me," she said of her birthday, then chuckled. "I never even thought I'd get to 50." Behrendt, who moved to Alterra about six months ago, has made a lasting impression at the facility, said Debbie Flaherty, Alterra's executive director. "She brought with her a bright smile and a willingness to help others," Flaherty said.

"She has made many friends and has many people who care about her at Sterling House." Every morning, when she comes down for breakfast, she visits with everyone in the dining area, said Fran Tucker, life-enrichment director. "She says, 'Good morning' and gives them a kiss on the cheek." If someone isn't feeling well, Tucker said, Behrendt is sure to try to brighten his or her day. After breakfast, Behrendt usually goes to an exercise class. A short nap may follow, but when the entertainment arrives, she's up for the music. When she has time, she picks up a book.

"I like to read when I get a chance," she said. "That's what I like to do." Once in a while, she goes out and about. Behrendt said she can't believe all the construction taking place in the area. About three weeks ago, she and others took a boat ride through the Dora Canal. Behrendt was born in Wilmington, Del.

In her younger years, she 1 WfMi ill' TOM) Y'W- LORI CARTERSPECIAL TO THE SENTINEL 'I'm surprised I made it to says Hattie Behrendt, who turned 100 on May 6. 'They don't want me in heaven yet' made shoes in New York City, catch- nally agreed to marry him. They her, though, ing the train every day from Cape moved to St. Petersburg, and were She hasn't limited her diet, either. May, N.J., where she lived with her married more than 40 years.

"I eat anything I want, whenever I sister. "He was my true love," she said, want," she said. Ice cream is at the In the 1950s, she took a vacation "You only have one." top of her list, to Florida, and it was there that she Behrendt can't say what has con- Behrendt, who had one son, said met her future husband, Carl, an air- tributed to her longevity. She tried she is the only one left in her family, line pilot. smoking cigarettes once or twice a "I'm surprised I made it to 100 After numerous phone calls from long time ago, and on occasion had a she said.

"They don't want me in his home in Michigan, Behrendt fi- glass of wine. Neither agreed with heaven yet." It's hard to detect ovarian cancer By RICHARD T. BOSSHARDT SPECIAL TO THE SENTINEL Question: I am a 45-year-old woman. One of my closest friends, who is 48, was recently diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and it was already very advanced. This has me frightened.

I get an annual pelvic exam and Pap smear, but so did she. What is my risk? Can I do anything to lessen my chances? Answer: Ovarian cancer, unfortunately, is a not uncommon problem. It is estimated that one in 57 women will develop this disease. Although most will be older than 50, and ovarian cancer is most common in women older than 60, it can develop in younger women. The ovaries are paired organs, about the size of an olive, deep in the pelvic area.

They produce eggs and the female hormones progesterone and estrogen. Their location makes them difficult to evaluate. Ovarian cancer is not one disease, but several, depending on which cell type becomes cancerous. Often, it is not diagnosed until an advanced stage. One reason is that symptoms tend to occur late in the course of the disease and, even then, they tend to be nonspecific: abdominal discomfort, bloating, change in bowel habits, loss of appetite, weight gain or loss, and vaginal bleeding, to name a few.

Another reason is that detection is difficult early on. There are no good tests to detect ovarian cancer in its earliest stages. During a pelvic exam, the doctor can sometimes feel the ovaries, but this determines only whether they are of normal size. An ultrasound exam done through the vagina can detect abnormalities in the ovaries, but so far this has not been practical as a generalized screening exam, such as a Pap smear for cervical cancer. Pap smears do not detect ovarian cancer.

Studies are under way to search for tumor markers to help detect ovarian cancer. Tumor markers are proteins produced by certain cancers. When these are found in the blood, they might signal a cancer, even in very early stages. Other tests, such as CT scans, MRIs and PET scans are not practical and usually are reserved for working up patients who have symptoms. Certain risk factors exist for ovarian cancer besides age.

If you have a family history of this cancer, your risks are greater. Women who have never had children are at greater risk. Numerous pregnancies seem to have a protective effect. Women who had breast or colon cancer have a greater risk, as do those who have used fertility drugs and postmenopausal women who have been on hormone-replacement therapy. Under study as possible protective factors are having your tubes tied, having a hysterectomy and limiting fats in your diet.

Treatment of ovarian cancer is primarily surgical, but because the cancer has so often spread beyond the ovaries when detected, chemotherapy and radiation therapy play a role. There is no foolproof way to avoid ovarian cancer. Removal of the ovaries before it occurs may be recommended for women at high risk for the cancer. This, of course, will bring on immediate menopause, with all of its own problems. Living a healthy lifestyle, paying attention to possible symptoms, especially new abdominal symptoms, and getting a regular checkup are important.

Talk to your gynecologist if you have specific concerns. Bosshardt is a plastic surgeon in Tavares. If you have a medical question, send it to him at 1879 Nightingale Lane, Suite A-2, Tavares, FL 32778, or e-mail to rtbosshardtaol.com. Kudos Scholarships awarded The Woman's Club of Eustis recently presented a scholarship to Rachel Paul, a senior at Eustis High School. Rachel plans to major in business at the University of South Florida in Tampa.

She also plans to open a real-estate brokerage company in Eustis after she graduates from USF. Sumter Electric Cooperative will award 13 graduating seniors $2,000 scholarships during a reception planned for May 22 at its headquarters in Sumterville. The students live in the company's service area, which includes Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Levy, Marion, Pasco and Sumter counties. Students were chosen based on past and present achievements in school and their community, financial need and scholastic record. Ticked Off! Valorie M.

Sierens from Christian Home and Bible School in Mount Dora, Molly M. McLaughlin from Eustis High School, Angela Angel Todd from South Lake High in Groveland, Nicole Marie DeArmas from Tavares High and Rachel Nicole Waters from Umatilla High, are the winners from Lake County. Ingrid Garcia and Herisa Stanislaus both from Dunnellon High, and Brittany Gonzalez and Meghan A. Thrasher, both from Vanguard High in Ocala, are the winners in Marion County. Erin Elizabeth Keith Arpke and Kristen Lee Pepe, both of Citrus High in Inverness, are the winners in Citrus County.

Jennifer Anne Houtman and Ly-don T.H. Lewis, both of Williston High, are the winners from Levy County- the good-old-boys club. To the person who complained about dogs being allowed in restaurants in specified outdoor dining areas: I would rather dine out with dogs then a bunch of noisy, bratty kids any day! I'm ticked off at all the inconsider Retired circuit judge honored A plaque honoring retired Marion Circuit Judge William Swigert was unveiled on Law Day in Courtroom 2A, which also was named after him. Swigert, who also served as chief judge of the 5th Circuit, retired in December 2004 after serving 32 years on the bench. National Honor Society Patrick Youngren, a junior at Trinity Catholic High School in Ocala, was inducted into the National Honor Society on April 8.

Patrick, a member of the varsity track team, is the son of Kent Youngren and Patricia Wise-Youngren of Eustis. Law Enforcement Award Lt. Gregory Link of the Lake County Sheriff's Office received a Law En ate people, who don't pick up their dog's droppings, along the beautiful Minneola Trail in Clermont. Come on, you won't get your hands dirty, if you just save your plastic bags from the stores and there are trash cans along the trail. Get used to it, if you're thinking about dining out with your dog! I'm ticked off at the big-mouth male forcement Award from Leesburg American Legion Post 329.

Golfer receives award Morgan Fuqua, a member of the women's link golf team and a junior at Charleston Southern University in South Carolina, was selected as a member of the Big South Conference Women's Golf All-Academic team. She received an award during the conference golf tournament in April. Fuqua, a 2003 graduate of Umatilla High School, is the daughter of Tom and Belinda Fuqua of Altoona. Debbie Manis of the Sentinel staff compiled this report. Mail items for Kudos to Orlando Sentinel, 1898 E.

Burleigh Tavares, FL 32778-4366 or fax to 352-742-5938. who recently was driving a pickup truck on County Road 455. You were traveling between 20 to 25 mph on a road with a posted speed limit of 45 mph. You finally pulled onto the shoulder of the road and you didn't even put your turn signal on and then you yelled at me to slow down. I was driving under the speed limit.

I also watched you in my rearview mirror, while you made a U-turn. Apparently, you can't read! I was born and raised in Tavares and I love this area to me it's God's country. It's unacceptable that Tavares officials gets $2 million, which will be funded by the penny-sales tax, to refurbish Main Street in the downtown area, when Sinclair and St. Clair Abrams Avenues are eyesores. Yet, you've cleared out the roads from downtown Tavares to State Road 19 and to Old Highway 441 and U.S.

Highway 441. Thanks City Council. Why don't you place the money in the right direction? Cigarette butts, good-old-boys, poking drivers I'm amazed to see people still throwing cigarette butts out of their car windows with the danger levels being so high for brush fires. Besides, smoking is certainly a filthy habit for filthy people. We need to impose a new $1 tax on each pack of cigarettes to pay for picking up their litter.

Since when has Dead River Road in Tavares turn into a raceway? The posted speed limit is 35 mph. I'm not really ticked off, I'm just curious about Orange County Sheriff Kevin Beary. It appears to me that Beary is doing the same thing as our wonderful former Lake County Sheriff George Knupp did while he was in office. Knupp, who resigned in 2004 to avoid prosecution for perjury about how his department bought and sold its vehicles, now he wants to get back in the game. I don't know what is going on, but we better get rid of the good-old-boys club.

Ever since I moved to Lake County that's all I have heard about Ticked Off! Line: 352-742-5912 Call this number whenever you want to gripe, grouse, whine, bellyache, criticize, condemn, dress down or blow up whenever you're Ticked Off! about anything at all and you can't take it anymore. Our phone system will record your rantings, and they may be printed in this space. It's cheaper than therapy and it's anonymous. Here are the rules: Keep it brief. Keep it clean.

No cursing, please. If you're going to identify yourself or your target, use initials only unless you're griping about celebrities or public officials. Then you can go full blast. Don't feel like calling? Send us a flame on e-mail at ORL-TickedOff.